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Studies & Degrees in English Academic Writing

English academic writing is the kind of English used in essays, reports, dissertations and research articles at universities where English is the language of instruction. It is a skill rather than a field of knowledge. Students learn to plan and structure a text, build an argument, support it with evidence, cite sources correctly and write in a formal, precise register.

A typical course moves from the paragraph to the full essay and then to longer, source-based work. It covers summarising and paraphrasing, describing data, comparing viewpoints, referencing and avoiding plagiarism, and revising a draft after feedback. Most courses teach it together with academic reading, listening and speaking. The Preparation for University course of the University of Limerick Language Centre, for example, has modules on integrated skills, academic reading, academic writing, academic listening, academic speaking, and academic vocabulary and grammar.

Qualifications and levels

Academic writing is rarely a degree in its own right. It is usually taught in one of these forms:

  • Academic English courses at language schools. These are open-entry courses, often called English for Academic Purposes (EAP). At WESLI - Wisconsin ESL Institute in Madison, the Academic English programme includes writing paragraphs and essays for a variety of purposes. It has beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, an average class of eight students and an average length of study of 8 weeks to 12 months. Students on an F-1 visa take the option of 24-26 lessons per week.
  • Pre-sessional and foundation programmes. Universities run these for applicants who meet the academic entry requirements but not yet the language requirement. In Limerick the Preparation for University courses are open to students with an offer from an Irish third-level institution and use continuous assessment instead of one final examination. The university's Certificate in International Foundation Studies is a one-year award worth 60 ECTS credits. Griffith Institute of Language lists an English for Academic Purposes course in Dublin.
  • Composition courses within a degree. In the United States, writing is part of the bachelor's degree for all students. At the University of Pittsburgh, most undergraduates take Seminar in Composition as the first of three writing-intensive requirements, and incoming students choose between that course, Workshop in Composition and Workshop in Composition: ESL.
  • Exam preparation. The main admission tests assess writing separately. IELTS Academic has two writing tasks: a description of a graph, table, chart or diagram in at least 150 words, and a discussion essay of at least 250 words, in about 20 and 40 minutes. The TOEFL iBT writing section includes writing an email and a contribution to an online academic discussion.

Level matters more than the name of the course. For a UK Student visa, study at degree level or above requires English equivalent to CEFR level B2, and a higher education provider may assess the level itself. Universities set their own, often higher, minimum scores.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 21 active schools for English academic writing. Six are in the United Kingdom and five in the United States. Ireland, Canada and Spain have two each, and Hong Kong, Trinidad and Tobago, the Czech Republic and Malta have one each. Most are language schools and university language centres, such as the University of Limerick Language Centre, Griffith Institute of Language and WESLI; others are universities, such as the University of Pittsburgh, and secondary schools that prepare pupils for university.

Courses are taught in English. Three questions help to compare them: whether the course is linked to admission at a particular university, how many hours a week are spent on writing itself, and how much individual feedback on drafts is included.

What it leads to

Academic writing is a means to something else. It prepares students for a bachelor's or master's degree taught in English, for the writing section of IELTS Academic or TOEFL iBT, and for a thesis or research article. IELTS examiners mark writing on four criteria: task achievement or response, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy. A good course trains the same points. Outside university, the same skills are used in research, publishing, consultancy and any job that requires clear reports in English.

Frequently asked questions

What level of English do I need for an academic writing course?

It depends on the course. Language schools such as WESLI offer Academic English from beginner level. Pre-sessional courses set a minimum test score, so check the entry requirement of each one.

Is academic writing the same as IELTS preparation?

No. IELTS Academic tests two short tasks of at least 150 and 250 words. University work requires longer texts based on sources, with references, and academic writing courses teach that as well.

Does a pre-sessional course replace an English test?

Sometimes. In the United Kingdom a higher education provider may assess a degree-level student's English itself, as long as it is equivalent to CEFR level B2. Ask the university whether its own course is accepted for admission.

How long does an academic English course last?

From a few weeks to a full year. WESLI gives an average length of study of 8 weeks to 12 months, and the foundation certificate in Limerick takes one academic year.