2 Week Winter Program
Study English and explore California together with our team!
Study English
Daily Activities
Homestay with team and other students
All-Inclusive
Independence
15 days, January - March
San Francisco Bay Area
4 - 8 participants, 18 - 25 years
$3,500 USD for 2 weeks
The fee includes:
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General English class (16 hrs/wk)
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Shared room in Homestay Plus
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Daily activities (13 total)
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Transportation to and from all destinations
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Airport pick-up and drop-off
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Breakfast & Dinner
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Certificate upon course completion
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Health Insurance
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At least one coordinator present at all times
Other fees to plan for:
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Airfare (can also be included)
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Visa Fees
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Pocket money for souvenirs
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International transfer fee ($45 once)
The fee includes taxes.
Get A Free Quote
3 Good Reasons...
...to join this program
1. At least one of our team members is present from morning to evening, ensuring your safety at all times.
2. Thanks to the maximum amount of 8 participants per session, you will get to explore California as an international family.
3. The program includes all costs that occur in America, so other than for souvenirs and extra meals you do not need any pocket money.
The entire program is organized, hosted and overseen by the Universal Studies team.
Prices and Inclusions last updated 6/25/19.
Universal Studies is a member of the International Education Consultants Association (IECA).
Overview
This program is most popular among college students, as its focus is on taking the next step towards independence.
Just like in the 3 Week Summer Program, this experience is also based on a family-style approach to exchange. You are accommodated with our team, which provides you with the support needed to step outside of your comfort-zone. The structure of the program allows you to explore large portions of our destinations by yourself if you wish to do so. There are daily English classes and activities that give you a jam-packed schedule and guarantee an unforgettable time.
Education
Your English education takes place inside and outside of the classroom.
General English (16 hours/week)
School Hours: 9 AM - 1 PM, Monday - Thursday
Levels: Beginner - Advanced
Amenities: Free Wi-Fi, Books, Student Lounge
Even though you will already be improving your English during our daily activities and with your family at home, there is no better place to get all the rules, facts and basic skills than in our accredited English school. Here you will be placed in a level that matches your skills and then every morning acquire the grammar, vocabulary and conversational knowledge of the English Language - all at your pace. School is also a great place to meet people and make friends from several different countries that will be with you for the rest of your life.
Accommodation
All Accommodations are personally visited and approved before your arrival.
Homestay Plus
Location: Varies each year - San Francisco Bay Area
Amenities: Kitchen, living room, storage space, WiFi, beds & bedsheets, bathroom, laundry
Meals: Continental Breakfast, Home-cooked dinner (daily)
You will live in a home together with other international exchange students and 1 - 2 Universal Studies coordinators - forming the perfect international close-knit family. Every morning our team personally drives you to school, to the afternoon activities and back home. Each year we rent a home from our trusted short-term rental provider based on our group’s size and their needs. This comes with a private place to store your belongings and the scents and flavors of warm, home-cooked meals prepared daily by our Program Director, Patrick himself (who is always happy about a few helping hands in the kitchen). Your American home also offers a place to eat, relax, and spend quality family time together, talking about our hopes, dreams, and wishes as well as our worries, concerns or even requests. It is a place of comfort, defined by simple, blissful moments of joy with your international family, where you can be 100% yourself.
Activities
We take you beyond the tourist attractions.
Daily Activity Packet
Types of Activities: Sports, guided tours, behind-the-scenes tours, amusement parks, party-style games, cultural, sightseeing etc.
When: Right after school (all day Friday through Sunday)
Includes: Transportation, preparation, gear, activity fees
Our activities together offer valuable lessons in independence, especially if you are looking to or are ready to move to the next phase in life. You will be able to explore our destinations both independently and together with the other students and our coordinators. This program also includes a weekend trip to famous Las Vegas with a lot of fun things to do, such as strolling down the strip or getting into a game of poker in one of their world-renowned luxury casinos. To get a better idea of what the program could look like, feel free to view our sample schedule.
Other Information
How to join
1. Submit your information
2. Receive our Application Form
3. Fill out, sign and send back Application Form (via email)
4. Receive Invoice & submit payment
5. Prepare for your trip together with our staff
Support
You are accommodated with our team and we are with you during most afternoon activities to ensure your safety. However, you will have many opportunities to explore California independently as well, while always being able to count on our support where needed.
Requirements
The requirements for this program are that you are between 18 and 25 years old and have an adequate level of independence.
Dates
Dates for this program will be released soon. It takes place every year during January and February.
Airfare & Visa
This program does not require an F1 student visa. Based on where you are from you will only need either an ESTA or B2 visitor visa. We help you in the ESTA and Visa obtainment process. Where airfares are concerned, you may choose to purchase them yourself or let us do it for you.
Health Insurance
Health Insurance is provided through our partner, “International Student Insurance”. If you have any questions about the insurance, please contact us. Important: Upon request the health insurance can be adapted to your or your child’s individual needs (for an extra fee).
The San Francisco Bay Area
A Unique Place
What makes the Bay Area absolutely unique its diversity in inventions, lifestyles, events and most importantly cultures. It is the type of place where you can't walk down the street without hearing another language, making it easy to meet people from other countries and not only broaden your horizons but make friends from around the world. This diversity has allowed the Bay Area to be just as open-minded and forward-thinking in their world views as they are in their achievements in business and technology. This is why you will get to see all the newest inventions, trends and movements right here first. They Bay Area is a place where no idea is too crazy and no person too foreign - coming here will feel like coming home.
Things To Do And See
The Bay Area is a truly unique place. Despite its high population, it has a suburban feel to it, no matter where you are, which is mostly due to the many plazas, shops, parks and natural habitats found all over. The warm & comfortable temperatures all year and an easy-to-use public transportation system make exploring the Bay Area a real joy. It’s widely known for its cultural diversity, world-famous sights and of course the Silicon Valley, where companies like Apple, Google, Facebook, Airbnb, Tesla and countless are headquartered. There are a lot of great things to do and see here, including:
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Exploring its many and diverse restaurants (There are more than 3,500 restaurants open in San Francisco alone)
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Pursuing physical activities on your own or in one of the many public clubs (such as hiking, swimming, riding a bike, yoga and countless more) in beautiful parks, sports facilities and even downtowns
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Exploring its countless beautiful sights (e.g. the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Treasure Island, Fisherman’s Wharf, Lake Merritt, Half Moon Bay, Stanford, UC Berkeley, Napa and the many world-renowned companies like Google, Apple and many more)
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Enjoying the Bay Area like a local with its many “Hidden Gems” - charming, quaint restaurants, parks, coffee shops, drum circles and other local highlights, that all represent different stories & cultures and are by far the best way to explore the Bay Area’s real lifestyle
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Taking trips to farther away destinations, like Santa Cruz, the 17 Mile Drive, Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe, Sacramento, Napa and Los Angeles. We’re happy to help you rent a car or simply drive you there ourselves depending on the program.
Trailer
Not what you're looking for?
Questions? Concerns? Requests? Just want to get to know us? Let's meet on Skype (or FaceTime) when you are free. Just send us a short message with your Skype (or FaceTime) account information via our contact page. We're looking forward to meeting you!