INTO English for Undergraduate Study
The English for Undergraduate Study course focuses on the English skills you need to study effectively on an undergraduate degree programme.
Course description
English for Undergraduate Study is a year-round course of intensive academic English language study which prepares international students, whose first language is not English, for academic study at undergraduate level at a UK university or for entry onto a Foundation or Diploma programme. The course incorporates English language skills, academic study skills and, at higher levels, specific undergraduate research skills – all that is needed for successful university study at undergraduate level.
The course will help you adjust to the demands, challenges and expectations of UK higher education. English for Undergraduate Study enables you to practise your developing language skills in a vibrant UK university environment, where you can take advantage of the University’s additional learning facilities and mix with a wide variety of British and other international students.
You can enrol on the English for Undergraduate Study course at the beginning of each term and choose to study either just one term or a full academic year, depending upon your current language level and proposed study plan. With multiple entry points and different durations of study, the course has the flexibility to cater for students with different language levels. At the end of each term, your skills and language will be assessed to give a clear indication of your progress.
Course content
The English for Undergraduate Study course will enable you to develop your knowledge, ability and confidence in a variety of skills that are essential for undergraduate study. These include team work, problem solving, critical thinking, time management, and as your level increases, research projects, research methods and quantitative and qualitative data analysis. Through studying a range of modules, you will develop a greater command of written and spoken English, as well as the academic study skills that are critical for successful study at undergraduate level.
The course comprises 20 hours of taught lessons per week plus one hour of directed self-study available to all students, which will be supervised by a tutor who will be able to give guidance and advice on aspects of independent learning. In order to make good progress, you are expected to do approximately 20 additional hours of self-study outside class. This self-study may include homework and assignments set by tutors or coursework which will be submitted for assessment as well as online learning.
At the lower levels, the course will focus on developing core English language skills including confidence in speaking, listening, reading and writing with a particular emphasis on grammar, vocabulary development, pronunciation and spoken fluency – preparing you to focus more on the academic skills once you reach an intermediate level.
Assessment
Assessment on the course is based on the skills and language that you have studied on the different modules during your course. Some assessment will be coursework submitted during the term. The remainder will consist of end of term tests, all of which will give a clear indication of your progress. Depending on the level at which you have studied during the term, methods of assessment may include written assignments, interviews, oral presentations, and research projects, in addition to reading, writing and listening tests under exam conditions.
Course outcomes: Successful entry to a UK university
As part of the course, you will receive independent advice and guidance to support you in your university selection and with the process of applying for an undergraduate programme at a UK university. We also have an international liaison officer who will help with your application to the University.
Students wishing to enter the University of Exeter will need to achieve a minimum of 60/70, IELTS 6.0/7.0 equivalent, depending on which undergraduate programme you wish to study, in the assessment test taken at the end of the course.
Assuming you have met the academic entry requirements for your chosen undergraduate degree programme, success on the English for Undergraduate Study course offers:
- direct entry onto an undergraduate degree programme at the University of Exeter (without the need for an external IELTS exam*)
- assured progression onto the Foundation or Diploma programme (without the need for an external IELTS exam).
* Students completing their course more than six months before the start of their degree programme may need to submit alternative evidence of their English language level.