Academic English will help you improve your English language skills to prepare you for study success at university. This course provides you with opportunities to develop your independent learning strategies and individual needs in listening, speaking, reading and writing.

This course has 4 levels: EAP Intro, EAP1, EAP 2, EAP3. Each level has two sessions of lessons every day as per below: 

EAP Intro :  Academic English (session 1) + IELTS or university study skills (session 2)
EAP1:  Academic English (session 1) + IELTS or university preparation skills (session 2)
EAP 2: Academic English (session 1) + IELTS or university preparation skills (session 2)
EAP3: Academic English (session 1) + IELTS or university preparation skills (session 2)

If you wish to improve your IELTS band scores, you may choose:

• Academic English (session 1) + IELTS (session 2)
• Take an IELTS test upon completion of the course at ELA's official IELTS Test Centre. 

If you wish to improve your English for future tertiary studies, you may choose: 

• Academic English (session 1) + university preparation skills (session 2)

You will develop the language and academic skills to help you progress to the next level of English, move to our FCertEAP pathway course, or transition to your destination programme.

A course for students interested in studying General English prior to their Academic English course can be arranged.

This programme is offered on campus and online. 

Course length
Students can take more than one block of 10 weeks depending on their needs. Each block is 10 weeks; except Summer School, which is 7 weeks¹.

Total hours
200 hours; Plus optional workshops available in Blocks 1 - 4 (January - November)

Course dates
23 January – 31 March 2023 (10 weeks)
10 April – 16 June 2023 (10 weeks)
26 June – 1 September 2023 (10 weeks)
11 September – 17 November 2023 (10 weeks)
20 November 2022 – 19 January 2024 (7 weeks)

¹Due to the Christmas break, the Academic English course commencing in November is typically 7 weeks long, but the course hours remain 200 hours in total.

The ELA is committed to the continuation of your English language learning during this challenging Covid-19 period. To support your study goals, ELA is pleased to offer Academic English online. For the duration of 2023 Academic English is available online (as well as face-to-face for students who are in New Zealand). 

Online Academic English classes are a mix of offline activities such as discussion forum posting and live interactive Zoom sessions on course work topics between students and tutors. Zoom sessions can sometimes be one-to-one or small-group tutorials in addition to whole-class activities. Your classes are from 1 pm to 5.15* pm NZT for all levels. 

* PLEASE NOTE: These times are local New Zealand times. NZ daylight saving ends at 3 am on Sunday, April 2nd (NZ time) and commences again at 2 am on Sunday, September 24th. This will affect your lesson times in your home country. Please ensure you adjust your times accordingly - this link will calculate the correct time difference for you - Click here.

Technology and other learning requirements: 

•    Laptop or PC with Microsoft Word or other document producing capabilities and functional webcam. This is essential for Academic English and Pathway courses 
•    Headset/earphones/microphone for listening/speaking/recording purposes
•    Stable internet connection (recommended speed of 3Mbps)
•    Designated quiet study space especially required for completing assignments/assessments

Find out why you should study an online Academic English course with us HERE.

Frequently asked questions about our online English courses HERE.

* Disclaimer: If student numbers do not allow us to run a completely online or face-to-face class, then a hybrid class may need to be run. A hybrid class is one which is made up of a combination of both face-to-face and online students where one teacher leads both students online and face-to-face may have to be run.

• You are tested before your course begins to determine your class level. There are four levels of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) offered, from Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) level B1 to B2+ to C1. For progression to the next level, you need to achieve the required grade in the course. Further details on CEFR levels can be found at: www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/cefr/
• A recent IELTS score may be given as evidence of level, but if there is a significant difference between the placement test score and the IELTS score, the Academic English manager will determine the appropriate level for the student. IELTS Indicator can also be accepted during 2022 until further notice. 
• If you are below the level required for Introduction to English for Academic Purposes (EAP Intro), your enrolment will be changed to the General English course to build your language foundations.
• If you would like to get an idea of what your English level is before you enrol, please click HERE to complete our Online Placement Test.

Academic English English Levels 

Please note this is a sample timetable only. Your classes may run in the morning session or afternoon session.

All online classes are from 1pm to 5:15pm NZT for all levels.

*Please note electives are dependent on student numbers. 

Upcoming course dates and fees information can be found HERE.

*Other fees may apply. 2023 fees subject to change. 

• Depending on your English level, you will either be placed in a morning or afternoon session. Please click here for an example timetable.
• Students repeating the course need to confirm their place with the Enrolments Manager no later than the first day of the course. 

• Students must pay the tuition fees for their Study Programme to ELA at least four (4) weeks prior to the commencement of their Study Programme, except in the following case: Students from the People’s Republic of China are not permitted to pay the tuition fees before INZ has granted “Student Visa Approval in Principle”

• Please note students taking Academic English will need to have their own device, i.e. laptop or tablet.