Academic English Modules

One semester, 20 Credits at Credit Level 4

This module is for first year undergraduate students.  It will help you develop your linguistic competence in academic contexts, focusing on the level 4 skills of interpretation and evaluation.  The module will also help you acquire the necessary learning tools for academic development, including the ability to produce coherent and sound argumentation using the appropriate style and register required in your academic discipline. You will learn how to integrate information from a variety of academic sources into essays and presentations. In this module you will be given extensive guidance and feedback on every stage of the researching and writing process.

One semester, 20 Credits at Credit Level 5

This module is for second year undergraduate students. It will help you develop your critical skills and language ability, focusing on the level 5 skills of critical understanding, analysis and evaluation. You will learn how to integrate your own empirical research findings into written and spoken reports. In this module you will be given extensive guidance and feedback on every stage of the researching and writing process.

One semester, 20 credits at Credit Level 4 

This module is for International, Exchange or Study Abroad students, and specifically covers aspects of oral communication that you need to employ in both an academic and work environment. The skills covered include those required to participate effectively in discussions, interviews, presentations, seminars and meetings.

One semester, 20 Credits at Credit Level 5

This module enables students to develop a critical awareness of the issues around teaching English in academic contexts. Using research-informed and practice-oriented pedagogy by means of teaching observation and peer-support, the module helps students to acquire Level 5 skills in teaching reading, writing, listening and speaking in academic English. Students taking the module also develop an awareness of the formal aspects of English and how to teach them, and learn to design lesson plans with appropriate learning materials. 

One semester module

This module spans 10 weeks and is designed to enhance your language skills within an academic context, preparing you effectively for postgraduate studies. Practical sessions cover essential areas such as referencing, paraphrasing, essay writing techniques for achieving high scores, presentation skills, and the responsible use of AI tools in accordance with the University of Westminster’s policies.

Key details:

• Duration: 10 weeks
• Class format: Weekly seminars of two hours each
• Credit: Non-credit bearing. This is a support module

Additional features:

Writing workshops: Four dedicated sessions where you can receive constructive feedback from peers and lecturers on any piece of writing for your postgraduate studies, helping to enhance your academic writing and presentation skills.

This module is available in both Semester 1 and Semester 2.

Semester 1 dates and times

• Monday 2–4pm (Regent Campus, Cavendish Campus or online)
• Tuesday 2–4pm (Regent Campus)
• Wednesday 10–12pm (online) or 2–4pm (Regent Campus, Marylebone Campus or online)
• Thursday 2–4pm (Regent Campus or Cavendish Campus)
• Friday 10–12pm (online) or 2-4pm (online)

This is an Academic English module for doctoral researchers in the first semester of your second year of a PhD. The module has two purposes: firstly, to help you to identify and correct mistakes in your written English, and secondly, to develop your academic writing specifically in relation to your ability to manage the advanced writing needed in your own discipline. The module is open to both home and international students, and will be funded by the Doctoral School if recommended by your supervisor.

This module consists of seven taught sessions and one individual tutorial. Students can take the module in either semester 1 or semester 2.