A Preparatory Visit enables you to meet your potential partners and discuss and develop your idea for a Comenius partnership together.

Preparatory Visits give you the opportunity to start building the personal relationships on which a successful Comenius partnership depends. You should use the time together to start filling in the funding application for your project.

You can discuss issues such as the work plan, the roles and tasks of the participating organisation, means of communication, languages to be used and mobility activities to be undertaken in the course of the partnership project.

But in addition to this, you will also get to know your partner institutions, their school systems and their cultures.

When do Preparatory Visits take place?
Preparatory Visits are designed to pave the way for a Comenius partnership, so they must take place before the partnership application is submitted. They can take place at any time in the year. You should apply to the British Council at least 8 weeks before your intended visit. To find out more about the application process go to the How to Apply page.

Please note no funding is available to meet the costs incurred by the school or other institution hosting a preparatory visit. Each travelling partner has to apply to their own national agency for preparatory visit funding. However national agencies in other countries might have different deadlines, so it is important that all participating organisations check. Find out more about UK funding levels.

How long does a Preparatory Visit last?
Preparatory Visits can last for up to five days.

What's the difference between a Contact Seminar and a Preparatory Visit?
A Preparatory Visit is a meeting between already established partners. Contact Seminars are structured partner finding events. They are designed for schools and colleges (and other eligible institutions) that are keen to work in Comenius partnerships, but don't have existing links with European partners. Upcoming Contact Seminars are listed on the Contact Seminar page in our News and Events section. If you are awarded a place at a Contact Seminar your expenses will be supported with a Preparatory Visit grant. Click here to find out more about funding

Please note that you are unable to receive funding for both types of activity when developing your partnership. You are entitled to apply for funding for either a Contact Seminar or a Preparatory Visit.