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International Students

Welcome to St Mary’s School web site! Our friendly academic community in the heart of Cambridge is a popular choice for overseas students who wish to study in the UK.

We are proud of our international students’ success here at St Mary’s, whether in gaining places at Oxford and Cambridge or in delighting us with their musical talents.

We are delighted too that our overseas students settle so easily into our community: forging friendships with girls in the UK, taking part in many extra–curricular activities such as golf and drama, and enjoying trips within Europe to Paris and Germany.

Our students enjoy the individual attention which is possible in our small classes. Students studying science relish the extensive opportunities for practical ‘hands–on’ discovery which is a key part of science education in the UK.

Accommodation

As an international student, you will either board at St Mary’s or live as a homestay student with a local family. All international students have an educational guardian.

Joining St Mary’s

We currently have about 80 international students (of whom 65 are boarders) from 15 different countries.
Our staff/pupil ratio is 1:8.5.

Entrance into Years 7–10 or the Sixth Form at St Mary’s School

Age equivalents:
Year 7: 11–12 years old
Year 8: 12–13 years old
Year 9: 13–14 years old
Year 10: 14–15 years old
6th Form (Lower 6th): 16–17 years old
(NB It is not possible to enter Year 11 directly as this is a GCSE examination year. Students may join Year 10.)

Your English should be very fluent and your academic attainments high. St Mary’s is one of the UK’s top schools so entry is competitive. If you are bright and keen to work then you will flourish here at St Mary’s.

Where do our students come from?

We currently have students from 15 different countries:

1. Albania
2. China
3. France
4. Germany
5. Hong Kong
6. Korea
7. Malaysia
8. Mexico
9. Nigeria
10. Russia
11. Spain
12. Taiwan
13. Thailand
14. USA
15. Uzbekistan

The St Mary’s Experience

The following extract was written by a 6th form international student taking part in a Gold D of E expedition:

“I still couldn’t believe that I had actually done it, these were things that I would never expect myself doing if I am studying in Hong Kong. Being so close to the nature, for example, standing on the top of the mountains and look at the scenery down the hills, crossing over the fields where there were cows, sheep or horses, passing through different styles of fences, gates or barries between fields, etc., are things that people can rarely experience in my busy and crowded hometown. These are wonderful experiences that I will never forget for my whole life, the pictures are in my mind, the excitements and all the complicated feelings will be kept in my heart. I had had a fantastic time with my groups in these 2 expeditions.”
Karen Chau