English plus Academic Subjects

• a gap year between school and university

• a challenge for advanced students

• 14-week semester

• six-week compact course

An excellent course for students between school and university

Our English plus Academic Subjects course, exclusively for adult students, is a stimulating alternative to the traditional English language courses offered in a standard English Language School. It consists of two elements:

Advanced English
Language Study
+Academic subjects
taught at university level

This programme is recommended for:

  • an advanced language student looking for an additional challenge
  • a gap year student waiting to go to university
  • a pre-masters student preparing for further study at university

Whatever your motivation, our experienced language teachers and academic subject specialists work closely together to create a flexible and challenging programme.

We offer two course types:

  • the 14-week Semester Course starting in September or January
  • a short six-week Compact Course in May / June

Academic subjects
The academic subjects are taught at university level and often together with English native-speakers, usually from the USA. Tuition is provided by subject specialists who bring the benefits of the latest research in their own areas of expertise. Each subject requires background reading and research and is assessed through course work, essays, examinations and presentations.

You will be able to choose three courses from the following subject areas:

Business/EconomicsCommunicationsEnglish Literature
MathematicsSocial SciencesArt History
Philosophy & ReligionStudio ArtLanguages (for example Mandarin
Chinese or Russian for Beginners)
Two or three lessons per week for each subject option.

One lesson = 55 minutes.

Progression Options

Students interested in enrolling for a full academic year, and have IELTS 5.5 or upper intermediate, may take the English plus Academic Subjects programme in the autumn semester with the option of joining the Liberal Arts programme in the spring semester.

Semester Course

The Course combines English Language and academic subjects:

English for Academic Purposes+Academic subjects
10 lessons per weekchoose three academic subjects
Two or three lessons per week for each subject choice

English for Academic Purposes
Your lessons explore contemporary, cross-course themes through the medium of English and develop high-level English Language and study skills:

  • sample themes: Society & Responsibilities; Oxford & University Life; World Customs & Traditions
  • teaching stimuli include printed materials, study visits, on-line resources, television documentaries, DVDs and YouTube.
  • language study focuses on developing advanced level competence in areas such as register, collocation and idiomatic usage and, in particular, academic study skills
  • internal assessment includes formal and informal writing activities, an extended essay based on your own research and an oral presentation
  • external assessment through externally validated Cambridge Exams (CAE or CPE) or IELTS, as available
Academic Subjects

You will study three subjects, each for two or three lessons per week. When submitting your application, you should select six subjects, numbered in order of preference 1-6; we make every effort to give students their first three choices when possible. Select subjects to suit your interests and future needs. In addition, private tuition in Italian, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Russian and other languages can be arranged for students at all levels for a supplementary fee.

Subject areaCourse
Art History
  • Art in England Survey 1066-1600
  • Oxford Art and Architecture
Business/Economics
  • International Business in the News
English Literature
  • Oxford and Fantasy Literature
  • European Crime Writing
Languages
  • Chinese (Beginners)
  • Russian (Beginners)
Mathematics
  • College Algebra
Philosophy and Religion
  • Introduction to Philosophy
  • Comparative Religion
  • Ethics
Social Sciences
  • Introduction to British History
  • Introduction to Politics
  • International Relations
  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Introduction to Sociology
Studio Art
  • Fundamentals of Drawing
  • Painting
  • Photography
Communications
  • Cross Cultural Communication
  • Film Studies
Sample timetable
Lesson 1Language development Video ‘The true costs of cheap food’English teacher
Lesson 2Discussion and debate
LunchMeet with friends in the college dining room
Lesson 3Academic subject choice: Introduction to PoliticsSubject teacher
Self-studyConsolidation activities
ActivitiesJoin in the programme of activities or excursions
Dates
Programme Dates
Autumn Semester 2018Sunday 2 September- Saturday 15 December 2018
Spring Semester 2019Sunday 13 January- Saturday 11 May 2019

Autumn Semester 2018

Start dateMonday 3 September
Mid Semester BreakMonday 22 October – Friday 26 October
End of SemesterFriday 14 December

Spring Semester 2019

Start dateMonday 14 January
Mid Semester BreakMonday 18 February – Friday 22 February
Spring BreakMonday 8 April – Friday 19 April
End of SemesterFriday 10 May
Fees

Tuition fees

Autumn Semester 2019Sunday 2 September – Saturday 15 December£7,616
Spring Semester 2019Sunday 13 January- Saturday 11 May 2019£7,616
One-to-one lessonsper lesson (55 minutes)£57

Accommodation fees

College house — self-cateringTwin StandardTwin SuperiorSingle StandardSingle Superior
Autumn Semester 2018£3,570£4,335£4,605£5,640
Spring Semester 2019£3,570£4,335£4,605£5,640
Homestay — meals includedSingle StandardSingle Superior
Autumn Semester 2018£3,570£4,710
Optional Extras
LunchMonday to Friday£44 per week

What the Accommodation fees include

College houses

Accommodation from the day of arrival to the morning (10:00) of departure; bed linen and towels; room cleaning (weekdays); heating and lighting; 24- hour support hotline.

  • Accommodation fees include your stay in your house during the mid semester breaks but not the two week spring break.
  • If you have chosen to include meals you are entitled to lunch Monday to Friday (excluding the semester breaks)

Homestay

Fees include accommodation as a guest with a local host (appraised and inspected regularly by our Student Services Officer), single room, bed linen and towels, laundry facilities, breakfast and dinner every day (lunches can be bought in college Monday to Friday) and support provided by the Student Services Officer in college. Some of our hosts offer a single superior option (ensuite facilities).

Entry requirements

If you would like to enrol on the English plus Academic Subjects course you must:

  • be 17 years of age or over
  • have a knowledge of English at or above the following:
    • IELTS score 5.5 or equivalent
      (Equivalent = B2 Common European Framework)
Optional Extras

Personal Language Training
Students can add one-to-one English language lessons to their language classes. Lessons last 55 minutes and are charged at £57 per lesson.

Examination fees
Fees for the following examinations are currently between approximately
£150 -£210.

IELTS

Cambridge examinations
B2 First (FCE)
C1 Advanced (CAE)
C2 Proficiency (CPE)

Other examinations
TOEIC
TOEFL

Optional college weekend trips / theatre visits / excursions, etc.
Day excursions at weekends — free to £40
Theatre tickets and transport — £25 to £45
Weekend trip with overnight stay (two nights) — £70 to £300
Additional sports and other activities — £10 to £15 per week

Other costs
Stationery/book purchase (loan of books is included in fees)
General spending money — allow a minimum of £80 per week
Bus travel: single trip from £2.00; 1 week £14.50; 4 week 49.00
St Clare’s sweatshirt £20

Please note: Prices are approximate please contact us at ic.enquiries@stc

Contact the Department

Please do contact us with any questions you may have about the course, the accommodation, the college and what it is like to be a student here. We will help you to make your choice and apply for the course.
Tom Whitehouse
Sales Coordinator
+44 1865 517331
tom.whitehouse@stclares.ac.uk
Manuela Williams
Admissions Registrar
+44 1865 517706
manuela.williams@stclares.ac.uk
Bardwell Road Campus
St Clare’s Oxford – 18 Bardwell Road – Oxford – OX2 6SP
Office hours: Monday – Friday 0900-1700 GMT

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