When you have signed up and your place is confirmed we will also give you access to our detailed Travel Guide, which gives more detailed information about planning for every stage of the journey.
Visas
Depending on your son or daughter's nationality and chosen campus, a visa may be required. This is parents’ responsibility to check and apply for, and it’s important to do this as early as possible and apply well in advance if needed. The best and most up to date source of advice about whether you will need to apply for a visa or not is always the relevant country’s dedicated visa support websites (linked to below).
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St Andrews and Cambridge
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Please use the UK Government’s Visa Checker.
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Fill out the student’s nationality as it is in the passport they will be travelling with.
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For the question that asks “What are you coming to the UK to do?” You should choose the answer that says “study”.
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You will then be asked, “How long are you planning to stay?” . You should choose, “6 months or less”.
The online form will then tell you which UK visa for summer school (if any) you will need to apply for. Depending on your nationality, this is likely to be either visa free travel with a valid Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)*, or a Standard Visitor visa.
*This is a new UK requirement as of 2nd April 2025, meaning that most people coming into the UK on visa free travel will now need an ETA.
Yale
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Please use the US Government’s Visa Wizard.
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Fill out the student’s nationality as it is in the passport they will be travelling with.
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For the question that asks “What is your primary reason for travel?” You should choose the answer that says “Study or exchange”.
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You will then be asked “What will you be doing in the USA?” You should choose “Taking a short, not-for-credit, program”.
The online form will then tell you which visa (if any) you will need to apply for. Depending on your nationality, this is likely to be either visa free travel on the USA Visa Waiver Programme (with a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorisation [ESTA]), or a B2 Tourist visa.
Remember: Visa applications can take time, so please check if one is needed straight after your application is accepted and apply as soon as possible.
Visa Support Documents
ISSOS are fully accredited through the British Accreditation Council (BAC). We will provide a letter of support for your visa application which will be available to download from your ISSOS Parent Portal.
If you have any questions about the visa application process please let us know. We’re happy to help and can also help provide any other information about the summer school programme that you might be asked for during the process.
Remember: The best and most up to date source of information about visas are
always the relevant country’s dedicated visa support website, linked to above.
Booking Flights
For opening and closing day, each ISSOS campus has a designated airport. Students arriving at these airports within our scheduled times will be met by ISSOS staff and transported to our campus by bus.
Designated Airports & Time Windows
Campus
St Andrews
Cambridge
Airport
Edinburgh (EDI)
London Stansted (STN)
Arrival Window
08:00 - 15:30 (BST)
08:00 - 15:30 (BST)
Departure Window
06:00 - 17:00 (BST)
06:00 - 17:00 (BST)
Campus
St Andrews
Cambridge
Yale
Edinburgh (EDI)
London Stansted (STN)
JFK International
08:00 - 15:30 (BST)
08:00 - 15:30 (BST)
08:00 - 14:30 (EDT)
Departure Window
06:00 - 17:00 (BST)
06:00 - 17:00 (BST)
06:00 - 17:00 (EDT)
Airport
Arrival Window
Campus
Campus
Airport
Airport
Arrival Window
Arrival Window
Departure Window
Departure Window
If you cannot find flights that match these windows, a private car transfer must be arranged (see below). Important: Always check with us first before booking flights that fall outside our recommended times so that we can make you aware of the circumstances around this.
Private Car Transfers
If your son or daughter’s flight arrives or departs outside the designated timeframes or uses a different airport, you will need to book a private transfer. ISSOS recommends trusted providers for each campus.
When you have signed up, you will find our detailed Travel Guide in your Parent Portal, which gives contact information and expected costs for car transfers to each campus from different airports. When booking a private transfer, make sure you book:
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An inside terminal pick-up on arrival
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Assisted check-in for departure
These services are especially important for any students travelling alone.
Unaccompanied Minor Services
Some airlines offer Unaccompanied Minor Services (UMS) for students under 16. If your son or daughter is travelling with a UMS:
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You must book and pay for the service directly with your airline.
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Please check your individual airline’s policy for transferring care of minors at the airport.
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Inform ISSOS by completing the Travel Questionnaire in the Parent Portal.
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Send us all UMS paperwork in advance.
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Provide the airline with the contact details ISSOS gives you.
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Final contact information for the adult meeting or handing over your child will be shared shortly before the summer school opens - you must pass this information on to your airline.
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More detailed information about using UMS is available in our detailed Travel Guide in the Parent Portal (available after your place has been accepted).
Note: Not all car companies accept UMS bookings - please check with the car company when booking.
Other Travel Options
Drop Off and Pick Up at Campus
We are always delighted to welcome any families who are dropping their sons or daughters off at our campuses.
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Drop-off time: 12:00–16:00 (all campuses)
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Pick-up time: Before 12:00 noon on departure day
Journey Times To Campus (from designated airports)
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Edinburgh to St Andrews: Approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes
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Stansted to Cambridge: Approximately 1 hour.
Train Travel
St Andrews and Cambridge
Leuchars Station is the closest to St Andrews, and is just 15 minutes drive from campus.
Cambridge Station is the closest to our accommodation, and is around 15 minutes drive from campus.
If your son or daughter is travelling by train to St Andrews or Cambridge, they should carry a copy of the campus address and be confident getting into a local taxi at the station for the final part of the journey to campus.
For Cambridge departures, this is a larger station, so any students departing by train will be accompanied by a member of our staff team to make sure they get safely to the correct platform
Meeting Us At The Airport
Parents who want to meet our team at the designated airport for drop-off or pick up are very welcome to do so. We will provide the address for the meeting point as the summer approaches.
Travel Questionnaire
Once travel plans have been confirmed, you must complete our Travel Questionnaire in the Parent Portal. This should be submitted as early as possible and no later than June 1st.
The Travel Questionnaire helps us make sure arrival and departure goes smoothly for every student. Please give us all information on flights, private transfers, UMS details, and who is collecting or dropping off your son or daughter.
If you have any questions about arrival or departure please don’t hesitate to contact Louise O’Connor, our Customer Experience Director.
Academics
Our academic classes cater to the needs of international students, and help build valuable transferable skills. Classes run for 3 hours each weekday and taught by highly qualified teachers who are experienced, working professionals in their fields.
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Electives
Each student combines their academic class with one of our electives which meet for four afternoons each weekday. These classes let students discover exciting new hobbies or develop existing skills from our expert team of professional coaches and teachers.
