The General English Programme is part of the English for International Students Unit, and provides general English language classes at all levels from elementary to advanced. Our courses are suitable for those who intend to go on to undergraduate or postgraduate study at a U.K. university, or wish to improve their command of English for use at work or for communication worldwide. Candidates for the IELTS examination for university entrance may join our IELTS preparation course which runs throughout the year. We offer intensive study in small classes taught by highly competent and experienced staff in an informal atmosphere. Our programme covers three terms of eleven weeks each, a Summer School of three or six weeks, and a Refresher Course in September, giving nine possible entry points per academic year. We are accredited by the British Council through a regular inspection scheme and are members of BASELT (British Association of Schools in English Language Teaching).

The General English Course is offered in the Autumn, Spring and Summer Terms, and has the following features:

· 15 hours (mornings only ) or 21 hours (mornings & afternoons) per week
· Entry at start of term or mid-term
· Minimum age of 18 on enrolment
· Initial placement test
· All levels from elementary to advanced (not beginners)
· Small classes of 12 at most, generally fewer
· Full-board accommodation on the Selly Oak Campus
· Self-catering accommodation on the Main Campus at Edgbaston
· Informal, friendly yet demanding classes
· IELTS and Cambridge examinations preparation classes
· Textbook, workbook, vocabulary notebook and ringbinders provided
· Guided use of Independent Learning Centre and Language Laboratory
· Free access to Internet and email

The morning classes are based on the study of a textbook suitable for the class level, but incorporate additional activities geared to the needs and interests of the specific group of students. The emphasis is on the core skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing, with the systematic study and practice of grammar at the appropriate level as well as vocabulary building tasks.

The afternoon sessions provide an opportunity for additional communication in English as students put into practice the knowledge and skills learned in the morning classes. Preparation classes for the IELTS exam are offered at two levels, a higher class for those about to sit the exam, and a lower level for those who intend to take it perhaps the following term. Our Examinations Coordinator advises students which exam they should aim for and when they should take it to get the best results possible.

The Summer School takes place in July and August, and students may attend either or both of the two three-week blocks. Most features are very similar to the General English Course during the three terms as described above, but since the period is short, all students must take 21 hours per week. We arrange a day trip in each block, either to Stratford-upon-Avon or to Oxford, and two social organisers are on hand to plan social activities and trips for the evenings and weekends.

The Refresher Course covers three weeks in September and provides an opportunity for students planning to study at the University of Birmingham in the following academic year to enhance their English proficiency and develop skills before beginning their undergraduate or postgraduate studies.

All classes take place in Elmfield House on the leafy Selly Oak Campus. Students are encouraged to enhance their learning beyond the classroom by making use of resources such as the Independent Learning Centre which provides a range of books, newspapers, cassettes and videos which can be borrowed. Students needing to improve their listening and speaking skills may use the Language Laboratory out of class hours or borrow the cassettes for home study. All are encouraged to use the Internet to develop their language mastery, and access to Internet and email is available free at the nearby newly-built Orchard Learning Resource Centre.

Attendance on our courses does not guarantee admission to an undergraduate or postgraduate University course, since all courses require a minimum score on an approved English test such as IELTS or TOEFL. However, our staff, headed by the Student Advisor, counsel students as to the suitability and availability of university courses, and help them to complete the relevant application forms.

Students are often concerned to know how long they will need to study English. Learners vary greatly in the time they need to improve their language skills, depending on their initial English level, but a rough guideline for academic candidates is that it generally takes about a term (11 weeks) of full-time serious study to improve one point on the IELTS test scale. Students planning to move on to university study should therefore consider carefully the time they will probably need to achieve the necessary IELTS score.

The University of Birmingham has two campuses. The General English Programme is on the leafy Selly Oak Campus about 1.5 kilometres south of the larger Edgbaston Main Campus on a direct bus route. Among the Selly Oak facilities are the library and computers of the Orchard Learning Resources Centre, a cafeteria and a student bar. Within five minutes' walk of our building going towards the Main Campus is a shopping centre with a large supermarket, a bank and a post office as well as smaller shops and restaurants. Selly Oak students have full access to all facilities on both campuses.

Rooms with full-board can be provided in a residential college on the Selly Oak Campus, or on or near the Main Edgbaston Campus on a self-catering basis. We advise students to apply as early as possible since there is always a heavy demand for rooms.

We encourage our students to participate in the many activities arranged by the Guild of Students of the University, including clubs, parties and trips. There are also various weekend coach trips organised for all students at a very low cost. Our programme holds a coffee morning every Friday, and we offer our students the chance to go to the theatre and concerts at reduced prices. There is always a preparation session before a theatre visit to help students enjoy the experience to the full. Each block of the Summer School includes a full day trip to a place of interest such as Oxford or Stratford-upon-Avon, with preparation in advance.

Established in 1900, the University of Birmingham is one of the UK's largest civic universities There is a wide range of programmes available, the standard of teaching is very high and the facilities for both academic work and social life are varied and of a good quality. The more than 21,00 students, undergraduate and postgraduate, provide a mix of different backgrounds and study a broad spectrum of disciplines. The University is a founder member of Universitas 21, a new international network of major universities that work together. Birmingham attracts many international students and each year there are over 3,500 who come from more than 120 countries worldwide.

Birmingham has an outstanding research record in medicine, science, engineering, arts, business and social sciences. There is an extensive range of academic information sources and services, in printed, electronic and other forms, and training in their use is provided. Electronic information is available through the high-speed campus network which links thousands of computers all over the University.

Like all UK universities, the University of Birmingham is subject to regular external scrutiny and evaluation of the quality and standards of its teaching and research through professional and statutory bodies and maintains very high standards.

The two campuses provide excellent social facilities including membership of the Guild of Students with its over 200 clubs and societies. We have some of the best sports facilities in the country, which support the degree in sports and exercise sciences, and for those who are interested there is unequalled access to music and the arts. There is a wide range of student accommodation in residences across the campus providing many opportunities to mix with students on different programmes. The city centre with its museums, shops, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, concert halls etc is only a short bus or train ride away from the Edgbaston campus.