Apply to UT CELTA

Ready to get started on your career teaching English abroad? Here's what you need to know:

Application Process

1. Apply

   Send your application and pre-interview task to celta@austin.utexas.edu. We will contact you to set up an interview by phone, Skype, or Zoom. Information disclosed in the application must be complete and accurate, including any circumstances that may affect your performance on the course.

2. Interview

   The interview will last approximately 40 minutes and consists of discussing any previous experience you've had teaching, expanding on some of the pre-interview task questions and answers, and giving you the opportunity to ask any questions you have about the CELTA course.

   The interviewer will let you know if you are accepted at the end of the interview, and we will send you an acceptance letter with additional course information.

3. Reserve Your Spot

   Upon acceptance, you pay a $300 deposit to reserve a space on your preferred course. It is important to reserve your space early as spaces can fill up quickly. Your full payment is due three weeks before the course start date.

Application Details and Refund Policy

Applying early will increase the chance of getting the course that best fits your schedule. We are accepting applications for all courses listed on our Dates and Costs page.

Acceptance onto a CELTA course is not automatic or guaranteed. You must satisfactorily complete the pre-interview task and pass a subsequent interview to be accepted. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that their level of English, both spoken and written, is suitable for the demands of the course. The decision of the center is final.

A $300 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your space in the course, and the remaining tuition amount is due by three weeks before the first class day. You may obtain a full refund (minus the deposit) up to two weeks before the start of the course, but after that, there is no refund. In case of a documented medical emergency, you may withdraw from the course and defer your attendance to a later date.

Enrollment numbers for each session will be evaluated one month before the start date of the course. A session will be canceled if we have not met our minimum enrollment of 6. If a course is canceled, you will be notified promptly and may then switch to a later session, or request a full refund, including the deposit.

Evaluation and Grades

Successful completion of the course requires 100% class attendance, 6 hours of supervised teaching practice, and additional work outside of scheduled contact hours. Absences, tardiness, or incomplete or late assignments may compromise your grade on the course. In case of an unavoidable absence such as an illness, trainees will have to make up all work missed.

An independent Cambridge assessor comes near the end of each course to consult on grades. Each student is awarded either a 'Pass,' a 'Pass B,' a 'Pass A,' or in rare cases, a 'Fail.' 'Pass B' and 'Pass A' are not analogous to the American system of 'B' and 'A,' and a simple 'Pass' is considered very good. If you receive a 'Fail' grade, the result cannot be changed, and the course fee will not be refunded.

International Applicants

The UT CELTA Centre accepts applications from non-U.S. citizens to our program. You must be able to provide proof of your English ability within the C1-C2 level on the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) scale if English is not your native language.

International applicants admitted to the UT CELTA Centre must pay the $300 deposit for us to produce an initial Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status). The deposit will be refunded in case of a documented visa denial.

International applicants will also be required to:

• Provide a copy of the photo page of your passport
• Provide a financial guarantee statement (usually, a personal/family bank statement)
• Provide your permanent home address
• Pay for express shipping if you wish to receive a paper copy of the I-20
• Pay the SEVIS fee
• Arrange a visa interview with your nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy
• Purchase health insurance through The University of Texas for the duration of your course (unless you provide proof of a private policy which meets or exceeds university requirements).