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Dukes Education

Uni-Prep for 16-17 year olds

The University Preparation course is for those ages 16-17+, who will soon be considering applying to universities either in the UK or their own countries.

This higher level, skills-based course (22 hours per week) is designed to focus on all the independent learning skills required of an ambitious undergraduate and indeed to help some of our students seeking entry to the UK’s best universities. Our Earlscliffe admissions advisors have many years’ experience in preparing international students for entry into some of the world’s very best universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Stanford, UCL, Durham and St Andrews.

As a member of the Dukes Education family, we are pleased to offer some course units in conjunction with our specialist partner organisations: Oxbridge Applications, the Medic Portal and the Lawyer Portal.

This two week course includes:

  • IELTS lessons 
  • Research skills
  • Essay writing skills
  • Critical thinking
  • Note-taking skills
  • Completion of an extended essay on an academic topic of the student’s choice
  • Choosing appropriate UK universities and courses
  • The Oxbridge entry process
  • Visiting Oxford and a selected London university, eg Queen Mary, UCL
  • Personal Statement guidance sessions for those considering applying to UK universities through the UCAS system
  • Taking part in our weekly general and UNESCO debates
  • Public Speaking skills
  • Delivering effective presentations

Our activities

Students play volleyball, basketball, badminton, billiards and table tennis on-site. Our supervised afternoon and evening activities include karaoke nights; football, softball, a ‘Summer of Talent’ show, swimming, themed disco nights, tennis, mini-golf, dry slope tobogganing, ‘jeux sans frontières’ and quiz nights to name but a few…

These sports and activities are offered from mid-afternoon, after the day’s lessons have finished.

We are fortunate to be close to both Folkestone’s town centre and its shops, the artistic Creative Quarter, the beach and seafront, all of which offer our students moments of discovery and relaxation.

The day trips

An Earlscliffe highlight is our weekly trip to London (Capital Wednesday™) when over the course of the summer we visit the following famous London landmarks: the Tate Modern; Chelsea Football Club; the London Eye; St Paul’s Cathedral; the British Museum and Buckingham Palace. On Capital Wednesdays™ we use the high speed train link from nearby Folkestone central station which has a journey time of 55 minutes. Our Mini-MBA students also visit the Bank of England Museum and The Shard, Europe’s tallest building.

On Sundays we may visit the world-famous cathedral city of Canterbury including a river boat tour; Leeds Castle and Bluewater shopping centre; Hever Castle and Royal Tunbridge Wells; Thorpe Park theme park and the nearby Dover Castle. Our day trips are supervised. On some visits there will be free time given i.e. Folkestone, Ashford, Covent Garden.

The rooms and meals

Most rooms are spacious twin or triple rooms with en-suite WC and shower. All rooms are Wi-Fi connected. The high standard of accommodation is attractive to today’s students, and all the more so given the beautiful Victorian façade of the buildings in which it sits.

Meals are taken in the college dining room and prepared by our own chef and team. Meals are varied and often international, such as Chinese, Mexican or Indian, but not forgetting the occasional British fish and chips!

Formal dinners, every two weeks, give our students a chance to dress up and enjoy a three course meal by candlelight.

Any student’s special dietary needs can be catered for, i.e. vegetarian, non-dairy etc. Please notify us at the time of booking. Students are given packed meals on day trips.

Extra optional activities

NEW! Skateboarding
F51: The world's first multi-storey skatepark, based only 10 minutes’ walk from Earlscliffe, will allow beginners through to competition level skateboarders the opportunity to hone their skills.

NEW! Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Join us for this 8-hour Stand Up Paddle Boarding Sports Trust Award. Learn the basic skills needed to be competent at balancing, paddling, turning and stopping as well as touring the Folkestone Harbour area and the bay of Sunny Sands. A certificate will be handed out upon completion of the course.

Paintball
Have fun in the forest dodging your opponents and trying to plant the flag for your team (all safety equipment is provided and must be worn at all times).

Musical Trip - Disney's 'The Lion King' in London's West End
Most children will have seen the movie and be familiar with Elton John's music which makes the experience all the more fulfilling and easy to understand.

Warner Bros Harry Potter Tour
For Harry Potter fans, why not enjoy a day out at this popular attraction to Warner Bros Studios. You will be able to see many of the sets, props and costumes from the most successful film series of all the time: the Great Hall; Dumbledore's office; the shops in Diagon Alley; see Harry's Nimbus 2000 and Hagrid's motorcycle; the Gryffindor common room, Hagrid's hut and Professor Umbridge's office at the Ministry of Magic. Have a refreshing Butterbeer in the studio café to finish your magical afternoon!

English language extra tuition
Extra English language tuition is available in small groups or one-to-one

Courses

Easter at Earlscliffe for 8-17 year oldsThink Global! for 13-17 year oldsSustainable Futures for 14-17 year oldsMini-MBA for 15-17 year oldsUni-Prep for 16-17 year olds

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