We use cookies on reading.ac.uk to improve your experience, monitor site performance and tailor content to you
Read our cookie policy to find out how to manage your cookie settings
Take your studies to the next level, by enrolling on one or more of the free courses on the Academic English Programme.
If you are a fee-paying international student at Reading, you can take any of our courses to help you get the most from your degree.
Our online courses are designed for independent learning and contain a mix of short video input and guided independent tasks, which you can work through at your own pace.
Eligibility:
These courses are open to all international University of Reading students studying at campuses in the UK and beyond (e.g. Malaysia and South Africa).
See below for links to self-enrol on the courses. You can enrol on as many of the courses as you like and you can begin at any time of the year. The materials are designed for self-study, so you can use these courses flexibly to best suit your needs.
If you have problems or questions, please contact aep@reading.ac.uk or attend one of our Ask the Academic English Team sessions.
If you would like more detailed, individual advice about how to improve your written work, we recommend you book a 1:1 Consultation
Develop the understanding and skills to write about your research clearly, effectively and appropriately.
Each lesson of this course will involve analysis of extracts from successful research writing texts. You will explore the organisational patterns and linguistic features distinct to each section of the text.
To enrol for the Dissertation and Thesis Writing course, sign into Blackboard then click on this link and follow the self-enrol instructions. If you have any issues, please email aep@reading.ac.uk
"As the sessions progressed, I was no longer anxious or worried about how to begin my dissertation."
Agriculture, Policy and Development student
Master the key elements of effective written academic communication.
This course develops your skills and language to effectively incorporate sources (by summarising, paraphrasing, and synthesising), write cohesive and coherent texts, respond critically, and employ a range of phraseological patterns and sentence structures.
To enrol for the Core Academic Writing Skills course, sign into Blackboard then click on this link and follow the self-enrol instructions. If you have any issues, please email aep@reading.ac.uk
"I have learnt how to write logically and coherently."
Literature & Languages student
Better understand what is expected in the most common written assignment genre at university, the essay.
This course demonstrates what "having a clear voice" and "being critical" mean within this written genre. You are also provided with vital tools for developing an effective argument and coherent overall structure.
To enrol for the Essays: Criticality, Argument and Structure course, sign into Blackboard then click on this link and follow the self-enrol instructions. If you have any issues, please email aep@reading.ac.uk
"I attended the Essay programme about critical thinking and structure and I keep receiving compliments from my lecturers about my clear and well-formatted structure."
Law student
One-hour webinars designed to help you with the language needed in a range of academic communication contexts. Attendance can count towards the Training and Development component of your RED Award.
Meet with our experienced academic language tutors, on a one-to-one basis, for individual advice and feedback on your academic writing or speaking,
We work with many of the academic departments at Reading to provide subject-specific modules and workshops. Please check with your own Department to find out if this is an option for you.