8 April 2026
Recording in Russian
A practical overview for families who prefer to review the program, boarding, admissions, and scholarships in Russian.
Session archive for families and students
TLF Information Sessions: recordings and key takeaways for families
The 8 and 9 April 2026 sessions have already taken place. This page now brings together both recordings and a practical summary of the program, boarding life, and academic expectations.
It is designed for families evaluating a serious STEM environment, an international boarding community, and a pathway toward leading universities.
Status
Sessions completed
Dates
8 and 9 April 2026
Recordings
Russian and English versions
Audience
Families and students aged 14-17
This page is now an archive of the completed sessions: there is no registration flow anymore, only the recordings and the questions families usually need answered before deciding.
Quick overview
What families should understand about TLF
TLF is an international scholarship program for strong students who need serious academics, advanced STEM, and a clear path toward leading universities.
For families, this is not only a curriculum choice. It is a decision about the environment a teenager will live in every day: the level of challenge, the adults and peers around them, the pace of independence, and the connection between school, projects, technology, and university preparation.
Who tends to be a strong fit
Needs a higher academic level than a standard school timetable can offer.
Already shows real strength in mathematics, physics, or computer science.
Would benefit from an international boarding environment with strong adult support.
Wants projects, competitions, research, and technology to be part of everyday school life.
TLF is still a young, selective program. For many families, that is a strength: close adult attention, a high-investment environment, and clear focus on motivated students.
Session recordings
Both recordings are available on one page
Families can start with the language that is more comfortable and then use the second recording to compare details. Together, the two sessions give a fuller picture of the program.
9 April 2026
Recording in English
Useful for families who want to hear the TLF team and partner schools directly in English.
What the program offers in practice
Core elements of the TLF environment
A strong academic base
Students follow an international IB pathway that keeps university options open across different countries and systems.
Advanced STEM work
The program adds serious mathematics, physics, programming, AI-related work, and olympiad-style depth beyond the school timetable.
Projects and entrepreneurship
Students are expected not only to study well, but also to build ideas, present work, and connect learning with real technological contexts.
Boarding and wellbeing
Campus life is part of the learning model: structure, adult support, international peers, and gradual independence all matter.
What the first cohort is already doing
Meaningful outcomes already appear early in the program
This matters to families because students are not waiting until graduation to do serious work; they are already using the academic and project opportunities around them.
Participation in national and international olympiads.
Strong results in Programming Challenges.
AI training camps and national-team selection pathways.
Startup presentations and youth entrepreneurship festivals.
Project work that supports IB outcomes and wider competitions.
Additional evening STEM sessions in core subjects.
Student voices
What helps families picture everyday life in the program
"The advanced classes in mathematics, computer science, and physics are roughly at the same level as the strong school I came from. Teachers are ready to give you time, help you, and answer questions."
Yulia, DP1, The Island School
"We live here like one big, supportive family."
Student perspective on boarding life at The Island School
"I would not describe it as a place where you never sleep or have a breakdown every day. The workload is serious, but health should not become secondary."
Mira, DP1, H-FARM International School
Two environments, one shared philosophy
How families can think about Cyprus versus Italy
The better comparison is not country versus country, but which everyday environment is more likely to help a specific student grow and sustain a demanding pace.
Cyprus
The Island School
A strong fit for families who value a closer-knit community, a warmer boarding atmosphere, and visible day-to-day support from adults.
- A more compact academic community.
- A boarding environment where students tend to settle in quickly.
- Trips, cultural events, and a strong sense of shared daily life.
- Often attractive for students who want support to feel tangible and immediate.
Italy
H-FARM International School
A strong fit for families who prefer a larger international campus, a busier rhythm, and a clearer connection to an innovation ecosystem.
- A large international campus near Venice.
- Lessons, sports, evening academic sessions, and project work as part of the weekly rhythm.
- A broader menu of activities and a visible entrepreneurship culture.
- Often attractive for students who thrive in a bigger educational hub.
Scholarship coverage
Which costs the program is designed to cover
For many families, this is the first practical question. The scholarship is meant to remove the main financial barriers to studying abroad and to cover the core costs of school and campus life.
The main item families should still budget separately is personal spending money and other private expenses outside the program itself.
tuition
boarding and accommodation
meals
study materials and core academic activities
organised trips and many weekend activities
visa and relocation support
travel home during major school breaks
university counselling and, in some cases, support for exams such as SAT or IELTS
FAQ
Questions families most often need answered
Do students need perfect school grades?
Strong school performance matters, but admission is not reduced to a GPA. TLF uses its own assessments and pays close attention to subject strength, reasoning, and overall fit.
How strong does English need to be?
English matters because classes and daily life happen in English. At the same time, STEM ability remains central; a strong student can keep improving language skills with school support.
Is boarding safe and supervised?
Yes. Both schools describe boarding as structured and closely supervised, with adult staff, medical insurance, wellbeing support, and clear routines.
Is the workload too intense?
The workload is serious and requires discipline. The model is not built around burnout, but around high expectations, mentoring, sports, structure, and sustainable effort.
Is this only for olympiad students?
No. Olympiads and competitions are important for some students, but the program also values projects, research interest, initiative, and the ability to turn ideas into work.
Can students work on their own projects?
Yes. Projects, startup ideas, presentations, guest speakers, and feedback from practitioners are a visible part of the environment.
How should families choose between Cyprus and Italy?
The practical question is fit, not an abstract ranking. Cyprus offers a closer-knit setting, while H-FARM offers a larger international campus and a different daily rhythm.
Does the program help with university admissions?
Yes. University counselling, application guidance, and in some cases support for admissions-related exams are part of the longer-term trajectory.