may I put your attention to the Proteus- package?
The link is

http://www.labcenter.co.uk/

This is a very universal package: You design your system via
a schematic and can then develop your program with that virtual
circuit. They offer a free demo and you can buy parts of or the
full cake just as your requirements are.
Best of all - I know we are talking 52 here- it is not limited
to it - you can work on PIC, Motorola HC11 and AVR´s.
Now comes the tricky part - you may also design the PCB- Layout
with Proteus. Another goody is the ability to use one computer
in the net as a virtual machine while another one e.g. with a
Keil system on it- uses it as "real" hardware to do the
simulation.

I think Proteus is the best solution for academic purposes - once
you are through with your virtual design you know, the real thing
is working- thus reducing waste, costs and time.

Hope it was of some help

wolf