English for University Studies

English for University Studies is a flexible course designed to give you the key skills you will need for university life in the UK. It is offered at our English schools in the UK, and it can be taken as a stand-alone course or as part of an International Semester Course.

The course consists of 28 lessons per week; 20 lessons of General English in the morning, and 8 lessons per week of English for Academic Purposes in the afternoons. The minimum length of study is 4 weeks and the maximum length is 12 weeks. The level of English required is Intermediate and above.

Download a sample timetable for the programme

Course Content

The course will help students to be successful in their university studies by preparing them for the challenges of studying in a foreign language and in a foreign culture. Students will learn how best to cope with the workload, particularly in terms of reading efficiently and effectively. Students will learn how to write in an academic style and how to give successful presentations. We will also look at how to get involved in seminars and how to get the most out of lectures.

The following skills and topics are usually covered:

1. The academic aspect, an overview of:

Lectures
Seminars
Tutorials
Research
Referencing

2. Reading and writing

Dealing with reading lists
Note-taking and summarising ideas
Avoiding plagiarism
Referencing
Formulating research questions
Building an argument
Essay writing

3. Listening and speaking

Preparing for lectures
Note-taking
Following up on notes
Engaging in discussion
Formulating questions in real time
Giving presentations
Responding effectively to questions

Exam Preparation

The afternoon lessons in English for University Studies can also be combined with an IELTS preparation or Cambridge examination course of 20 morning lessons per week for a more academic learning experience.

Course Objectives

After you take a English for University Studies at St Giles, you should:

Developed key skills for University life in the UK.

Have developed your listening, reading and writing skills.

Improved your fluency and prepared for academic life.