Arriving in the UK & Getting to Oxford
Oxford is easily accessible from London and its airports. The journey takes between 60 and 180 min depending on the airport/ station and a single ticket might cost between £12 - £30. We recommend purchasing a return ticket as this will be cheaper than 2 singles.
For more information please look at the following websites:
Trains www.nationalrail.co.uk / trainline app Buses From Central London: www.oxfordtube.com, www.oxfordbus.co.uk From Heathrow & Gatwick: www.theairlineoxford.co.uk From Stansted: www.nationalexpress.com Taxi - Most popular option We are happy to arrange airport transfers by taxi - the cost is £160 one way from Heathrow / Luton and £220 from Gatwick / Stansted.NB: Students under 16 must have an airport transfer arranged if travelling without an adult.
Finding CIE
CIE is on St Michael's Street
Address: 24B St Michael's street, Oxford OX1 2EB
Your first day
Please arrive at the school on your first day at 8.45 am. You will be shown your classroom and facilities. You will also be given a ‘welcome pack’ with a pencil, notebook, and useful information. The test that you took before arriving will allow us to place you in the most appropriate class.
A typical day at CIE
- 8:45 - Help yourself to tea or coffee from the kitchen
- 9:00-10:00 - Functional English
- 10:15-12:30 - General English
- 12:30-13:30 - Lunch / free time
- 13:30-15:45 - Topic or Exam preparation lesson
- 16:00-17:00 - Social & Cultural Activities (Every Tuesday and Thursday)
-Friday Conversation Café
On Fridays, one student is nominated to hold 'conversation café' where for the first hour of the day we get together in the common room with a cup of tea or coffee and listen to the student's topic of choice and have a good discussion based on their topic. Previous topics have been about food, culture, sports, travel and many more.
-Activities
The school provides a programme of social and cultural activities twice a week after class during the academic year and summer which is included one for free and one for optional activities.
Your HOME STAY
When you arrive, remember to make a note of your address and host’s phone number and keep it with you all the time. Find out what the arrangements are for keys, meals, telephone, visitors, and laundry.
Please tell your hosts if:
•You are going to be late
• You are going to miss a meal at home
• You would like to have a visitor
• You break or damage anything
• You need a packed lunch for a weekend trip
- You are responsible for tidying up your room.
- Usually, you will be sharing the bathroom. Make sure you keep it clean and tidy.
- Don’t stick pictures on the wall unless you have an agreement with your host.
- Host families are responsible for your care, they do not expect you to help yourself to food or do your own cooking.
- You should never leave your home without letting your host know.
- Lights, electric fires, heaters, mobile chargers etc. should be switched off when you go out.
- If you want to leave your host family, you need to have a good reason. CIE need to give the family a week’s notice so please inform the Accommodation Officer.
Curfew Times
15 Year Olds: Weekdays: 9pm Weekends: 10pm
16-17 Year Olds: Weekdays: 10pm Weekends: 11pm
MONEY
Health
Health
Cash is no longer widely accepted in Oxford. It is advisable for students to have a contactless VISA / Mastercard. For safety we recommend a pre-paid travel money card that can be topped up if necessary.
For cash, the easiest way to access cash is from the many 24-hour ATM machines throughout Oxford, accepting VISA & Mastercard.
OPENING A BANK ACCOUNT If you choose to open a bank account whilst in the UK, you will need to take your passport and a letter of acceptance from CIE. A letter of reference from your bank in your home country may also be useful. Most banks are open 9am-5pm on weekdays, and also on Saturday mornings.
Banks in Oxford include, Lloyds, Barclays, Natwest, HSBC, Metro Bank and Santander.
SCHOOL GUIDELINES
- CIE is a place for study. Even if you have free time, other students could be studying, so please keep noise to a minimum.
- CIE is a place to learn and exchange experiences. You are going to be studying with people from different cultures, religions and backgrounds, so please join us with an open mind.
- Look after your own property. CIE is not responsible for damaged or lost property.
- Leave your classroom clean and tidy for the next students. Take all your papers with you when you leave and respect college property.
- It is illegal for under 18s to smoke and drink in the UK. Do not smoke or vape anywhere in the building. You are not allowed to buy or drink alcohol. Please, check CIE's Alcohol & Drug policy on the website.
Health
Health
Health
- Medical conditions must be stated clearly in the online enrolment form.
- All students who come to study at CIE should take out travel insurance that covers medical treatment, even those students who are entitled to NHS treatment.
- Emergency treatment in England is free for all, but this does not always apply to follow up treatment. If you are entitled to NHS treatment you will not have to pay for a visit to the doctor or hospital treatment. However, you will have to pay for medicines, dental treatment and optical treatment. There are First Aid notices at CIE and at our other teaching centres. We keep a record of all accidents and injuries, and have a procedure for ensuring that these are reviewed regularly to minimise the likelihood of recurrence.
- We will contact next of kin if a student suffers more than a trivial injury.
- The following members of staff are qualified as Emergency Aiders and may be called to assist with an emergency: Luca Marinuzzi Simon Llewellyn Fernanda Cid Godoy
Tips for staying healthy & looking after yourself
Spending time away from home might feel a little overwhelming, but we've got your back to ensure you have the best time possible. Check out our tips below to keep yourself healthy:
- Get enough sleep
- Drink lots of water
- Daily fresh air and exercise
- Eat a balanced diet with lots of fruit and vegetables
- Minimise the use of social media and screen time
DISABILITY
CIE is committed to advancing an environment in which all students and staff are given the opportunity to demonstrate and realise their full potential. All discussions and information regarding a disability or learning difficulty are treated in a confidential manner. For our full disability policy please see our policies on
Life in the uk & Staying safe
Good to know:
Cars drive on the left in England - make sure you look both ways before crossing the road.
Many people in Oxford use bicycles. Look out for bicycles in the street.
The Law:
No alcohol, cigarettes or vapes are to be sold to persons aged under 18.
No cigarettes are to be sold to under 18.
Showing mutual respect and tolerance are core British values and is therefore a basic expectation.
Respect the British custom of queuing. If you are waiting for the bus or to be served in a shop, you must stand in line and wait for your turn.
Do not block the pavement.
Do not drop litter, use the bins provided.
Oxford is not a particularly dangerous place but, as in all cities, you need to be careful. Try not to walk by yourself, especially late at night. Do not leave your bag, mobile phone or valuables unattended. You are responsible for your ow.n belongings.
Never take shortcuts. Always stick to routes selected by parents, and stay on main roads .
Do not carry more money than you need, try not to carry high value notes (e.g. £20, £50) and make sure you carry money in a safe place (NOT your back pocket). Remember that you are responsible for your cash and valuables.
Keep your phone with you. Keep your phone charged.
Do not accept lifts or rides from strangers.
If you are on the bus late at night, sit at the front, near the driver.
USEFUL WEBSITES ABOUT OXFORD
∙ https://www.dailyinfo.co.uk/ - useful information about Oxford
∙ https://oxfordcity.co.uk/ – tourist information
∙ https://www.ox.ac.uk/ – the website of Oxford University
∙ https://www.oxford.gov.uk/ – the city council website