The English Language Institute has been teaching students from more than 120 countries for over 60 years. Learn from highly qualified teaching staff with professional experience in working with students from all over the world—the Pacific, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Proficiency in English is your key to academic success. Let us prepare you.

The English for Academic Purposes (EAP) programme will develop your English language and academic skills for study at university.

We offer 12-week courses in every trimester—this includes 10 weeks of teaching, orientation, and testing. There are two courses:

• EAP for undergraduate and postgraduate study
• EAP for postgraduate study (advanced).

EAP is offered face-to-face on our Wellington campus. If there is sufficient demand, EAP will be offered online. Each EAP course covers different material, so you can attend one or more courses. The length of your study will depend on your English ability and your university study goals.

EAP will help you improve your academic reading, writing, speaking, and listening. You will develop a wide range of critical- and creative-thinking skills and learning strategies. These skills and strategies will prepare you for further study at foundation, undergraduate, or postgraduate level.

To study EAP, you need to have a pre-intermediate level of English or higher. You can provide an international English language test result, or we will assess your level before the course begins.

EAP students who meet the University’s minimum English-language entry score will be awarded a Certificate of Proficiency in English (CertEngProf). For postgraduate-level study, a higher level of achievement is required.

If you are aiming for postgraduate study and your English level is high enough, you’ll be invited to join this class.

If you successfully finish the EAP programme, the qualification you get is called the Certificate of Proficiency in English (CertEnglProf). Getting this certificate means you can then go on to pursue further study at this university. This can be either undergraduate or postgraduate study, depending on your scores in the EAP programme.

You can apply to study at Victoria University of Wellington at any time. We recommend you apply at least eight weeks before the start date, to make sure you have time to apply for a student visa and accommodation before you travel to New Zealand. If you apply later than the deadline, we will consider your application on a case-by-case basis.

• Trimester 1 (February): application deadline 19 January
• Trimester 2 (June): application deadline 1 May
• Trimester 3 (course starting 27 September): application deadline 1 September.

Learn in a vibrant university setting and enjoy the diverse community of international students and experienced lecturers.

All students have access to the learning resources available through the Language Learning Centre website.

The staff at the English Language Institute will work with you to provide a course of study that meets your personal goals. Your teacher will monitor and discuss your progress with you throughout the course.

Through coursework and independent learning, you’ll improve your ability to participate in academic discussion and read, write, and listen effectively for academic purposes. You’ll gain a solid understanding of the vocabulary and grammatical structures in both written and spoken English. And you’ll be able to read and listen to complex information.

Over three days, you must take part in tests, needs analysis, and a programme orientation.

English tests and needs analysis

Programme orientation

Check your orientation and start dates.

The EAP is a full-time, 12-week course including 10 weeks of teaching, orientation, and testing. You can expect a workload of 40–50 hours per week. This includes scheduled classes from Monday to Friday and independent study. Find out more about studying online and the expected workload.