English courses for Hong Kong BN(O)s
Funded English courses are available to Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas).
Understanding the English language will help you navigate life in the UK. The government has allocated funding to support adults on the HKBN(O) route in accessing English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses.
Up to £800 can be claimed to help you improve your English from April 2024 to March 2025.
Who can apply?
Funding is available if you hold Hong Kong British National (Overseas) status and live in Oxfordshire.
You can also access funding if you are 19 years or older and a dependent of a status holder.
Outside Oxfordshire
If you live outside Oxfordshire, contact the Hong Kong Welcome Hub in your region or your local authority to learn more.
Payment
Up to £800 per adult is available for an ESOL course. You do not need to pay for the course. We will reimburse the college upon completion of the course.
Before you apply
When choosing a college, consider the following:
Course availability - some courses may have waiting lists, so find out about current availability.
Course duration - the length of courses can vary, ranging from one month to a few months. Consider the time commitment required for each option.
Enrolment time - courses are offered all year round, but each provider has different enrolment times. Make sure you are clear about this before applying.
Approved ESOL providers
We have collaborated with colleges to provide both face-to-face and online ESOL courses. If you would like to start a course, contact one of these providers directly.
EMBS Community College - Oxford and Banbury
EMBS Community College offers face-to-face English courses in Oxford and Banbury. Cantonese support is available.
- Cowley Centre - Templar Square Cowley Centre, Second Floor, 213b Barns Road, Oxford, OX4 3UT
- Banbury Centre - Crown Buildings, First Floor, Southam Road, Banbury, OX16 2EX
To enrol, contact Ms. Cecilia Chan at cecilia@embs.ac.uk or call 01865 776041 and 07737 851962.
Abingdon and Witney College - Abingdon, Witney and Oxford
Abingdon and Witney College offers face-to-face English for Speakers of Other Languages classes (ESOL).
- Abingdon Campus - Wootton Road, Abingdon OX14 1GG
- Witney Campus - Holloway Road, Witney OX28 6NE
- Oxford City
To enrol, contact esol@abingdon-witney.ac.uk or call 01235 555 585.
Activate Learning - Banbury
Activate Learning (Banbury) provides face-to-face ESOL classes in Banbury.
- Broughton Road, Banbury OX16 9QA
To enrol, contact Annie Broe Annie.Broe@ActivateLearning.ac.uk.
WEA (Workers Educational Association)
WEA is a national provider that offers ESOL classes online.
To enrol, contact Mr Inigo Pradera at ipradera@wea.ac.uk using the course name you wish to enroll in.
Additional resources to help you improve your English
Some organisations have volunteered to provide English language training to Hong Kong BNO visa holders (pdf format, 567 KB) for free or at reduced rates. Some organisations are willing to support learners outside their geographical area.
Many providers offer online in addition to face-to-face classes.