What is the English for Academic Purposes program?

The English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program is a uniquely focused English language program that prepares English as a Second Language (ESL) students for university studies.  It is designed especially for intermediate to advanced ESL students who want to learn English in a challenging and effective environment that trains them for academic success at the undergraduate or graduate level. 

The program is comprised of three tiers with students taking rigorous language assessment to place them into the appropriate tier.  Each tier consists of thirteen weeks (approximately 260 hours) of instruction, including exams.  Students who place in tier one normally take one year to complete the program. 

Students who do not meet the language requirements for the EAP program have the option of enrolling in the PREP program that will prepare them for entry to the EAP program. 

Graduate students with an advanced level of English language proficiency may be interested in the English for Academic Purposes Graduate (EAPG) program. The EAPG program offers specially-designed seminars to aid graduate students with advanced writing and advanced communication skills necessary for their graduate studies.

Students who join the EAP program are highly motivated to develop the language skills necessary to succeed at university.  By the end of the program, successful students are able to:

• Write effective summaries, responses and essays at a university level
• Use their increased speaking skills to participate actively in all aspects of university life
• Employ improved speed and accuracy for both reading and listening comprehension in academic contexts
• Implement critical thinking skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking
• Make use of effective learning strategies both inside and outside of the university classroom

Instructors in the program have advanced experience and training in teaching ESL and EAP.  They use an active, learner-centred communicative approach that focuses on helping the students themselves arrive at an understanding of the English language proficiency requirements necessary for academic studies.  This inquiry based methodology fosters research skills and initiative in the students in order to help them succeed at a research-intensive university like the University of Calgary. 

Students who successfully complete the EAP program with a grade of C or higher fulfill the English Language Proficiency requirement for most undergraduate programs at the University of Calgary.  Additionally, successful completion of the EAP program is accepted in lieu of Alberta English Language Arts 30-1.  Finally, students who achieve a final grade of B+ or higher in the final level of the academic writing and grammar course are exempt from the University of Calgary Effective Writing Test.