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Local Coordinator Close to your School
Your local coordinator visits your child, attends parents' evenings on your behalf and stays in touch throughout your guardianship programme.
British Guardianship at St Andrew's College Cambridge
Nominated Guardian for St Andrew's College Cambridge. Boarding school guardianship for international students.
Are you looking for a Nominated Guardian for St Andrew's College Cambridge? UK boarding schools generally require international students under 18 to have an accredited UK guardian in place throughout their studies. British Guardianship provides a fully accredited boarding school guardianship service for St Andrew's College Cambridge students, including a dedicated local coordinator, safe accommodation with vetted host families during half terms, exeats and holidays, attendance at parents' evenings on your behalf, and 24-hour emergency support.
Guardianship Fees
Our UK boarding school guardianship services for St Andrew's College Cambridge start from £350 per term.
Dedicated Guardianship Manager
As soon as your application is received, a dedicated member of our guardianship team becomes your main contact, managing every aspect of your nominated guardian arrangements.
Local Vetted Host Family
We work with a network of vetted host families across the UK. For exeats and half terms, we aim to place your child with a local host family matched to your preferences, so weekends away from school feel settled and safe.
Our Services
UK Boarding School Guardianship
An accredited nominated guardian for international boarders at St Andrew's College Cambridge, with a dedicated local coordinator, vetted host families for half terms, exeats and holidays, and 24-hour emergency support.
Learn More →Boarding School Placement
Our admissions team supports international families through the application to St Andrew's College Cambridge, from choosing the right year of entry through to an offer and enrolment, with Child Student visa guidance and guardianship arranged alongside.
Learn More →Student Exchange Programme
St Andrew's College Cambridge accepts students for short-term boarding. Our exchange programme and short stay guardianship let students experience British boarding before committing to a full placement.
Learn More →St Andrew's College Cambridge Overview
St Andrew's College Cambridge is an independent, co-educational college for international and UK students aged 15 to 22, based on Station Road close to Cambridge railway station. The college has taught students in Cambridge since 1976 and is part of Dukes Education, a group of independent schools and colleges.
The college prepares students for UK university entry through small-group courses: a one-year GCSE course from age 15, Pre A-Level and Pre IB courses, A Levels over 18 months to three years, a Year 13 retake option and a University Foundation Course. Average class size is around eight students.
Boarding at St Andrew's College Cambridge
Around 90 per cent of students live in college boarding houses within walking distance of the main building, and a homestay option is also available. Boarding is full boarding, with three meals a day included on weekdays and at weekends. Students can also board for a single term on the One-Term Taster Course.
Boarding Houses and Accommodation
Houses range from family-sized properties with eight to 18 beds to Scholars House on Mill Road, with 57 single en-suite rooms, and one house is set aside for over-18s. Students are allocated by age, gender and preference. Most rooms are single en-suite, and twin rooms are shared by two students of the same age and gender. Every house has live-in house parents, and a duty manager is available overnight.
Boarding Life
Boarders eat breakfast in their houses before 9am lessons, lunch in the college canteen and dinner in the dining hall. Early evenings bring structured prep supervised by tutors, followed by free time, social activities, quiet study and sport at the Cambridge University Sports Centre. Weekends combine study with trips to London, Oxford, the Cotswolds and the Fens.
Academic and Pastoral Support
A qualified SENCO builds individual programmes, including access arrangements, for students with needs such as mild dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, autism or OCD. Students receive regular personal tutor support, and health care comes through the college medical officer and a partner GP practice. A Student Development Programme offers group research projects with Cambridge University academics.
International boarders at St Andrew's College Cambridge are generally expected to have a UK guardian. British Guardianship provides AEGIS accredited boarding school guardianship for international students at UK boarding schools.
Facilities & Activities at St Andrew's College Cambridge
Every accredited UK boarding school offers a range of sport, arts and academic facilities for international students, together with an extended programme of activities in the evenings and at weekends. For full details of the facilities and activities available, please visit the official St Andrew's College Cambridge website.
Information for International Students and Parents
St Andrew's College Cambridge admits international students from age 15 for the one-year GCSE course, 16 for sixth form courses and 16 and a half for the University Foundation Course. September is the main intake; January suits taster students and second-year A Level transfers, and April is used mainly by Pre A-Level students. British Guardianship supports international families through every stage of the application with our boarding school admissions service.
