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Studies & Degrees in General English

General English is the standard course of a language school for people who are learning English as a foreign language. It does not prepare for one exam or one profession. It builds the language a person needs in everyday situations: speaking and listening, reading and writing, with the grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation that support them. AClass Academy of English in Malta, for example, describes its General English course as balanced lessons for fluency and accuracy, with a lot of conversation practice.

Students take a placement test and join a group at their level. They move up when their teachers and their test results show that they are ready. Many schools let students start in any week and stay for as many weeks as they choose.

Levels and course formats

Most schools describe their levels with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). According to Cambridge English, the CEFR describes language ability on a six-point scale, from A1 for beginners up to C2 for those who have mastered a language.

  • Standard and intensive courses. Schools sell general English by the number of lessons or hours per week. AClass Academy of English offers 20 or 30 lessons a week for levels A1 to C1. The Atlantic School of English & Active Leisure in Schull, Ireland, teaches general English in very small groups for 20 hours a week.
  • Length. A course can last from one week to a full year. Melbourne City College Australia gives the duration of its General English course as 1 to 52 weeks and plans about ten weeks for each level, from elementary to advanced.
  • Assessment. General English does not lead to a degree. Progress is measured with the school's own tests; Melbourne City College Australia, for example, uses weekly tests and level tests in the middle and at the end of the course.
  • Exams. Students who need proof of their level can add an external exam. The Atlantic School of English offers the Cambridge Linguaskill exam to its adult students. The IELTS General Training test is intended for people who want to migrate to an English-speaking country or to train or study below degree level.
  • Next steps. General English is often followed by academic English, exam preparation or business English. In the United States, EducationUSA explains that some colleges and universities offer bridge or pathway programmes, in which students improve their English while they earn academic credit towards a degree.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 17 active schools for general English: five in the United States, four in the United Kingdom, three in Spain and one each in Ireland, Denmark, Malta, Australia and Iraq.

The US list includes private language schools such as the Las Vegas International Academy of English, part of a school with four locations that teaches levels from beginning to advanced, and universities such as Auburn University at Montgomery and Tennessee Tech University. EducationUSA uses the name Intensive English Program (IEP) for full-time English courses in the United States, which range from beginner level to advanced courses for academic study or employment.

In the United Kingdom the list includes schools in London, Edgware and Shrewsbury. Elsewhere it includes the Atlantic School of English & Active Leisure in West Cork, AClass Academy of English in Pembroke, Malta, Melbourne City College Australia, and the International People's College in Helsingør, Denmark, a folk high school where everything happens in English.

Costs and visas

Prices depend on the country, the season and the number of lessons. As an example, AClass Academy of English in Malta lists €170 per week for 20 lessons of General English and €225 per week for 30 lessons on its website in October 2026, with a supplement in high season. Accommodation, travel and insurance come on top, unless the school sells a package that includes them.

Visa rules depend on the country and the length of the course. For the United Kingdom, GOV.UK explains that an English course of six months or less is taken on a Visitor visa. A course that lasts longer than six months but not more than 11 months needs a Short-term study visa, which costs £228, and the course must be with an accredited institution. Longer study requires a Student visa and a place with a licensed student sponsor. For other countries, check the official immigration site before paying for a course.

What general English leads to

A general English course is not a professional qualification. It is a step towards something else: a university or vocational course taught in English, an exam certificate, a job that requires the language, or life in an English-speaking country. Students with a fixed goal should ask the school which level they can realistically reach in the time they have.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between general English and exam preparation?

General English develops all four skills for everyday use. An exam course trains for the format and tasks of one test, such as IELTS or a Cambridge exam, and usually requires a minimum level.

How many hours a week is a general English course?

It depends on the school. Among the listed schools, AClass Academy of English offers 20 or 30 lessons a week and the Atlantic School of English 20 hours a week.

Do I need a visa to study English in the United Kingdom?

For a course of more than six and up to 11 months you need a Short-term study visa, which costs £228 according to GOV.UK. Shorter courses are taken on a Visitor visa; whether you must apply for one in advance depends on your nationality.