English Language Support

Support classes and workshops aim to help students on undergraduate, masters or research programmes with the language requirements of their academic studies. The English Language Skills Development programme also includes some General English courses, which can be used as components in the Exeter Award.

All teaching takes place online in 'live' (synchronous) and asynchronous classes using MS Teams or Zoom. Each course is linked to a dedicated ELE page providing additional materials, with links to the Guided Independent Learning (GIL) Sharepoint.

To participate in the programme, you must register and then enrol on the programme.

Improving your General Academic English

Academic Writing Skills

Academic Writing Courses:

These courses run in terms 1, 2 & 3. Separate courses for UG, Masters and Doctoral students.

These workshops cover areas such as:

Academic vocabulary
Reading strategies
Incorporating reading into writing
Criticality in reading and writing
The process of writing an assignment/dissertation
Editing

Dedicated academic writing workshops for different subject areas are also available as part of the Subject Specific English suite. See below for more details

Dissertation Writing Courses:

These courses run in term 3. Tailored to the needs of Masters students and focused on the difficulties involved in writing longer texts. Follow-up, one-to-one writing tutorials are provided during the summer vacation.

Dedicated dissertation writing workshops for Business School students are also available as part of the Subject Specific English suite. See below for more details

Language Development:

These courses run in terms 1 & 2. The courses help students extend the range and accuracy of their language use, focusing at sentence level and emphasising complex sentences. Key areas of grammar and lexis will be covered.

Dedicated language development workshops for Business School students are also available as part of the Subject Specific English suite. See below for more details.

One-to-one Tutorials:

Available throughout the academic year to help students with essays, dissertations and other assignments. All tutorials are held online via Teams, Zoom or Skype.

There are also dedicated one-to-one tutorials held in some Colleges. See below for further details.

Guided Independent Learning (GIL):

Available throughout the academic year. The GIL programme enables students to study on their own with the guidance and support of a tutor. Students can use the online resources available on the Guided Independent Learning SharePoint site. In addition, ‘Action planning’ and ‘follow-up’ tutorials help students follow individualised study programmes. Areas for study include grammar, essay planning, vocabulary, listening, note taking, seminar participation, pronunciation, and preparing for English language exams.

Skills for Seminars and Tutorials

Presentation Skills

This course runs in terms 1, 2 & 3. The course will enable you to enhance your communication skills in the context of giving an academic presentation. Participants are able to give a short presentation and receive detailed feedback. There is a strong focus on activities aimed at developing clarity and coherence, both in organisation and oral expression.

Current Issues

Run in terms 1, 2 & 3. Current Issues actually forms part of our Social and Cultural English Suite, but is a useful way to build skills for seminars and group tutorials. It provides a forum for discussion of current affairs based on news broadcasts and other sources.

Improving your social and cultural English

Courses in the Social and Cultural English Suite (including Current Issues - see above) can be used as components in the Exeter Award.

Oral fluency and confidence

Oral Communication Skills:

Run in terms 1& 2. OCS will enable students to improve their use of English in a range of contexts and situations which are not specifically academic, but which will help them to integrate successfully into the cultural and social life of the University.

Current Issues:

Run in terms 1, 2 & 3. Current Issues provides a forum for discussion of current affairs based on news broadcasts and other sources.

Conversation cafes:

This is an opportunity to sit down with people from Exeter and enjoy talking on your choice of subjects in a social relaxed atmosphere: no preparation needed: all you bring is a drink and a biscuit. The idea is to practise your fluency in a relaxed, social atmosphere and ask all those questions about the UK and Exeter you have wanted to ask, and talk about your own countries too.

Pronunciation:

Run in term1, 2 & 3. These workshops aim to make students more aware of key features of spoken English, from individual sounds and word stress to sentence stress and intonation.

Intercultural Communication:

Run in terms 1, 2 & 3. These workshops aim to improve your intercultural competence and help you excel in an international learning environment.

Preparation for work

Run in term 3. These workshops help students planning to work in an English-speaking context with writing CVs, covering letters, personal statements, and preparing for job interviews.

Employability support workshops are also run specifically for Business School students in terms 1, 2 & 3.

The Family Class

These classes are intended for the spouses and partners of students and staff at the University of Exeter. They are available during term time and follow University terms. Students can join at any time. Class times and locations are provided on the website.

Improving your subject specific academic English

University of Exeter Business School

View Timetables

Workshops run in terms 1, 2 & 3.

Offered to students at all levels, including bespoke workshops for doctoral students at the college.

Oral Communication Skills.
Language development
Academic Language and literacy
Academic Writing
Dissertation writing (term 3 only)
Dedicated 1-to-1 support in terms 1 & 2.

College of Social Sciences and International Studies View Timetables Enrolment
Graduate School of Education	Workshops in academic writing and study skills run in terms 1 & 2. Dedicated writing tutorials are available throughout the academic year.
Institute of Arab & Islamic Studies	Workshops in academic writing and study skills run in terms 1 & 2. Dedicated writing tutorials are available in terms 1 & 2.
Politics, Sociology & Philosophy, and Strategy & Security	Academic Writing workshops run in terms 1 & 2
Law	Academic writing workshops for both LLB and LLM run in terms 1 & 2 Dedicated writing tutorials for LLM are available in terms 1 & 2.

College of Humanities View Timetables Enrolment
English, Creative Writing and Publishing	English for academic purposes workshops are available for Masters students in term 1 & 2.
International Film Business	English for academic purposes workshops are available for Masters students in term 1 & 2. Dedicated writing tutorials are available in term 3/4.
History	Academic writing and Study Skills workshops available in terms 1 &2 Dedicated writing tutorials are available in terms 1 & 3.
Creativity and Theatre Practice	Academic Skills workshops available in term 1, 2 & 3. Group tutorials for each discipline available in terms 1 & 2 (& 3 for TP) Dedicated writing tutorials are available for Creativity students in terms 1, 2 & 3.
Modern Languages and Cultures	Academic Skills workshops available in term 1, 2 & 3. Dedicated writing tutorials are available in terms 1, 2 & 3.

College of Engineering, Maths and Physics

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Enrolment

Writing workshops for Masters students on engineering programmes are provided throughout the academic year

College of Life and Environmental Sciences

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Enrolment

Psychology

Academic Writing workshops are provided in Terms 1 & 2

Dedicated writing tutorials are also available

Sports and Health Science

Academic writing workshops for Masters and Undergraduate students are provided in term 1 & 2

Dissertation writing workshops are available in term 3

Dedicated tutorials held at St Luke’s throughout the academic year.

College of Medicine and Health

View Timetables

Enrolment

Workshops in English for Medical Study are provided for students of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Medical Imagining in Terms 1 & 2.

One-to-one writing tutorials will be available on a weekly basis throughout the academic year.

Guided Independent Learning

Guided Independent Learning (GIL) is part of the English Language Skills Development programme. Through GIL you can improve your academic and general English independently and in your own time whilst still being able to get guidance and advice from a team of experienced EAP (English for academic purposes) tutors.

You can choose how to engage in GIL according to your needs and your preferences:

Use our diagnostic tools to pinpoint areas that you want to work on.
Book an Action Planning tutorial to get advice from a tutor on a targeted approach to developing your language.
Explore our guided lessons to understand what is expected and how you can use language for better academic performance. Follow the links to useful additional skills development and practice exercises.
Navigate to our online resources and find input on the skills you specifically want to focus on.
Join our Yammer community to ask questions, get advice, and find out what other students are asking about. All registered students will be automatically added to the Yammer group - please email insessional@exeter.ac.uk for more information.