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Institute of Continuing Education (ICE)

 

Before applying for a place on the International Summer Programme, please ensure that you have read the programme requirements and have understood our booking terms and conditions.

Eligibility

We welcome applications from all adults aged 18-80+, including university students, professionals, retirees and those with other experience, regardless of educational background. Courses are taught at approximately first-year undergraduate level. Unfortunately, we cannot accept bookings from anyone under the age of 18. (You must be 18 or over before submitting an application).

Language requirements

To ensure that all participants on the International Summer Programme are able to enjoy studying with us, you will need to be confident understanding and following discussions presented in written and spoken English at University level, and will need to demonstrate an appropriate level of English language proficiency.

If English is not your first (native) language, you will need to meet our English language requirements, by providing evidence of one of the following tests. These results should have been achieved in the same sitting, and no more than 4 years before the date of your application.

Please note that if you have previously attended our University of Cambridge Summer Programmes you are deemed to have already met this requirement and will not need to provide further proof of English language proficiency. You will be asked to upload proof of English language proficiency when applying.

Qualification Required Score
IELTS (Academic),
IELTS for UKVI Academic or IELTS Indicator
Minimum overall band score of 6.5 or above,
with no less than 6.0 in each of the four components

C1 Advanced

 

CAE (Cambridge English Advanced)

Overall score of 180, with no element lower than 176

 

Grade A or B or 176 points overall on the Cambridge English Scale

C2 Proficiency

 

CPE (Cambridge English Proficiency)

Overall score of 200, with no element lower than 185

 

Grade C or above or 200 points overall on the Cambridge English Scale

TOEFL iBT or TOEFL Home Edition Overall score of 92 (with no individual element below 22)

Applicants who have 'narrowly missed' the minimum required levels in one of the accepted English Language tests will need to have a video call with one of our team. 

We recognise that you may have undertaken all or part of your education in English and/or may have extensive experience using English on a regular basis in your professional life, and as such could reasonably be expected to fully participate in our Summer Programme without the above tests. If you think you may be eligible to apply on this basis, we ask you to provide evidence to support this: an employer recommendation or reference, a CV / link to your LinkedIn page, an article or website that shows your work.

Fees and payment

A Registration fee, calculated as 15% of the total order value (tuition and accommodation fees) applies for all applications. The balance of the tuition and accommodation fee for this year was due on 12 May 2024 as stated on the payment schedule. Anyone applying after that date will be required to pay fees in full. A reminder will be sent each week to anyone applying after 12 May. 

Cancellations and refunds

To cancel a booking, you must inform us by emailing intenq @ ice.cam.ac.uk. If you wish, you may use the model cancellation form (also available on our VLE), although this is not obligatory. If completed, submit the form electronically to the email address above. If you do not use the model cancellation form you must clearly state your intention to cancel the booking. To meet the cancellation deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning exercising the right to cancel before the cancellation period has expired.

You may cancel your booking at any time. After the 14-day cancellation period has expired, the standard programme cancellation policy (as specified below) will apply.

Please note that accommodation and subsistence components of your booking may be subject to different cancellation terms and conditions depending on the accommodation provider's regulations and the amount of notice of cancellation provided.

If you are acting as a consumer, and you cancel the course booking within 14 calendar days of receiving your Order Confirmation without giving any reason, you are entitled to a full refund of the price paid (note that exceptions apply for any College accommodation booked through us). If you are not acting as a consumer, the standard ICE refund and cancellation policy provisions shall apply.

Cancellations and refunds in circumstances outside those described above, and/or following the expiry of the 14-day cancellation period, are subject to the terms and conditions set out in this Information and Refunds policy. For the avoidance of doubt, the cancellation period will expire 14 days after the date of the Order Confirmation.

We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction. In any event you will not incur any fees as a result of this reimbursement.

If you start to use our services during the cancellation period (ie if the programme commences during the 14-day cancellation period) or if you access the course materials via our VLE and you cancel the Contract, you will pay us an amount that is in proportion to what has been performed up until you have communicated to us your cancellation from this Contract, in comparison to full coverage of the Contract.

By applying and paying for a programme that begins within the 14-day cancellation period, you are deemed to have expressed your wish to begin our services. If you subsequently decide to cancel the Contract, you will be liable to pay us an amount that is in proportion to the Services performed until you have communicated your decision to cancel, in comparison to full coverage of the Contract (for International Summer Programmes this excludes College accommodation).

You will not have the right to cancel a Contract where the Services have been fully performed.

Cancellations are subject to the policies detailed in the table below. Cancellations due to an unsuccessful visa application are not eligible for a refund. All fees, including the registration fee, are non-transferable to another year or another student.

In the case of a booking being changed from one week to another and where the student subsequently cancels the booking, please note that the order confirmation date used will be that of the original booking, and not the revised week.

If your application is unsuccessful, you will be refunded the 15% registration fee.

