Both schools deliver Cambridge IGCSEs and A-Levels online with real flexibility. But their pricing models, teaching approaches, and time-zone coverage are fundamentally different.
€730
Starting price per subject
1-on-1
Teacher sessions included
24/7
Content access
3
Learning journeys
Minerva Virtual Academy uses a flipped-learning model: students prepare independently, then join live sessions on a fortnightly timetable — primarily in UK and Gulf time zones. Inventum gives you three genuinely different approaches, from fully asynchronous to live small-group, without anchoring your family to a fixed European school day.
24/7 access to our premium core curriculum materials. Study entirely at your own pace, free from any fortnightly timetable or live attendance requirement. Perfect for highly independent learners.
Ideal for: Independent learners, professional athletes, globally mobile families
Expert recorded lessons you can pause, rewind, and re-watch until mastery is achieved. World-class instruction without any fixed timetable — study when you are most focused.
Ideal for: Students who need structure but cannot commit to fixed time slots
Small-group live sessions that are intimate and discussion-based — with a specialist subject teacher. Real-time engagement, unconstrained by a UK or Gulf-only school-day window.
Ideal for: Students who thrive on real-time interaction and collaborative problem-solving
Inventum
Minerva Virtual Academy
Pricing model
Transparent, per-subject pricing from €730/year — pay only for what your child studies
£8,830 per year regardless of subject load — bundles everything whether used or not
Teaching model
Async, recorded, or live — three genuinely different journeys, your child chooses
Flipped learning: async self-study prep required, then fortnightly timetabled live lessons
1-on-1 teacher sessions
1-on-1 sessions with your subject teacher included per subject
Weekly 30-minute pastoral mentor meetings only — no 1-on-1 subject teaching included
Class size
Small-group live sessions or fully independent study
Up to 20 students per live class; some sessions combine into groups of up to 40
Schedule flexibility
Truly flexible — async, recorded, or live across all time zones, 24/7
Fortnightly timetable with 2–4 live sessions per day; UK (GMT/BST) and Gulf time zones only
Geographic coverage
Truly global — study from any country, any time zone, 24/7
UK and Gulf Standard Time (GST) only — no Americas or Asia-Pacific coverage
Student support
Dedicated pastoral Success Coach + 1-on-1 sessions with your subject teacher
1-on-1 weekly mentoring (pastoral), SEND support, and wellbeing sessions in the curriculum
Qualifications
Cambridge IGCSE & A-Levels (globally recognised)
Cambridge IGCSE & A-Levels (globally recognised)
Enrichment
Future Tech & Personal Mindset modules included
40+ after-school clubs, Peter Jones Academy (additional cost), termly in-person trips
Transparent, per-subject pricing from €730/year — pay only for what your child studies
£8,830 per year regardless of subject load — bundles everything whether used or not
Async, recorded, or live — three genuinely different journeys, your child chooses
Flipped learning: async self-study prep required, then fortnightly timetabled live lessons
1-on-1 sessions with your subject teacher included per subject
Weekly 30-minute pastoral mentor meetings only — no 1-on-1 subject teaching included
Minerva Virtual Academy's £8,830 annual fee covers all subjects as a bundle — regardless of how many your child actually sits. Add the £880 deposit, £55 registration fee, and exam entry fees on top. Inventum charges per subject, so families only ever pay for what their child actually needs.
