Additional Opportunities

Academic Support

Every student joins a tutor group, meeting their tutor three times weekly. This mentor tracks progress, helps set achievable goals, and delivers the Learning to Learn program one-on-one, which develops effective study strategies and time management. For those whose first language isn’t English, a dedicated support department assesses proficiency upon arrival through placement tests, then tailors assistance from Cambridge exam preparation through to IELTS. Meanwhile, the Learning Support team provides individualized help for students with specific educational needs, arranging personal sessions and coordinating exam accommodations as required.

Exchange Programs and Travel

The college maintains an extensive network of international partnerships. Senior students can spend a month at Brooks School in Massachusetts—a 25-year tradition including Boston, New Hampshire, and New York visits—while other exchanges run with Kingswood in South Africa for winter sports and St. Andrews College in New Zealand. Beyond these, specialized trips take students to Stratford-upon-Avon for Shakespeare studies, week-long language immersions in Spain and Nice, plus geographical expeditions to Morocco. Ambitious seniors can apply for Friends of Glenalmond and Duncan Garrett Travel Award grants up to £500 for independent educational or charitable projects abroad.

Cadet Corps at Glenalmond College

Fourth-year students spend their year with the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), an educational partnership with the UK Ministry of Defence. After choosing between Royal Navy, Army, or Royal Air Force, they engage in military-themed activities and adventure training each Wednesday. Those who continue develop leadership skills and earn promotions, with senior cadets eventually leading sessions themselves under officers—staff members trained at Frimley. This experience builds independence, resilience, and responsibility, qualities that universities and employers consistently value when reviewing candidates.

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

As a licensed Duke of Edinburgh’s Award center, Glenalmond College delivers all three levels: bronze in fourth year, silver in fifth, and gold for seniors. This internationally recognized program—active in 140 countries—develops self-motivation, reliability, and organizational abilities through volunteering, sport, skill-building, and expeditions. Participants choose activities independently, often drawing from existing co-curricular options. Completing the gold assessment expedition provides genuine competitive advantage in university applications, as admissions teams and employers increasingly seek evidence of motivation and dependability beyond academic grades alone.