Sponsored Students from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf: Your Financial Guarantee Letter Explained

Are you a government-sponsored student from Saudi Arabia or another Gulf country planning to study English in the UK? Your embassy or cultural bureau will usually pay your course fees directly, but first they need the right documents from your school. At ILC International Language Centres we work with sponsored students every year, both individuals and groups, and we prepare the letters you need to request your financial guarantee.

This guide explains how the process works, step by step.

What is a financial guarantee?

A financial guarantee is an official letter from your sponsor (for example, your country's embassy or cultural bureau in London) confirming that it will pay your tuition fees. Once your school receives it, your fees are invoiced to your sponsor instead of to you.

To issue the guarantee, your sponsor needs proof that you have a place on an English course. That is where ILC comes in.

How ILC supports sponsored students

• Course offer letters: we issue the letter you submit to your sponsor to request your financial guarantee.
• Experience with Saudi students: we have welcomed many students from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, both individual learners and groups.
• Students from across the Gulf: the same process works for sponsored students from other Gulf countries whose embassy or cultural office issues financial guarantees.
• Accredited by the British Council: all ILC centres are fully accredited by Accreditation UK, run by the British Council.
• Five centres in England: Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Colchester and Portsmouth.

Step by step: from enrolment to your first class

1. Choose your course and centre. Popular choices for sponsored students include our General English, Intensive English and IELTS Preparation courses.
2. Send us your documents. To issue your course offer letter we need a completed enrolment form, a copy of your passport, your UK address (if you have one) and your online level test result.
3. Receive your course offer letter. You submit it to your sponsor to request your financial guarantee.
4. Send us your financial guarantee letter. Please make sure the Centre receives it before your first day, and ask your sponsor to pay your course fees as early as possible.
5. Start your course. On your first day you take a short speaking assessment so we can place you in the right class.

Need an Acceptance Letter too? If you also need an Acceptance Letter (for example for your visa application), we issue it after receiving a £200 deposit and the £80 registration fee.

What if my financial guarantee arrives late?

Sometimes a sponsor takes longer than expected. If we have not received your financial guarantee letter by your start date, you can still begin your course, but you will need to pay the tuition fees for the following weeks yourself until the guarantee arrives. As soon as we receive it, we refund those weeks to you.

Important rules for sponsored students

• Attendance: once your financial guarantee letter has been issued, sponsors expect 100% attendance for the length of the course on your enrolment form. If a sponsored student does not meet these requirements, the Centre may deregister them.
• Holidays: sponsored students can take a maximum of one holiday week for every 11 weeks of study.
• Course length: ILC can issue Acceptance Letters for up to 11 months of English language study for students aged over 16.

Group programmes for sponsors and organisations

Many of our Saudi students come to us as part of a group. We can create tailor-made English programmes for government departments, universities, companies and other organisations, built around your group's goals, dates and level. Find out more about our group English courses or contact us to discuss your group.

Accommodation and support

Sponsored students can choose from homestay with a carefully selected host family or student residence accommodation, depending on the centre. Many of our homestay hosts can provide halal meals on request. Our staff support you from your first day, and our team can answer your questions about the sponsorship process before you arrive.

Frequently asked questions

Can ILC issue a letter for my embassy's financial guarantee?

Yes. Once we receive your enrolment form, passport copy, UK address (if available) and online level test result, we issue a course offer letter that you can submit to your sponsor.

Do you accept students sponsored by Saudi Arabia?

Yes. We have welcomed many students from Saudi Arabia, both individually and in groups, and we are familiar with the financial guarantee process.

I am from Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, Oman or Bahrain. Can I use the same process?

Yes. If your embassy or cultural office issues financial guarantees for English language study, contact us and we will prepare the documents you need.

Which course should I choose?

It depends on your goals. General English builds all-round skills, Intensive English helps you progress faster, and IELTS Preparation is ideal if you plan to apply to a UK university. We are happy to advise you.

Start your application today

Planning to study English in the UK with a scholarship or government sponsorship? Contact us or email info@ilcentres.com and our team will guide you through your course offer letter and financial guarantee, step by step.

اقرأ هذا الدليل باللغة العربية (Read this guide in Arabic)