Pricing structure
Per-subject, fully modular
Single annual fee (all subjects bundled)
3 A-Level subjects
~€2,595 (~£2,210)
£8,830 per year + £880 deposit + exam fees
1-on-1 subject teaching
Included with every subject teacher
Not included — mentor meetings are pastoral only
Time-zone coverage
Any time zone, 24/7 — truly global
UK (GMT/BST) and Gulf Standard Time only
Payment plans
Flexible: 1, 3, 6, or 10 instalments
Annual upfront (international); UK students may pay termly or monthly at a higher rate
Pricing structure
Inventum
Per-subject, fully modular
Minerva Virtual Academy
Single annual fee (all subjects bundled)
3 A-Level subjects
Inventum
~€2,595 (~£2,210)
Minerva Virtual Academy
£8,830 per year + £880 deposit + exam fees
1-on-1 subject teaching
Inventum
Included with every subject teacher
Minerva Virtual Academy
Not included — mentor meetings are pastoral only
Time-zone coverage
Inventum
Any time zone, 24/7 — truly global
Minerva Virtual Academy
UK (GMT/BST) and Gulf Standard Time only
Payment plans
Inventum
Flexible: 1, 3, 6, or 10 instalments
Minerva Virtual Academy
Annual upfront (international); UK students may pay termly or monthly at a higher rate
A family doing three Cambridge A-Levels with Inventum pays around £2,210 — versus £8,830 per year at Minerva Virtual Academy.
Get an academic assessment, ask your questions, and leave with a clear online school plan before you make an enrolment decision.
All the tests and exams in the Upper Primary (Year 5 & Year 6) and Lower Secondary (Year 7-Year 9) are internal Inventum exams taken online. For the second year of the IGCSE program (Year 11), AS (Year 12), and A-Levels (Year 13), the exams have to be taken in a physical Cambridge or Pearson exam centre. You can find the list of exam centres worldwide here.
For the Upper Primary (Year 5 & Year 6) and Lower Secondary (Year 7-Year 9), you will receive a certificate from Inventum when you complete a year level. Cambridge issues your certificate for IGCSE. For AS and A-Levels, your certificate comes from Cambridge or Pearson, depending on which board's syllabus you follow.
Successful completion of A-Levels will give you access to universities around the world. This is the most recognised secondary school certificate globally by universities and employers.
In principle, this is possible, but it will require your time and dedication. You will still pay the fees for two years, as you will have access to 121 teaching, live lessons, etc., for both years.
You decide on the study schedule based on your preferences and timetable. Your dedicated study coach can help you make a schedule that suits your circumstances. When choosing Journey 3, you also commit to the live lessons schedule.
We use precision teaching, meaning the live lessons cover only the critical and most difficult parts of the curriculum. On average, there are two live lessons a week per subject.
This will depend on yourself, the number of chosen subjects and the year level, but on average, a full-time Learner spends approximately four hours a day studying.
The Upper Primary (Year 5 & Year 6) and Lower Secondary (Year 7- Year 9) have five mandatory subjects: English, Maths, Science, History and Geography. There are no mandatory subjects for IGCSE (Years 10&11) and A-Level programs (Years 12&13), but you choose them based on your interests and future plans.
For the Upper Primary (Year 5 & Year 6), Lower Secondary (Year 7-Year 9), and IGCSEs (Years 10&11), you will be required, as a full-time student, to take a minimum of five subjects and for the A-Level program (Years 12&13) a minimum of three subjects.
You can complete the application form on our website by clicking the “Apply” button.
Once we receive your application, we will contact you within 48 hours to arrange an onboarding call. During this call, you will be introduced to all our platforms, handbooks, and practices and assigned a dedicated study coach. After this, you are ready to start!
We are a non-selective school and will therefore not require a certain grade average, but we will assess every case individually. Learners need, however, to be fluent in English as this is the language of instruction.
We look at the Learner’s age and previous schooling history to determine the best starting point for them at Inventum. If there are any doubts, we recommend the Learner take a CAT4 test.
Our high flexibility learning model, combined with the level of support Learners can choose from, is a unique feature among online schools. Together with the Learner, we build the learning journey that caters to their individual needs. By following our mindset modules, we ensure they are ready for the future by educating them on emerging technologies and ensuring they grow as individuals.
Cambridge certificate is recognised globally by universities. We do not, however, have agreements with local educational authorities, so it is the parent’s responsibility to check the rules and possible restrictions for homeschooling or online schooling in their home country.
A-Levels ask students to specialise in three or four subjects in depth, while the IB requires six subjects across a broad range plus an extended essay and Theory of Knowledge. Both are recognised for university entry worldwide.
Read the full IB vs A-Levels comparison