EC Partners

Embassy Canterbury

University of Kent

Canterbury is a historic cathedral city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site with many historical structures, medieval streets, remarkable buildings all located in the county of Kent.

Our centre is located on the modern campus of University of Kent, within walking distance from the city centre. The campus is ecologically diverse and home to a number of species, including Great Crested Newts! The Northwest of the site is heavily forested, including pockets of ancient woodland, while the Southern Slopes contain a mix of wildflower and hay meadows. There are excellent sports facilities available as well as large outdoor spaces on campus for additional activities.

Quick facts

Location: University of Kent

Dates available: 25 Jun – 20 Aug

Ages: 11–18 (18 year olds accepted as part of a group with a leader)

Accommodation: Single room with en-suite / Single standard room

Emergency Number: +44 7771 845978

Living

  • Single en-suites are refurbished and located in Tyler Court
  • Standard rooms are located in Darwin College and are arranged in flats of 5
  • Standard rooms have washbasins in each room
  • Room furniture includes a wardrobe, desk and chair
  • Rooms are cleaned weekly
  • Laundry available in each residence building. Cleaning is £2.70 per wash and drying is £1.30 per cycle
  • Meals are served in a large dining hall
  • Wi-Fi throughout
  • Bathrooms are cleaned every weekday and linen changed weekly
  • Students must bring their own towel
  • A deposit of £30 is required upon arrival and replacement of lost key is £35

Dining & facilities

Meals are served in a large self-service dining hall in Rutherford College

Breakfast

Continental breakfast including coffee, toast, jam, cereal and fruit

Lunch

A minimum of 2 options available, including a vegetarian option.
Packed lunches for full day excursions and weekends.

Evening Meal

A minimum of 2 options available, including a vegetarian option.

Learning

  • Taught by friendly and informative English teachers
  • 20 x 45 minute lessons per week morning or afternoon of English lessons per week, morning or afternoon.
  • Placement test on day 1 
  • Maximum 17 students per class
  • Students will be placed in an international class with students of different nationalities
  • All lessons delivered in well equipped classrooms
  • Curriculum with emphasis on communication skills
  • Materials included as well as an end of course report and certificate

Programme

Arrival

Students will be welcomed upon arrival at Darwin College where they will register and get their room keys so that they can check-in to their rooms.

Welcome

On the first evening, there will be a welcome activity which is designed to ensure students have the opportunity to meet staff and other students and get to know more about the campus, its facilities and useful information which will help them during their stay.

Activities

Activities are organised before and after lessons and during evenings. These activities could be on-site or near to the centre. These may include:

  • Sports such as football, mini Olympics, rounders, table tennis, volleyball and basketball
  • Daytime activities such as scavenger hunt and drama workshops
  • Evening activities such as karaoke, talent shows, and team games
Excursions and Trips
london
Half-day Trips

Our students get to explore exciting places such as Whitstable, Chatham Dockyards, Leeds Castle, and Rochester 

King’s College Chapel and the Back Lawn, University of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England.
Full-day Excursions

London: Visit this exciting capital city and take a walking tour of central London and visit the National Gallery.

Cambridge: This iconic university city is famous for its colleges, where we will visit a famous college.

Brighton: A vibrant, popular seaside resort with beautiful architecture, home to the Sea Life Centre.

Optional excursions

Oxford, Bridge of Sighs
Optional
  • London: 
  • Madame Tussauds: Experience one of London’s best loved attractions! Star in immersive experiences and get up close and personal with more than 150 lifelike figures of your favourite celebrities.
  • Tower of London: Explore the iconic 1000 year-old Tower of London, a must-see historic attraction housing the stunning Crown Jewels!
  • Hastings: Hastings is a town on England’s southeast coast. It is known for the 1066 Bale of Hastings, fought on a nearby field where Bale Abbey now stands. The Norman ruins of Hastings Castle, once home to William the Conqueror, overlook the English Channel.
  • Margate: Margate is a town on England’s southeast coast. It’s known for its sandy beach. Near the Harbour Arm stone pier, the modern Turner Contemporary art gallery has rotating exhibitions.

3 Week Sample Programmes

Extra

Each 21-night stay will include 2-3 local visits to Canterbury on foot with attractions of interest, 3-4 half-day trips to other exciting places/cities and 3 full-day excursions to other major cities like London, Cambridge or Brighton. Transport for trips may be by private coach or public transport.

The programme is for illustrative purposes only and is subject to amendments or alterations.

Students may have lessons either morning or afternoon in their first week, alternating weekly after that and visits may change.

Week 1 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday
Morning Arrivals/Departures

Sports/Local activities

Optional trip:
London with Westminster walking tour and visit to the National Gallery
Testing/Induction Lessons Lessons Lessons Lessons Full-day trip:
Cambridge with walking tour and college visit
Afternoon Half-day trip:
Canterbury city, Canterbury Cathedral or walking tour
Half-day trip:
Whitstable Town with beach and view of the castle
On-site sports Half-day trip:
Chatham Dockyards
Mini olympics
Evening Welcome games
On-site activities
Marshmallow challenge Photo scavenger hunt Karaoke Multi sports Disco Film night
Week 2 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday
Morning Arrivals/Departures

On-site activities

Optional trip:
Margate and the Turner Art Gallery
Half-day trip:
Canterbury city, Canterbury Cathedral or walking tour
Half-day trip:
Rochester Town with Rochester Cathedral or Rochester Castle
On-site sports Half-day trip:
Broadstairs and Dickens House
Capture the flag Full-day trip:
London with Westminster walking tour and National Gallery visit
Afternoon Lessons Lessons Lessons Lessons Lessons
Evening Welcome games
On-site activities
Game/casino night Arts & crafts Karaoke Talent show Disco Film night
Week 3 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday
Morning Arrivals/Departures

Sports/Local activities

Optional trip:
Hastings
or
Chessington World of Adventures
Lessons Lessons Lessons Lessons Lessons Full-day trip:
Brighton with walking tour and visit to the Sea Life Centre
Afternoon Half-day trip:
Canterbury city, Canterbury Cathedral or walking tour
Half-day trip:
Dover with nature trail through the white cliffs
On-site sports Half-day trip:
Leeds Castle
Egg drop
Evening Welcome games
On-site activities
Kahoot quiz Multi sports Karaoke Trashion show Disco Film night

Student Welfare

We place the highest priority on care and supervision at all of our Embassy Summer centres so you can rest assured students are well looked after. Members of staff are available 24 hours a day.

Student Services

Our student support staff can help you with:

  • Accommodation
  • Airport transfers
  • Information about local services
  • Assistance with individual and personal problems
  • Emergency contact

Medical information

If a student needs medical attention, an Embassy staff member will help make an appointment. Group Leaders must accompany the student to an appointment. An Embassy staff member will accompany any student that is not part of a group. There is a medical centre located on the campus of the University.

LOCAL DOCTOR
University Medical Centre, Giles Lane, Canterbury CT2 7PB, Tel: +44 1227 765682

LOCAL HOSPITAL
Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother Hospital, St Peter’s Rd, Margate CT9 4AN 

INSURANCE 
If a student does not have insurance to cover their time abroad, guard.me insurance is available to purchase through Embassy Summer.

CASH
Please note that the centre is mostly cashless. Cash is only required for optional activities and room deposits.

In case of emergency

A 24 hour emergency telephone number is available all summer:

+44 7771 845978

Location

Embassy Summer Schools
c/o Darwin College
University of Kent
Canterbury CT2 7NY