English Language Requirements
Typical IELTS levels by course are:
- One-year GCSE (from age 15): IELTS 5.0
- Pre A-Level (from age 16): IELTS 5.5
- A Level (from age 16): IELTS 5.5 to 6.0
- University Foundation Course (from age 16 and a half): IELTS 5.5 to 6.5 depending on pathway
English is also assessed as part of the application, and students attend IELTS classes until they reach their university target, usually IELTS 6.5.
Child Student Visa
Students coming to the UK from overseas will usually need a Child Student visa. St Andrew's College Cambridge is a licensed Child Student sponsor on the UKVI register, and the Dukes Education visa team issues the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies once a place is confirmed, while the visa application itself is submitted by parents. Our Child Student visa guide explains the requirements and process, and families holding a British National (Overseas) visa can contact us for guidance on the BN(O) route.
UK Guardian Requirement
The college arranges UK guardianship for students under 18, and guardianship forms are part of the pre-arrival paperwork. Airport transfers are available from London Stansted, Heathrow and Gatwick.
British Guardianship is AEGIS accredited and a BSA Certified Guardian, and can act as the nominated UK guardian for St Andrew's College Cambridge boarders. Our boarding school guardianship service covers regular contact with the college, travel coordination and safe accommodation with vetted host families during half terms, exeats and holidays.
Short-Term Stays and Exchange Placements
The One-Term Taster Course gives students aged 15 to 19 one full term of 12 to 14 weeks, starting in September, January or April, with a tailored timetable, daily tutorials, full board in a college boarding house and weekend trips. Many continue into a full programme. Families considering a shorter placement can explore our Student Exchange Programme and short stay guardianship.
To discuss UK guardianship for St Andrew's College Cambridge, book a free online consultation or apply for a nominated guardian.
Frequently Asked Questions
UK boarding schools generally require international students under 18 to have a UK-based guardian, and British Guardianship confirms St Andrew's College Cambridge's specific requirements as part of your application. The guardian acts on behalf of parents in the UK, is the school's point of contact in an emergency and looks after the student whenever they cannot be at school. We provide this as an AEGIS accredited boarding school guardianship service.
Whenever your child cannot stay at St Andrew's College Cambridge, for example during half terms, exeats or holidays when boarding houses close, they stay with one of our vetted host families. Every host family is visited in their home, provides professional and personal references and holds an Enhanced DBS check for all household members aged 16 and over. British Guardianship remains your child's educational guardian throughout every stay.
We have guardians available and ready to be assigned. The overall timeframe depends on how quickly the required paperwork is completed and communication with St Andrew's College Cambridge is finalised. As every case is different, timelines can vary, but we aim to make the process as smooth and efficient as possible.
Boarding school guardianship is charged per term and starts from £350, with host family stays, travel arrangements and other services added as your child needs them. Full details are on our guardianship fees page.
A UK student guardian must be a responsible adult, usually aged 25 or over, who lives permanently in the UK, speaks fluent English and is close enough to the school to respond quickly in an emergency; many boarding schools set a maximum travel time. The guardian must be contactable 24 hours a day and hold an Enhanced DBS check where they or their household host the student. St Andrew's College Cambridge may also ask for the guardian's details before the start of term and set additional requirements of its own. As an AEGIS accredited guardianship provider, British Guardianship meets these requirements on your behalf, with vetted guardians, Enhanced DBS checked host families and 24-hour emergency support.
Yes. Our boarding school admissions service supports international families through the application to St Andrew's College Cambridge, from choosing the right year of entry through to an offer and enrolment, with Child Student visa guidance and guardianship arranged alongside.
Disclaimer: Logo, images and videos are shown courtesy of St Andrew's College Cambridge and remain the property of their respective owners. British Guardianship is an independent AEGIS-accredited guardianship provider, and this page is not published or endorsed by St Andrew's College Cambridge. School information is provided as a general guide and may change.
SEN Support Explained: SpLD: specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia, affect particular areas of learning such as reading, spelling, coordination or working with numbers, without affecting overall ability. ASD: autism spectrum disorder affects how a student communicates, interacts with others and experiences the world around them. ADHD: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder affects concentration, attention, impulse control and activity levels.
