Questions?
Find out what you need to know about the Academic English program here or download the full list of FAQs for students.
Academic English at UTS College
In a usual day, you'll attend four hours of face-to-face classes with a teacher and a small class of no more than 18 students. Each lesson consists of a set of focused learning outcomes that guides your learning in an interactive way.
You’ll be taught all skills together (listening, speaking, reading and writing) as this is an effective way to learn English quickly. You’ll work in small groups and share your ideas together. You’ll receive support and feedback about your progress as you learn. Videos, listening and reading materials all make the course interesting and interactive.
You’ll be taught all skills together (listening, speaking, reading and writing) as this is an effective way to learn English quickly. You’ll work in small groups and share your ideas together. You’ll receive support and feedback about your progress as you learn. Videos, listening and reading materials all make the course interesting and interactive.
We have five terms per year, and each term is 10 weeks. You can find the dates for each term’s intake on our website.
There are four levels of English. The level you start with is based on your current skill level. Your IELTS (or equivalent) level will be used to place you into the level of study that’s right for you. If you don’t have an IELTS or another accepted test result, then you will need to take a VEPT placement test for us to place you into the correct level.
You will need an English test result from one of the accepted tests listed on our website. You can also use VEPT (a Pearson test) for placement purposes into the Academic English program, but not for direct entry into UTS Foundation Studies, a diploma or UTS directly.
No. We don’t accept Linguaskill or Duolingo, as these are new tests that don’t have the same exam supervision, testing methods or standards as the other main tests that we accept.
No. A big advantage of our Academic English pathway program is that you can enter your UTS College academic program or UTS degree directly after passing the correct Academic English level for your pathway.
No. Once you commence in your current level of English study you can’t skip to a higher level by taking an IELTS/PTE/TOEFL test. You need to complete your course of study, so that you can show that you meet the learning outcomes and are ready for study at university in English. If you have any questions regarding your study plan, you can speak with your Student Success Adviser and/or our Student Centre team.
To enter UTS Foundation Studies, you need to complete the AEL3 course.
To enter a UTS College diploma, you need to complete the AEL4 course.
To enter UTS directly, you need to complete the AEL5 course as well as meeting the other entry requirements for your course.
See our English Language Programs page for more details on each level.
Yes. If you fail a level you’ll need to repeat the full program. However, our program is designed for you to meet each learning outcome more than once so you can demonstrate what you have learned. Plus, you’ll have support from your teacher, the HELPS Centre and Student Success Advisers to help you successfully complete your course.
Your placement into the correct Academic English level ensures that your learning experience and those of other students in your course is positive and effective. We use the IELTS/PTE/TOEFL tests to place you correctly. We usually wouldn’t allow extra English as the level would be too easy for you. If you have any questions regarding your study plan, you can speak with your Student Success Adviser and/or our Student Centre team. Of course, you’re welcome to use our extensive English language resources available at our HELPS Centre, for extra study help.
Yes, all classes are face-to-face on campus in Sydney. You can find out more about campus life on our website. The course is delivered in class, with the course materials available on our digital learning system called Canvas. You'll access your course materials on your laptop in class.
At the moment we have suspended all AEL6 courses. Students going direct to a UTS course should complete our AEL5 course with an IELTS equivalent outcome of 6.5.
It is important that you attend all final assessments and tests in the last week of the Academic English course, so that you complete your course on time. You are encouraged to attend Welcome Week activities at other times during the week. Speak with your teacher to find out the times you need to attend class and finalise assessments. Student Success Advisers may also provide information to help you with your transfer to UTS Foundation Studies, a UTS College diploma or UTS.
No. UTS College Academic English is a comprehensive program to develop not only your integrated language skills, but also prepare you to study successfully in English at university. You must therefore attend your classes and complete all assignments to complete the course. All English classes and academic programs at UTS College are held on campus, with Live Online learning no longer an available option. This is a better experience for our students. General English isn’t provided at the College, as we focus on preparing you for university with the readiness and English skills to succeed there.
No. VEPT is only used as a placement test for Academic English.
Yes it is possible, but it will depend on your circumstances. When placing you into a course, we’ll consider your current level of English and the appropriate course and study plan that is right for you. In principle, if you tested at AEL2, then you could complete 40 weeks of English.
Not usually. Courses tend to be held either in the morning or afternoon, and usually all classes for a particular level are run together at the same time. Sometimes we have classes in both the morning and afternoon, so this may be an option, but it also depends on the number of students in each class.
An IELTS preparation course focuses on the structure and content of the IELTS exam, rather than on preparing you for university studies in English. Our Academic English program helps you to develop your academic English skills, such as writing an essay, working in groups, conducting research and delivering presentations, so that you’re fully prepared for university study. On completion of our courses, our students are confident and have a broad range of study skills to help them succeed at university.
Students in our program come from countries in Asia and around the world – including China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Cambodia and Brazil. When you study with us, you’ll have a truly global study experience, make new friends and learn about the cultures of other students, in a warm and welcoming class environment. Our students often comment that being able to communicate with students from other countries and cultures is one of the highlights of studying at UTS College.
We have a lot of great support and resources to help you succeed in your studies, including your Student Success Adviser, HELPS (English language help and resources), Studiosity, TalkCampus and our Student Centre team. Your teacher will also help to guide you, answer questions, provide timely feedback, and keep you on track. You will never be left behind.
These are acronyms for various English language assessment tests. They are internationally accepted standardised tests which measure your English proficiency in reading, writing, listening, speaking and grammar. They are used by universities and governments in English-speaking countries to set English levels for university study, work, or residency.
IELTS: International English Language Testing System
PTE: Pearson Test of English
TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language
VEPT: Versant English Placement Test (used at UTS College to determine which Academic English level you will be placed into).