Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about English courses at IH Bristol:
Bristol Location
Bristol is in the South-West of England. London is about 1 hour 30 minutes away by train, and the beautiful old city of Bath is only 15 minutes away. Bristol Airport is 20 minutes from the city by bus, with regular flights to many European cities.
IH Bristol locations
The Oakfield Road school is on a quiet street in Clifton. The Queens Avenue school is a few minutes' walk from the Clifton Triangle and Bristol University. Click here for a map and more about how to find us. Clifton is an elegant and prestigious part of Bristol, that is lined with Georgian townhouses and refined restaurants and cafes. It is very close to some of Bristol’s key landmarks and is within walking distance of College Green and the Clifton Suspension Bridge.
Visit our travel page to find the best way to get to Bristol:
Bristol is a vibrant and exciting city with something for everyone. Whether you’re here for the culture, food, nightlife, scenery, music, or anything else for that matter, the city has something in store for you. There are festivals and events all year round, from the festive Christmas market in the winter, to the Bristol Light Festival in spring. However, the city really comes to life in the summer, with events such as the Balloon Fiesta, the Harbour Festival and music festivals like Love Saves the Day and Tokyo World. Bristol has a population of 450,000 and 2 major universities. It balances busy city life with beautiful rural areas, such as Ashton court, which is easily accessible on foot across the stunning Clifton Suspension Bridge.
The price will depend on which course you want to do, how long you want to study for and whether or not you take an exam. You can see all our prices on our dates & fees page but if you want us to calculate the cost for you, send us your details and we will send you a quote. We need to know:
your name
age
nationality
English level
dates of study
exams (if you want to take an exam)
accommodation type
Email this information to info@ihbristol.com and we will send you a quote for your course.
We are an exam centre for Cambridge, IELTS, OET and Trinity. This means, you can take the following exams:
Different people learn at different speeds so this information is for guidance only.
To enrol, go to our online course booking form and fill in all your details and submit the application to us. Once we receive it, we will register you and send you any necessary paperwork, including your invoice.
You can find all our Terms & Conditions here. This tells you what happens if you cancel a booking.
If you want to take a holiday during your course, you must tell us at the time of application. The holiday period will be added to your course. If you have a visa, for each 10 consecutive weeks of study you are allowed one week of holiday. If you are already attending a course and wish to have a holiday, you must tell us two weeks in advance. In this case, the number of weeks you take as a holiday can be added to the end of your course, depending on availability. Note: additional charges may apply.
Our standard English course (General English mornings) only has classes in the mornings and you do 20 lessons per week; Intensive courses are mornings and afternoon and you do 30 lessons per week.
On Friday afternoons, everybody can attend Conversation Club no matter which course they are doing.
Adult students have a choice of Student Residence or Homestay.
If you have friends or family in Bristol, you can stay with them or you can make your own accommodation arrangements.
We will send you a Student Handbook which has lots of information about the course, accommodation and Bristol. Read it carefully so you know what to expect.
Remember to bring an umbrella, to be willing to speak and listen in English -from the first day - and to be ready to have fun while you achieve your language learning goals.
For Cambridge and IELTS exam package courses, the cost of the materials is included. For all other adult courses, the materials cost is added to your invoice/quote. There is no charge for materials for one-week courses.
On junior courses, all materials are included in the cost of the course.
International House Bristol has partnered with Flywire to make your international payments safe and easy. Flywire allows you to pay from almost any country and in almost any currency by bank transfer, credit card and other local payment methods. Flywire is International House Bristol's preferred method of payment.
Avoid unexpected fees Unexpected bank fees can result in a short balance on your account when payment reaches your institution. Flywire ensures your tuition is delivered in full every time.
Pay in your home currency Avoid unnecessary bank fees and receive favorable foreign exchange rates.
Credit/Debit card payments - non UK cards - can be made through Flywire, above, with no extra charges. Please have your invoice number(s) and/or student name ready.
Credit/Debit card payments - UK cards, can be made by contacting the school by telephone on +44 (0)117 909 0911 or +44 (0)117 906 7660. If you are in Bristol, you can also come into our school office to pay with your card. Please have your invoice number(s) and/or student name ready.
Cheques should be made payable to International House Bristol Ltd. Please write the invoice number(s) and student name (if different from the name on the cheque) on the back of the cheque.
Flywire - above - is International House Bristol's preferred method of payment for international payments. If you still want to pay by direct bank transfer, please add £6.00 to the amount due to cover international bank charges by IH Bristol's bank; please note that your bank may make a separate charge for an international transfer. Please use the invoice number and then the student's name as the reference for your payment. You will find our bank details on our invoices or you can request them by contacting the school directly.
It depends on your nationality and the number of weeks you want to spend in the UK. You can find out if you need a visa on this government website https://www.gov.uk/visa-to-study-english/eligibility(Opens in a new tab/window). Just click on Check if you need a UK visa, on the right-hand side, and follow the instructions.
