CEG bought Omnicon School of Languages last year adding the first two Canadian centres to its portfolio after the group bought Intrax English Programs with three locations in the US in 2015. In 2013, it acquired the Boston Academy of English.

Stafford House’s University Pathways program is a consolidation of its higher education preparation products available at its six North American centres.

“Now we are in the exciting position of being able to offer students pre-arrival conditional admission to our partner institutions”

It offers students conditional admission to more than 60 partners in the US and Canada including Humboldt State University in California, Columbia College Chicago and the University of Prince Edward Island.

“Now we are in the exciting position of being able to offer students pre-arrival conditional admission to our partner institutions, which means the route to a quality higher education just got even more accessible,” Rachel Wells, managing director of Stafford House USA, said.

The program targets students 16 years old and over and provides them with English language preparation as well as counselling support to apply to the university of their choice.

Depending on their level of English upon completion, students can continue on to the first year of an undergraduate program or graduate degree program, a community college or CEG’s foundation course, ONCAMPUS.

The program is available at Stafford House’s centres in Chicago, Boston, San Diego, San Francisco, Calgary and Toronto.

High interest is anticipated from China, Taiwan, Brazil, Russia & CIS, the Middle East and Turkey, the company said.

A spokesperson added that Stafford House aims to increase its university partners to 100 by 2018.

In addition to its North American operations, Stafford House also has four UK centres in Canterbury, Brighton, Cambridge and London.