Two-week cancellation period
  Tuition fees Accommodation fees Registration fee
Cancellations made
within 2 weeks
(or 14 days) of
receiving your
Order Confirmation*
Full refund Fully refundable if the cancellation
is received up to and including
9 June 2024 (23:59 UK time), but for
cancellations from 10 June 2024,
non-refundable
Full refund
After two-week cancellation period
Weeks/days before
beginning of the Summer 
Programme (Sunday 7 July 2024)
Tuition fees Accommodation
fees
Registration fee
More than
8 weeks (up to and including
11 May 2024 23:59 UK time)
Full refund of the
balance of payment
(tuition less
registration fee - provided
full payment has been paid)
Full refund Not refundable
8 weeks to 28 days (12 May up
to and including 9 June 2024 23:59 UK time)
50% refund of the
balance of payment
50% refund Not refundable
27 days to 14 days (10 June up
to and including 23 June 2024 23:59 UK time)
50% refund of the
balance of payment
Not refundable Not refundable
13 days or less (from 24 June 2024 23:59 UK time) Not refundable Not refundable Not refundable

* By 'order confirmation' we are referring to a student's acceptance letter.

Cancellation by ICE

Our programmes have to run on a financially sustainable and academically-viable basis. In the unlikely event that a course does not recruit enough students to make it viable, the course will be cancelled, and students offered a place on an alternative course. Decisions about any low-enrolment courses are taken on or around 1 May 2024.

Whilst every effort is made to avoid changes to our programme, ICE reserves the right to withdraw any course. In such circumstances, we will endeavour to provide a substitute of equal standing. Should a course have to be cancelled due to last-minute unforeseen circumstances, any student enrolled on that course will be contacted immediately, and an alternative course place arranged.

Should illness or emergency prevent a Course Director from teaching, we will endeavour to provide a substitute of equal standing.

If for any reason ICE cancels the programme, all tuition fees will be returned in full. We cannot however reimburse the cost of any pre-booked travel arrangements and recommend that you take out travel insurance to cover any significant costs incurred.

Course places cannot be transferred to other people. If you are no longer able to take up your place please contact intenq @ ice.cam.ac.uk

Special circumstances

If, in the reasonable opinion of ICE, the presence of any client, tutor, student or delegate is, or is deemed likely to be, an impediment to the provision of any service of ICE, or brings ICE (and/or the University of Cambridge) into disrepute, ICE may exclude such a person from all or part of that service. In these circumstances, ICE will return any fee paid by or for the individual, but there will be no further liability of the Institute.

Course allocation

If, when applying, your first choice is full, you can add yourself to a waiting list and must select a second choice. We reserve the right to alter details of any course should illness or emergency prevent a Course Director from teaching. In such circumstances, we will endeavour to provide a substitute of equal standing. Should a course have to be cancelled due to very low enrolment or last-minute unforeseen circumstances, any student enrolled on that course will be contacted immediately, and an alternative course place arranged.

Accommodation allocation

If, when applying, your first option is full, you can add yourself to a waiting list and must select a second choice. Colleges will try to meet specific room requests and additional requirements, but this may not always be possible. Please note that room sizes may vary considerably.

Unfortunately we are unable to confirm specific room allocations prior to arrival, nor are the Colleges. We kindly ask you not to contact the Colleges directly. 

Accommodation changes

Accommodation changes are not normally possible. In exceptional circumstances, accommodation changes can be considered, where space permits, and where the accommodation change has been signed off by the Summer Programmes team. If the change is possible, there is no charge up until the balance of payment date: 12 May 2024. After that date, a charge of £60 is made to cover the administration involved.

Programme Week change 

Any registered student who wishes to change from one week to another should contact the Summer Programmes team. If the change is possible, there is no charge up until the balance of payment date: 12 May 2024. After that date, a charge of £60 per week changed is made to cover the administration involved in altering the College booking, week, two course places, teaching room allocation, information for Course Directors, etc.
Please note: week changes are subject to availability, and changes cannot usually be made once a course has started. 

Course change 

Course changes are not normally possible. In exceptional circumstances, course changes can be considered, but can only be made before the first session of the course, where space permits, and where the course change has been signed off by the Summer Programmes team. If the change is possible, there is no charge up until the balance of payment date: 12 May 2024. After that date, a charge of £30 per course is made to cover the administration involved in altering the course place, teaching room allocation, information for Course Directors, etc.

Evaluation

An evaluation fee of £75 is charged for the assessment of written work for one course. The charge for each additional essay is £75. If you decide to opt out, evaluation fees can only be refunded prior to the balance of payment date. If a graded transcript including contact hours is required there will be a fee of £30, with a fee of £15 for subsequent additional transcripts.

Repairs and cleaning fees

Please note that if the College deems that your room has been damaged, requires furniture or fixtures to be replaced, or is particularly dirty and requires housekeeping to carry out a deep clean, these charges will be passed on to you and Certificates of Attendance will be withheld until payment is made.  

Medical insurance

Your home country may have an arrangement with the UK so that medical care is free. If it does not, you must take out medical insurance to ensure you are covered during your stay, particularly if you have known medical needs that may require attention. Medical costs are expensive and payment is often needed at the time of treatment.

Travel insurance

You must take out travel insurance to cover yourself for your return journey and the duration of your stay. Please be aware that we cannot refund fees in the case of a visa application being refused. Your travel insurance should cover any expenses incurred as a result of lost or stolen property, late arrival, early or delayed departure, or cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances. The University accepts no liability for loss or damage to student property.

Building works

We can accept no responsibility for disturbance caused by building works, but have alerted the Colleges and the Sidgwick Site facilities team to our student's needs, and expect any disruption to be minimal.