About us

• Our mission

  The Institution-Wide Language Programme exists to provide language learning opportunities for all members of the University community.

• Our students

  Each year over 700 members of the University (undergraduate and post-graduate students in all disciplines, staff and alumni) embark on a course with us either to learn a new language or to improve their existing language skills and intercultural competence, either for academic or for other purposes.

• Our courses

  We offer courses in 9 languages, from beginners to advanced levels. The courses can be undertaken as part of your university studies, but can also be taken as non-credit modules. Most modules are worth 20 credits, summer term modules are worth 10 credits.  Within the University's modular system most undergraduate programmes offer students in any year the flexibility to take a module outside their programme which counts toward their final award. If that is not the case, or if you would rather study a language in addition to your academic programme, IWLP modules can be taken as non-credit: students take the same course and their achievements are recorded on the IWLP Certificate awarded at the end of the course and on your university transcript alongside your degree results and other academic achievements.

• Our staff

  We have a highly dedicated and professional team of over 20 teaching staff, with many years of experience in supporting language learners in higher education. Most of our teachers come from a country where the language they teach is spoken, contributing to the international experience of an IWLP class. An updated list of our staff can be found under "Things to do now".

• Our history

  The IWLP was established at Reading over thirty years ago with the same aim as today's: offering language tuition to all members of the University. Originally an independently managed programme based in the then Faculty of Letters, in 1997 it was affiliated to the German Department. In 2007 IWLP joined the former CALS, Centre for Applied Language Studies, which in 2009 became part of the International Study and Language Centre (ISLC), supporting international students at Reading. Benefiting from the double links with the modern languages and the English for academic purposes programmes, the IWLP is able to offer inspiring, engaging and highly effective language courses at Reading.