Preparatory IB course

• prepare for the IB

• improve your English

• start in September, January, or April

• a study break from you own school

The Pre-IB course is intended for students who:

  • require further academic preparation before starting the IB Diploma
  • need to improve their English language before starting the IB
  • want to join us during the academic year
  • wish to take a study break at St Clare’s before returning to their own school

Native speakers and non-native speakers of English are accepted. Students may join the course for the whole year or at the start of any module. The broadly based course lasts for one year and is divided into five modules, each of which has seven teaching weeks:

The IB Diploma preparatory programme
(Pre-IB) consists of:
Hours per week
(60 minutes)
English language 8
Mathematics 4
Science 4
Humanities 4
Art, Music or Theatre 2
World Literature 2
Personal, Social, Health Education 1
  • Subjects are taught by teachers who have qualifications in teaching of English as a foreign language or experience of teaching non-native speakers of English.
  • The emphasis in all subjects is on the development of relevant academic skills to prepare for IB Diploma work.
  • In addition to the above programme, students are also expected to engage in the College’s activities programme.
  • Please note that students accepted on the pre-IB programme are not automatically accepted for the IB Diploma programme. We only accept on the IB Diploma programme students who we feel have a sound chance of success.
Contact the Department
We always encourage students and parents to visit the college so they can get a much better idea of our classes, teachers, accommodation, campus and what it is like to be a student here. Visits can be arranged at any time. We also host two Open Mornings per year.
Chris Osbourn
Admissions Registrar
+44 1865 517304
chris.osbourn@stclares.ac.uk
Natalie Burrows
Assistant Admissions Registrar
+44 1865 517336
natalie.burrows@stclares.ac.uk
Banbury Road Campus
St Clare’s Oxford – 139 Banbury Road – Oxford – OX2 7AL – UK
Telephone: +44 1865 552031 – Fax: +44 1865 513359
Office hours: Monday-Friday 0900-1700 GMT

Windsurfing on Farmoor Reservoir

IB Students on an introductory windsurfing lesson at a local reservoir just outside Oxford had to deal with blustery winds and dramatic skies but after two hours everyone managed to stand up and do some windsurfing. This sort of trip is just one of the many activities...

Term Dates
Autumn Term 2017
Thursday 31 August Arrivals Day — first-year IB and all other new students
Thursday 31 August – Sunday 3 September IB and Pre-IB Orientation
Sunday 3 September Arrivals Day — remaining second-year students return between 10:00 and 20:00
Monday 4 September 09:00 — Classes start
Friday 20 October Teaching finishes at 16:15
Saturday 21 October – Sunday 29 October Mid-term break – college is closed to students
Friday 15 December Teaching finishes at 16:15
Saturday 16 December Departure Day — students leave by 12:00
Christmas holiday – college closed to students
Spring Term 2018
Wednesday 3 January Arrivals Day — students return and new students arrive. Parent-Teacher meetings 14:00 – 16:00
Thursday 4 January 09:00 — IB classes start
Orientation for new Pre-IB students during the morning
Friday 9 February Teaching finishes at 13:15
Saturday 10 February Departure Day – students leave by 12:00
Saturday 10 February – Sunday 18 February Mid-term break – college is closed to students
Monday 19 February 09:00 – classes start
Thursday 29 March Teaching finishes at 16:15
Friday 30 March Departure Day – students leave by 12:00
Easter holiday — college closed to students
Summer Term 2018
Wednesday 11 April Arrivals Day —students return between 10:00 and 20:00
Thursday 12 April 09:00 — classes start
Friday 27 April – Friday 18 May Final exams for second-year students
Tuesday 15 May – Monday 21 May Term 3 exams for first-year students
Tuesday 22 May Graduation Day for second year IB students
Wednesday 23 May Departure Day for second year IB students — all graduating students leave by 12.00
Saturday 2 June – Thursday 7 June Science field courses for first year IB students
Friday 15 June Classes finish at 13:15. Parent-Teacher meetings 14:00 – 16:00
Saturday 16 June Departure Day – first year IB and Pre-IB students — students leave by 10:00
Further information

For further information please read the Pre IB section in our IB Brochure.

Download the IB Brochure

Fees

Academic Year 2017-2018

Annual Fees
Day students £18,655
Residential students (weekly and fully residential) £38,820
Registration Fee £100
Enrolment Deposits:
IB course £2500
Pre-IB course (per module) £500
Annual fees are payable in two instalments
Weekly and fully residential students:
1st instalment 10 August 2017 £19,564
2nd instalment 14 December 2017 £19,219
Day students:
1st instalment 10 August 2017 £9,392
2nd instalment 14 December 2017 £9,226
(The fees above include fees and travel insurance)
Additional charges
The following prices offer an approximate guide only and there may be other charges in addition to those listed below:
Books per year £300–£350
Examination charges
SAT Reasoning Test $100
SAT Subject Tests $90–$100
IB Diploma £550
Legalisation of IB Diploma — (for Latin American, Mediterranean and Eastern European countries) £97 per country
Biology Field Trip £350
Geography and Environmental Systems & Societies Field Trip £250
Private Music Lessons £45 per hour
Music and Drama Exams £30–£80
Extra lessons and special tuition per lesson £50
UK Day Trip free–£30
Trips to Musicals or the Theatre £30–£70
European cultural weekend trips £500–£600
Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award — two practice expeditions and the final assessed expedition £650
Team Sports Clothes £50–£100
Airport Transfer (depends on single or return and on destination) £100–£250
Graduation Ball (includes Ball ticket and graduation photo) £70

Find out more about this course

Please register so we can contact you.

Register your interest
Back to top ^

St Clare's, Oxford