• Foundations Level: Introductory level for students who have very little or no working knowledge of English. 
• Level 1: Beginning level for students who have some basic knowledge of English.
• Level 2: High beginning level for students who understand simplified input and can be understood, but demonstrate a lack of fluency.
• Level 3: Low Intermediate level for students who can understand and read adapted material with some ease, but may make frequent mistakes when writing and speaking.
• Level 4: Intermediate level for students who understand adapted reading material and some authentic material and are able to communicate most ideas clearly when speaking or writing. 
• Level 5: High intermediate/low advanced level for students who can read and understand most authentic reading material and engage in authentic academic discourse with limited guidance.
• Level 6: Advanced level for students who can read and understand authentic reading material and engage in authentic academic discourse with limited guidance
• Level 7: Advanced level for graduate students who can read and understand authentic reading material and engage in authentic discourse with limited guidance.
• *Please note that achievement of proficiency needed to complete a level may require more than one 7-week term of study.  IEP students conditionally admitted for undergraduate studies or who wish to pursue undergraduate studies will need to complete the IEP through level 6 to meet the language proficiency requirement for full admission.  IEP students conditionally admitted for graduate studies or who wish to pursue graduate studies will need to complete the IEP through level 7 to meet the language proficiency requirement for full admission.

  Additional note: Availability of levels is subject to enrollment numbers. The IEP reserves the right to not offer a level should enrollment not be sufficient to open a section in course or at a level.

Classes are held between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Students are registered for classes by the IEP administration. Each full-time schedule will include 21 hours* per week of faculty-led classroom instruction as outlined here:

Foundations, Levels 1 and 2

• Reading/Vocabulary — 6 hours
• Writing/Grammar — 6 hours
• Oral Communication — 6 hours
• Special Topics — 3 hours

Levels 3, 4 and 5

• Reading/Vocabulary — 6 hours
• Writing/Grammar — 6 hours
• Oral Communication/Listening & Note-Taking — 6 hours
• Special Topics — 3 hours

Levels 6 and 7

• Reading/Vocabulary — 6 hours
• Writing/Grammar — 6 hours
• Oral Communication/Listening & Note-Taking — 6 hours

For more details on the IEP schedule, including a sample weekly schedule grid, please see the IEP Student Handbook. 

*Levels 6 and 7 are 18 hours of instruction per week per level.

The Intensive English Program offers five 7-week terms of study per academic year. Beginning and end dates for each term are as follows:

Testing and orientation dates table*

*Tentative and subject to change

The IEP welcomes those who wish to study in our Program part-time. All aspects of the Program remain the same for full-time and part-time students.  However, part-time students take less than a full load of courses and only study for 3 to 15 hours per week, i.e. take only one to three courses per level.  Part-time students must complete ALL courses within a level before progressing to the next level of courses. 

NOTE: Availability to enroll as a part-time student is subject to enrollment.  Due to low or no enrollment, some courses or levels may not be available or offered.  Those who wish to enroll part-time should contact the IEP at least two (2) to three (3) months prior to the term in which they wish to enroll in order to confirm availability.