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Courses

Generally, academic language courses are offered in the morning or afternoon, with 20 hours of classes each week.

Direct Entry Courses (DEC 10 and DEC 15) - new for 2010!

IELTS 6.5 needing 7.0 – 10 weeks (DEC 10), or
IELTS 6.0 needing 6.5 – 15 weeks (DEC 15)

Students with an IELTS of 6.0 in each of the reading, writing, listening and speaking skills, can enrol in the DEC 10 course. Students with less than 6.0 in any skill area, need to enrol in the DEC 15 course.

Direct Entry Courses (DEC) are for students who need the language and skills necessary for different academic disciplines.

DEC covers major subject areas such as accounting, commerce, engineering and arts.

This course is open to all students and if you pass this course and meet the necessary academic entry requirements, you can progress directly to your preferred degree at the University (subject to visa status).

You will learn skills necessary for success in university tutorials, seminars, hand writing essays and in research reports.

This course has continuous assessment, staged during the 10 or 15 weeks of tuition. Assessment tasks are designed in consultation with professors in the faculties.*

If you need to reach the IELTS entry requirement for this course you can study our ‘Academic English’ course until you qualify.


Start dates for DEC 10 and DEC 15

There are four fixed start dates for either DEC 10 or DEC 15

DEC  10

DEC  15

22 March 2010

15 February 2010

3 May 2010

22 March 2010

5 October 2010

23 August 2010

8 November 2010

5 October 2010

 


* For direct entry to your selected faculty you must attend the entire course and pass the continuous assessment tasks. If you require IELTS 6.5 you must enter with IELTS 6.0, and minimum 5.5 in writing. If you require IELTS 7.0 you must enter with IELTS 6.5, and minimum 6.0 in writing. All assessments are followed by diagnostic feedback and learner support if necessary. Learning support is supplied at no extra cost for students who may need assistance.

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Academic English (AE) - Updated for 2010!

Pre-intermediate to advanced levels

Academic English (AE) courses are designed to help you succeed in your tertiary studies at the University of Sydney, another university, a TAFE institution or a business college.

AE will improve your English and your academic study skills. The course emphasizes writing, reading and presentation skills.

IELTS preparation is an integral part of AE courses.

AE courses normally run for 10 weeks with multiple entry times throughout the year. To give you flexibility in study, you can enrol for as many terms as you wish.

The AE course consists of 20 hours instruction per week.

CET strongly recommends that if you are continuing your university studies, you bring a laptop to enhance the learning process.

There will be changes to this course in 2010:

  • Academic English courses begin every five weeks
  • IELTS test preparation will form an integral part of the course
  • To enter the University from this course you need to sit and pass an IELTS test
  • CET can pre-book your IELTS test when you enrol
  • Students may transfer from Academic English to the Direct Entry
  • Courses if they have the required IELTS score at the time the course commences

Placement test: You need pre-intermediate-level English to enter AE courses. When you arrive at CET we assess your level of English. When you take the placement test you will have a short interview with one of the teaching staff. We then place you in the class which is most appropriate for your level of English.

If your English level is low, you can enrol in the General English course until your English has reached pre-intermediate level. Go to General English (GE) for more information.

Take a look at a sample timetable for the Academic English (AE)

Intensive Academic Writing (IAW)

Advanced to higher advanced levels

This is an intensive 5-week academic writing course specially designed for students who have high English test scores:

  • IELTS 6.5 or higher with a writing score of 5.5, or higher
  • TOEFL 575 or 233 (computer based) with TWE 4.0, or higher
  • TOEFL iBT 90 or higher (minimum 20 in writing)
Study

We encourage students to take this course if they wish to accelerate their proficiency in writing. Entry times are flexible but we recommend you take this course shortly before your planned entry to university. Students learn to read academic texts and write essays, reports and assignments in a range of appropriate academic genres.

Over the five-week course, you will be assessed through coursework and a final exam. The coursework comprises a portfolio of several pieces of written work that you complete during the course.

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Intensive Academic Speaking (IAS) - new for 2010!

This course is for students who want to study an intensive five-week academic speaking course. It is designed for students who have one of the following:

  • IELTS 6.5 or higher, with a speaking score of 5.5, or higher
  • TOEFL 575 or 233 (computer based) with TWE 4.0, or higher
  • TOEFL iBT 90 or higher (minimum 20 in speaking)

We encourage students to take this course if they wish to accelerate their proficiency in speaking. Entry times are flexible but we recommend you take this course shortly before your planned entry to university. Students learn to present seminars and participate in tutorials.

Academic English Master Class (AEM)

Higher advanced level

A 10-week academic English course. If you have reached at least the equivalent of IELTS 6.5 and require an IELTS 7.0 to commence formal studies, this is a suitable course for you.

The course focuses on individual and group activities and tasks which replicate university degree study. It is offered twice a year to coincide with university entry dates.

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Graduate Academic Skills (GAS)

reading a book

High level intensive

A very high level intensive academic English course, designed for students who have reached a higher advanced level with at least the equivalent of IELTS 6.5 who may be intending to study graduate courses at an Australian or other university. It is organised as a 5-week module, and is task-based on overall weekly themes. The tasks and themes are sequential and are designed to be cumulative as well as integrated. This five-week course is open to students with a confirmed offer for entry to the University and a minimum IELTS score of 6.5.

The weekly task-based study themes in GAS reinforce academic skills, and the transition to university study in Australia.

More specifically, this course is designed to help you:

  • develop study skills for a different academic culture
  • provide experience in the dynamics of group work
  • develop confidence in the ability to critically question and acquire knowledge
  • provide experience in the broad range of registers encountered in academic life

Advanced Skills for Academic Success (ASAS)

Very advanced – higher advanced levels

AusAid sponsored students only

ASAS is a four-week intensive academic skills program normally offered to government-sponsored students, particularly AusAID, World Bank and Asian Development Bank students.

It is not primarily an English course. Instead, it reinforces academic study skills in areas such as:

  • seminar presentations
  • efficient researching
  • critical thinking
  • academic writing
  • note-taking from lectures
  • library skills
  • efficient use of the internet
  • research methods

We recommend this course for students who may not require English, but would benefit from 'boosting' their academic study skills before undertaking university studies.

ASAS is the University of Sydney's recommended preparation for international students with unconditional offers for undergraduate or postgraduate study.

We also welcome students planning to study at other universities

To view previous graduations please visit the Films and flicks of CET section of our website.

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