If you need a visa, we can send you the necessary documents to support your application.
There are 8 levels at IH Bristol:
IH Bristol
CEFR
Cambridge English
IELTS bands
Trinity levels
Summary of abilities
Level 1 Beginner
A1
1.0 ‒ 2.0
Grade 2
You can communicate at a basic level and can deal with some simple situations in English. You understand a little English and you now have a good base to learn more.
Level 2 Elementary
A2
KET
2.5 ‒ 3.0
Grade 3
You can communicate at a basic level and can manage everyday situations in an English-speaking country. You understand simple English and you are ready to learn much more.
Level 3 Pre-Intermediate
A2
KET
3 ‒ 3.5
Grade 4
You can communicate well in simple everyday situations. Your grammar and vocabulary are growing and you understand more spoken and written English every day.
Level 4 Lower Intermediate
B1
PET
4.0
Grade 5
Your vocabulary and grammar are still limited, but you can communicate in most everyday situations. You are starting to read and listen to real English with confidence.
Level 5 Mid-Intermediate
B1
PET
4.5
Grade 6
You can speak quite fluently in most everyday situations. You are starting to express more difficult ideas, but your English is not always correct.
Level 6 Upper Intermediate
B2
FCE
6.0
Grades 7‒ 9
Your level is near the Cambridge B2 First exam. You know all the basic grammar and have a good range of vocabulary, and you can use English in many different situations.
Level 7 Lower Advanced
C1
CAE
7.0
Grades 10 ‒ 11
You can use a wide range of English effectively in many situations. You easily understand natural spoken and written English.
Level 8 Upper Advanced
C2
CPE
8.0 ‒ 9.0
Grade 12
You understand and can use even very difficult English, although you still need to work on small mistakes. At the end of this level, your English is close to a native speaker's.
When you register with us, we send you a link to our level test so we can see which class you need to be in. We also test your listening and speaking on your first day, to double check your level.
For adults, yes, as long as you attend a minimum of 80% of your classes, you will get a certificate at the end of your course.
For juniors, you will get a certificate at the end of your course.
Before you start, we measure your initial English language level through a link to an online test. On your first day, we check your speaking & listening skills. This means we know your exact English level when you start your course.
During your course:
There is a Friday morning end-of-week quiz each week. Students complete a small quiz/test individually, prepared by your teachers (one for each of your two morning classes). You check the answers with your teacher, then give them your percentage score for each test. This helps you and your teacher see how much new language you can remember from each week’s classes.
If you study for more than 4 weeks, you have a 1-to-1 tutorial with your teacher once every month. You discuss how you feel about your language progress and agree learning goals together. Your teacher will also give you feedback and advice on your learning.
When you are ready to move to the next level, you can take a 45-minute end-of-level test. If you pass this test, we will move you to the next level the following week. If you do not pass the test, we give you a 1:1 feedback session with a teacher, who will advise you on what you need to focus on to improve further.
Every two weeks, our teachers meet to talk about all our students. If a student needs more support or advice, we act quickly to help them progress faster..
We have small class sizes (12 maximum for adults; 16 maximum for juniors) so your teachers will monitor your progress in each lesson and give you feedback on your errors and how you can improve.
At the end of your course, you can take a final 1-hour ‘progress check’ test to see how much you have improved. It is your choice if you would like to take this final test.
You can find further advice on your progress from one of the teachers in the daily Study Room time (supervised 3.30-4.30pm, Monday-Thursday), and from the school’s Director of Studies.
Yes, of course. On adult courses, there is homework every day and you can ask for extra homework as well. Or you can go to the supervised study room after classes to work on English with the help of a teacher.
We strongly advise you to buy personal insurance. Good insurance covers: lost or stolen things (like laptops and phones), medical costs, and your course fees if you must cancel or go home early. IH Bristolis working in partnership with guard.me, to provide our students with an insurance policy made specially for students in the UK - you can find more information on insurance here.
IH Client Promise
Realise your aspirations and open new horizons by learning with International House in a positive and enjoyable environment.
We will help you learn and progress by designing well structured courses and educational support services.
Before enrolling we will listen to your needs and give you guidance on choosing the right course. This may involve a language level test and an interview.
You will be given clear and accurate information about all aspects of your course, examination or other service.
You will be taught by qualified teachers or trainers, who regularly receive up to date professional development. Younger learners will be taught by teachers trained to meet their specific needs.
Your course will be supervised by skilled educational managers who will make sure the content is up to date, the school has the right resources, and whose goal is to help you have a positive experience.
Your learning will be regularly assessed during your course to help you progress. You will have opportunities to discuss how to improve.
You will be encouraged to give us feedback so we can continue to improve while you are still studying with us.
Diversity is celebrated at International House and we are committed to treating everybody fairly and equally.
