group of students sitting around a table

Academic English Program (AEP)

Intensive English program for international students preparing to pursue a graduate degree in the United States.

At a Glance

International students with a university degree and intermediate proficiency in English

Academic writing, listening/speaking, reading/discussion, and grammar

Core courses, elective courses, colloquia, specialized workshops and resources

AEP is for full-time study only. On-campus and Live Online options available.

Apply

Apply now for on-campus or live online programs.

Find program dates, costs and application information.

Application and information are available in 16 languages.

Questions? Contact elc@austin.utexas.edu.

Live Online Courses Now Available

In addition to our on-campus Academic English Program, we also offer a Live Online version. Reference our Dates and Costs page for more information about the Live Online program.

Apply

Who is this program for?

  • Students who want to apply to graduate programs
  • Students from all over the world who hold a university degree
  • Students who want to improve their English reading, writing, speaking and listening skills
  • Students who want an intensive program – AEP meets five days a week for a total of 18 hours.

What do you need to apply?

  • You must hold a university degree
  • You demonstrate at least intermediate proficiency through our placement test or a TOEFL/IELTS score (minimum of IBT 55 or IELTS 5.5) to enter our lowest level AEP class.

Students who do not meet these requirements will be placed in ELP. Admission to AEP does not guarantee admission to The University of Texas at Austin or any other university.

Why should you study with us?

  • AEP classes utilize the resources of The University of Texas at Austin and help students connect with professors and departments.
  • AEP offers a variety of academic information workshops each semester, on topics such as applying to graduate school, resume and CV writing, and communicating with professors.
  • AEP students have been accepted to graduate programs at top-tier universities in the US, UK, and Canada after completing our program.

What will you learn?

Core Courses

  • Academic writing, listening/speaking, reading/discussion, and grammar

Elective Courses

  • Our pronunciation classes will help you speak more clearly, focusing on stress and intonation patterns as well as individual sounds.
  • Our TOEFL, IELTS, and GRE preparation courses focus on both content and test-taking strategies.
  • Meet 4 hours per week

Colloquia

  • Designed for AEP, these lectures on a variety of topics feature speakers from the university and the city of Austin.

Typical Class Schedule

Levels Offered

Our Academic English Program (AEP) has four different levels corresponding to the proficiency level. These levels are related to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and a description of proficiencies can be found in the table below.

The CEFR descriptions correspond to the students' proficiency as they finish each level. For more information on the CEFR categories, reference this page.

CEFR Academic English Program Levels
B1 Low Intermediate: A student at this level can communicate on familiar topics and provide information with some success. Uses a limited range of vocabulary and structures.
B1+ Intermediate: A student at this level can express and support opinion and can handle a variety of uncomplicated communicative tasks with moderate success.
B2 High Intermediate: A student at this level can handle a variety of communicative tasks with success, although errors may be evident.
C1 Low Advanced: A student at this level can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics. Can communicate effectively in a variety of contexts and if miscommunication occurs, can repair them.

Outcomes

We will:

  • Prepare you to apply to graduate school
  • Develop your critical thinking skills
  • Increase your academic vocabulary
  • Improve your ability to find and evaluate sources
  • Help you understand and take notes on complex, fast-paced lectures
  • Prepare you to lead and participate in moderated discussions
  • Teach you how to write academic papers, including proper citation to avoid plagiarism
  • Train you to give academic presentations, use visual aids, and field questions