We are delighted you are considering an Abingdon education for your child. Each year, over 200 UK and international students join us from more than 100 different schools across the state and independent sectors.
There is no typical Abingdon student and we take into consideration the character, interests and talents of every individual who applies, welcoming applications from all backgrounds, faiths and nationalities. Boarding is available from the age of 13+ (Third Year) and our recently refurbished boarding facilities create a true home from home environment featuring single rooms for our Sixth Formers, social hubs and extended study room facilities. International students with the appropriate visa status may join us as day pupils from the age of 11.
We are an academically selective school, and entry for international students is by assessment. Those candidates whose first language is not English may also be required to take an additional English test.
If a candidate is unable to travel to the UK for the main assessment day, then international students may sit their tests at the British Council or one of our authorised assessment centres. You can find out more by contacting our Admissions team: [email protected]
Entry at 11+ and 13+ (First Year and Third Year)
The assessment comprises the school’s own exams, an interview and a current school reference. Dates for the assessments can be found on this page.
Please note we cannot accept students into the First Year on a Child Student visa. We can only accept applications for day places from non-UK nationals who are entitled to study in the UK under their parent’s visa.
Entry at 14+ (Fourth Year)
Each year we take a small number of new students into the Fourth Year. Please contact us for further information and for details about our next test dates.
Entry at 16+ (Sixth Form)
Assessment comprises a written paper, a maths paper (with an advanced option for prospective Further Mathematics students), and verbal and non-verbal reasoning tests. Non-native English speakers also complete an English grammar test. Most candidates will be invited for an interview, and we require a confidential reference from the candidate’s Headteacher detailing their character, academic strengths, and interests. Dates for the assessments can be found on this page.
Admissions decisions are made after careful consideration of all assessment results, interview performance, and confidential references.
For information on how we support students with English Language needs, please visit our EAL page; and for those with learning differences, please visit our Academic Support page.
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Register your child
All parents who want their child to be considered for entry to Abingdon must complete an online registration form and make an international applicant registration fee payment. Once the registration has been received our admissions department will acknowledge the application and provide you with details of the entrance examination.
Our recommended registration deadlines are:
| Year Group | Recommended Registration Deadline |
| First Year | October of the year before entry (ie UK National Curriculum Year 6) |
| Third Year | October three years before entry (ie UK National Curriculum Year 6) |
| Fourth Year | October of the year before entry (ie. UK National Curriculum Year 9) |
| Sixth Form | October of the year before entry (ie. UK National Curriculum Year 11) |
Late applications may be considered, subject to availability of places. Please contact the Admissions team for advice.
Assessment Process
The assessment process is the same as for UK based students. In addition to the specific year-group assessments, students whose first language is not English may also be required to take an additional English test.
If a candidate is unable to travel to the UK for the main assessment day, then international students may sit their tests at the British Council or one of our authorised assessment centres. Please contact the Admissions office for advice.
Scholarships
Certain scholarships are available to international students. The admissions team will be happy to advise you further.
Educational Agents
We welcome direct applications from the families of international students, and using an educational agent does not increase your chances of gaining admission to Abingdon.
However, if families wish to use an agent, please be aware that Abingdon works with a carefully selected and vetted group of agents, who understand our admissions process in detail. If you would like further information about the agents we work with, please contact [email protected].
Visas
Any student who is a citizen of a country outside the UK and Ireland, and who wishes to study in the UK for a period of more than six months, requires a visa to study in the UK. This includes EEA students who arrived in the UK after 1 January 2021.
Abingdon School has a licence to sponsor Child Student Visa students. Where a student is sponsored to obtain a Child Student Visa, the student must remain a full boarder for the duration of their time at Abingdon. For this reason, we are only able to sponsor students from the Third Year upwards as we do not have boarding facilities in the First Year or at our Prep School.
Abingdon uses an immigration lawyer who manages the visa process on the School’s behalf, and will also provide support to any parents who require a Child Student Visa. There is a non-refundable administrative charge to cover the additional work required to ensure the smooth running of the visa process.
Where a student is not sponsored, Abingdon School will request evidence of the student’s right to study in the UK before making an offer of a place. This could be by virtue of a parent’s visa or under the EU settlement scheme.
Abingdon charges a termly administrative compliance fee for students who are required to have a Visa to study in the UK (either those sponsored by Abingdon School or those who are in the UK as a dependant on a parent’s visa). Please see the additional charges list for further information.
Further information may be obtained from the UK Government Visa and Immigration department.
Guardians
Every international pupil who is on a Child Student Visa sponsored by Abingdon School must have a guardian appointed by their parents as a condition of entry into the School. It is very important for the welfare of the pupil that the guardian is actively interested in the pupil’s education and welfare and lives close enough for the pupil to visit during holidays or if needed during extraordinary circumstances such as school closures.
You can find a list of accredited guardians on the AEGIS (the Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Students) or BSA websites.
The provision of guardianship is monitored by the boarding Heads of House as well as by the parents who employ the guardian. In certain circumstances a Head of House may call into question the suitability of a particular guardian and would hope that the parents would take the necessary action in the best interests of his or her child. The School will under no circumstances recommend or arrange guardianship on behalf of the parents. Responsibility for the welfare of pupils while in the care of their guardians, and while travelling to and from them, rests solely with the parents and not with the School.
Relocating or Returning to the UK
We recognise that for some British nationals who are returning to the UK from a period overseas, there are often concerns that their child’s education may have been different from the UK system. We have experience of this and we offer our full support throughout the process.
Candidates can either attend our standard assessment days in the UK, or families can arrange for exams to be taken at the British Council Offices or at one of our approved assessment centres. We encourage families to register their interest in a place by our recommended deadlines, but understand that sometimes plans or events will not make this possible. In these cases, we are happy to accept late registrations while we have places available.
Please contact the Admissions office to discuss your situation and they will be happy to help you.
