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Improve your English with free classes for registered students. Develop academic skills in reading and writing, speaking and listening, dissertation writing, discussion skills, intercultural awareness, and grammar. Choose courses in general academic English or English for Business Studies. Get support with your main studies from our experienced and supportive tutors.
Our In-Sessional English for Academic Purposes (EAP) short courses are free to students already registered on a course at the University. If you are an applicant and are interested in studying for a course before you start university, you will require our pre-sessional EAP short courses.
The In-Sessional EAP short courses offer two types of modules:
EAP: General English for Academic Purposes
These modules are for students from any subject. Most modules are aimed at students who have studied English as a second or foreign language, but we also have courses for students who have been educated in English or for whom English is their first language.
EBS: English for Business Studies
These courses are tailored to the needs of students in business-related subjects whose first language is not English.
The EAP and EBS courses will help you develop your English and academic skills to be more successful in your main course. Classes are divided into different levels and skills so that you can choose what you would like to focus on.
Semesters in EAP are divided into two five-week teaching blocks. You will be able to choose up to two courses per block each semester.
Please note, this course is taken in addition to your main course. It is unaccredited, therefore it does not have credits that count towards your main course.
Our language classes are all interactive and flexible. Each session ranges from whole-class activities to group work, pair work, and individual tasks. You may be involved in discussions and debates, activities using the Sanako language learning software and other online tools, giving and listening to presentations, producing written work, analysing texts, and participating in grammar and vocabulary review activities. Several different types of activity are usually present in each session.
Sessions are fully supported by Canvas, where you will have access to key information and resources, as well as the ability to practise activities and submit work for feedback.
When signing up for an online class, you will have access to Sanako Connect, a web-based language teaching hub. In addition, you may be directed to the Language Centre for homework and self-directed study. Here, you'll have access to a range of language learning materials and the support of the Language Technician.
Each course requires you to attend two hours per week, plus an additional 30 minutes is available to students for tutorials. In each of our teaching blocks, courses last five weeks with an additional week offered for formative feedback and additional tutorials. You are allowed to take one or two courses per block and you can take EAP courses in each year of your studies. Because each student may have different needs and levels of English, there is no prescribed package of courses that you must take; however, we have designed a course that allows students to progress from introductory courses to those that facilitate the continuous development of your academic skills.
Courses are unaccredited but you will be offered the opportunity to complete formative assessments as part of the course. If you attend regularly, you will be awarded a Certificate of Attendance.
We don’t currently display entry requirements for United States. Please contact the Student Admin team on studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk or 0191 515 3154.
You can apply for free English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and English for Business Studies (EBS) courses if you are a current student at the University of Sunderland.
EAP and EBS courses are aimed at students who have English as a foreign or second language but we also have courses for native speakers of English. These courses are in-sessional modules meaning that they run in term time.
We are offering five-week courses designed to help you develop your English language and academic skills and support you in your main course of study. In semester 2 our teaching is divided into two Blocks: Block A and Block B. In Block A, EAP teaching begins w/c 12 February, and EBS teaching in w/c 19 February. In Block B, EAP and EBS classes will begin w/c 15 April. Each course requires you to attend two hours per week, plus an additional 30 minutes is available to students for tutorials.
You can choose one or two courses per Block, or a total of four courses per semester. For instance, from the catalogue of existing courses (see In-Sessional English for Academic Purposes | The University of Sunderland), a student can decide to enrol on “Developing Academic Writing” and “Developing Academic Reading” in Block A [February to March] and then study “ Developing Academic Listening” and “Developing Academic Speaking” in Block B [April to May].
Please note that, because we understand each student may have different needs and levels of English, there is no prescribed package of courses that you must take. For courses with multiple groups (e.g., Dissertation Writing), you must sign up for one group only based on your preferences and academic schedule. If you complete a course in Block A, you must not choose the same course in Block B.
Please register for the courses you want to study.
Registration for each of our teaching blocks will close in week 2.
If you need support with registration or are unsure what courses to select, use our Live Chat and a member of the EAP team will get in touch to answer any questions you may have.
You can also book a one-to-one session for advice and support with your academic English.
This course is free to students who are already registered at the University of Sunderland.
This information was correct at the time of publication.
Improving your English and academic skills will help you to be more successful on your main course, but will also help you when it comes to looking for graduate employment. The skills you learn from this course will be invaluable throughout your future career.
I would recommend all international students to enrol on the EAP and EBS courses.
My communication and listening skills have improved since joining the University.
