UK Education Guide · 05
Boarding, guardianship and visas
Full, weekly and flexi boarding, a typical week, guardians, the Child Student and Student visas, and health cover.
← All guidesLast checked: Oct 2026
What daily life looks like for a boarder, who looks after your child in the UK, and the visa basics. Visa rules are set by the Home Office and change often: this page explains the shape of it and links to GOV.UK, which is always the final word.
Full, weekly or flexi?
Full boarding
Living at school seven days a week through term, going home or to a guardian only at exeats and holidays. The usual choice for families overseas.
Weekly boarding
Monday to Friday (or Saturday) at school, weekends at home or with a guardian. Workable only with a reliable UK base every weekend.
Flexi boarding
A few nights a week, booked as needed. Mostly for day pupils whose families live near the school.
A typical weekday
- 07:15Wake up, breakfast in house or dining hall
- 08:30Lessons begin (often with chapel or assembly)
- 13:00Lunch
- 14:00Lessons, then sport, music, drama or clubs
- 18:00Supper
- 19:00Prep (supervised homework)
- 21:00House time, then lights out (later for older pupils)
An illustration only; timings differ by school and age. Saturdays often have lessons or matches in the morning and activities afterwards; Sundays are quieter, with trips and free time.
Exeats, half terms and holidays
The UK year has three terms (autumn, spring, summer), each split by a half-term break of about a week. Exeats are weekends when boarding houses close or most boarders go out. Full boarders who cannot fly home stay with their guardian, so check each school's calendar before booking flights.
Guardianship
Almost every boarding school requires an international pupil under 18 to have a UK educational guardian: an adult or agency who acts for you locally, attends meetings, handles emergencies, and provides a home at exeats and half terms. Schools that sponsor a visa must make sure suitable care arrangements are in place for a child. Many schools ask for a guardian accredited by AEGIS (the Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Students) or a close family member in the UK.
Which visa?
Last checked: Oct 2026
| Child Student visa | Student visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | Age4 to 17 | 16 or over |
| School | SchoolAn independent (fee-paying) school that is a licensed sponsor | A licensed student sponsor (e.g. a sixth-form college or university) |
| Fee from outside the UK | Fee from outside the UK£558 (GOV.UK, 2026) | £558 (GOV.UK, 2026) |
| Earliest you can apply | Earliest you can apply6 months before the course starts | 6 months before the course starts |
| Money to show | Money to showBoarding: the course and boarding fees for one year. Other arrangements have their own amounts — see GOV.UK. | Course fees plus living costs: £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 outside, for up to 9 months, held for 28 days |
| Under 18 | Under 18Written consent from a parent or legal guardian | Written consent from both parents (or one with sole responsibility) |
Ages 16–17 can choose either visa. Talk to the school, which is the visa sponsor, before deciding.
What every application needs
- A CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) reference from the school, after your child accepts an unconditional offer
- A valid passport
- Proof of money, in the form GOV.UK sets out
- Parental consent for under-18s
- A TB test certificate: Thailand is on the GOV.UK list, so applicants coming for 6 months or more must be tested at a Home Office-approved clinic (the certificate is valid for 6 months)
- The Immigration Health Surcharge, paid as part of the application
Health cover: the IHS
Most visa applicants pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) with the application, which gives access to the NHS on broadly the same basis as UK residents. GOV.UK lists it at £776 per year for students and for applicants under 18, charged for the whole length of the visa. Many boarding schools also require or offer private medical insurance on top; ask each school.
We are not immigration advisers and this is not legal advice. Check GOV.UK before you apply, or ask us and we will point you to the right place.
Sources
- GOV.UK — Child Student visa
- GOV.UK — Student visa
- GOV.UK — Student visa: money you need
- GOV.UK — Financial evidence for Student and Child Student applicants
- GOV.UK — TB tests: countries where you need one
- GOV.UK — Immigration Health Surcharge: how much you pay
- AEGIS — Educational guardianship FAQs
- Boarding Schools' Association (BSA)
Last checked: Oct 2026
This guide is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Rules, fees and dates change: always check the official source (GOV.UK, the exam board or the school), or ask us.
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