English Support Programme

Snapshot

This is a part-time (typically three hours per week) course aimed primarily at matriculated University of Dundee students whose first language is not English, though also open to members of staff. It runs for ten weeks in each of the two semesters.

How to apply : Students arriving in January, as well as any who missed the autumn testing, can join the programme by attending an introduction and placement test at 4.30pm on Friday, 29 January, in Lecture Theatre 2 (3G05) in the Dalhousie Building.

This will be the final opportunity to join the programme this semester.

There is nothing you need to do to prepare for the test. Just make sure you have a pen or pencil and your matriculation card (if you do not have a matriculation card, we will accept your admission letter).

Fees : There is no charge to students for these classes. Other participants are charged a fee of £100 per semester.

Overview

The programme is designed to support international students, undergraduate and postgraduate, in their first year of study at Dundee (though we also accept students in subsequent years).

Aims of the Programme

Starting a new course of university study is always a challenge, but it is more of a challenge when you are living in a foreign country and studying through the medium of a foreign language. The aim of the English Support Programme is to help you meet that challenge by increasing your knowledge, skills and confidence.

More specifically, the English Support Programme:

• offers classes in precisely the skills you will need to succeed academically: academic writing, listening and note-taking, participating in seminars, among others,
• helps you to review your grammar and extend your vocabulary,
• gives you a place where you can meet other international students and share your experiences with them,
• is a place where you can make mistakes – and learn from them – without losing credit in your main course of study.

Programme Content

The content of the programme varies slightly from semester to semester, but there are always classes in the following key areas:

• seminar skills
• academic writing
• listening and note-taking
• grammar review
• vocabulary development

Methods of Assessment

There is no formal assessment in the English Support Programme. However, you will receive a lot of supportive feedback from your tutor. Every student who has completed a component receives a written report at the end of the component. If you take a writing course you will receive detailed feedback on each piece of writing that you submit. If you make a seminar presentation you will also receive a written report on that.

Contact

Programme Leader

Mark O'Reilly
School of Humanities
University of Dundee
Nethergate
Dundee
DD1 4HN
Scotland

Telephone: 01382 384 811 (from the UK)
Telephone: +44 1382 384 811 (from outside the UK)

Email: m.oreilly@dundee.ac.uk