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Studies & Degrees in English for Academic Purposes

English for Academic Purposes (EAP) is English taught for one specific use: studying another subject in English. The British Council defines it as learning English in order to use it to study another subject, with a focus on academic skills. It is meant for students who already have a working level of general English and now need to follow lectures, read textbooks and journal articles, and write essays and reports at a college or university.

According to the British Council, EAP classes can include academic reading skills, listening and taking notes, writing summaries, justifying opinions, interpreting graphical information and writing essays. Courses usually add academic vocabulary and grammar, referencing, seminar discussion and oral presentations. Many also prepare learners for an external test that proves they can study in English.

Course types and levels

  • Pre-sessional courses. Many universities run pre-sessional EAP courses for international students before the degree starts. They concentrate on the skills the student will need in the degree itself.
  • EAP courses at language schools and colleges. These run for a set number of weeks and often start on any Monday. Melbourne City College Australia, for example, offers an EAP course of 5 to 20 weeks with 20 class hours and 5 hours of self-study per week, a maximum class size of 18 and two levels, upper intermediate and advanced. Entry requires a minimum age of 18 and IELTS 5.0 or equivalent, or the college's placement test.
  • Exam preparation. IELTS Academic and TOEFL iBT are two tests widely used for admission. IELTS Academic takes 2 hours and 45 minutes and has four sections: listening, reading, writing and speaking. TOEFL iBT also measures reading, listening, speaking and writing in an academic setting. Bournemouth City College runs IELTS preparation courses of 1 to 12 weeks, with 10, 20 or 30 lessons per week, for CEFR levels B1+ to C1.
  • In-sessional support. Some universities offer language courses to enrolled students. At the University of Copenhagen this is done by the Centre for Internationalisation and Parallel Language Use (CIP), which lists language courses for students and staff.

EAP courses do not carry ECTS credits as a rule; they lead to a course certificate or a test score. Ask the school what its certificate is accepted for, and by which institutions.

What level do universities ask for?

Each university sets its own English requirement for each programme, usually as a minimum test score. Immigration rules can add a second condition. For a UK Student visa, applicants must prove English at CEFR level B2 for courses at degree level or above, and at B1 for courses below degree level. A UK higher education provider can assess the English of its degree-level students itself, but the level must still be equivalent to B2. Some pathway courses replace the test: Melbourne City College Australia states that its EAP course allows students to meet the English requirement of their next course without retaking IELTS, subject to conditions.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 11 active schools for English for Academic Purposes: three in the United Kingdom, three in Spain, two in the United States and one each in Denmark, Ireland and Australia. Studying in an English-speaking country adds daily practice outside class. The list includes Bournemouth City College on the south coast of England, Delfin English School in Dublin, which offers exam preparation and an academic year programme of 25 weeks or more, and Melbourne City College Australia. Starting at home is also an option and can be enough to reach the test score. In Spain the list includes CENEC Málaga, the Madrid study-abroad agency CLS Idiomas and Canterbury Consulting Spain, which trains teachers of English in Madrid.

How to choose

Start from the requirement of the university you are aiming for: which tests it accepts, which score it asks for and by which date. Then compare courses on weekly hours, class size, the levels offered, the teachers' experience with academic writing, and whether the course ends in a recognised test or in the school's own certificate.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between EAP and general English?

General English covers everyday communication. EAP concentrates on the skills needed to study in English, such as academic reading, note-taking, summaries and essays.

What English level do I need to start an EAP course?

Usually an intermediate level or higher. Melbourne City College Australia asks for IELTS 5.0 or equivalent, and Bournemouth City College offers IELTS preparation from CEFR level B1+.

Does an EAP course replace IELTS or TOEFL?

Only where the receiving institution says so. Some colleges and universities accept their own EAP or pre-sessional course instead of a test, under conditions; otherwise you still need the test score.

What English level does a UK Student visa require?

CEFR level B2 for study at degree level or above and B1 for study below degree level, according to GOV.UK.