Starting in February 2020, QUT International College will offer a new suite of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) programs, which will replace QUT’s existing EAP programs. Our new courses have been designed to maximise the opportunities for students to progress to their university course quickly and with the best possible preparation, and to cater to those students who just wish to study an English program for personal or professional development.
QUT’s EAP programs assist students to:
- Improve their English Language proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking.
- Develop and refine the skills required for participation in an academic setting
- Improve capability to prepare oral and written presentations
- Develop the skills which prepare them for university study in Australia.
10/15 week duration
The most noticeable change will be the duration of the programs. No longer a 12-week block, QUT’s EAP 2020 is based on a 10/15 week structure which aligns with the Australian ELICOS industry standard. Each of the three EAP levels is offered in both 10 week (Standard) and 15 week (Extended) streams, with different IELTS equivalent entry points. These entry points have been determined by tracking the success rates of our previous EAP students.
| Program | IELTS Entry Equivalent | ||||||
| Old Course | New course | Duration in weeks | Overall | Writing | Reading | Speaking | Listening |
| EAP 1 | EAP 1 Extended | 15 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | Any | Any |
| EAP 1 Standard | 10 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | |
| EAP 2 | EAP 2 Extended | 15 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | Any | Any |
| EAP 2 Standard | 10 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 5.0 | |
| EAP 3 | EAP 3 Extended | 15 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 6.0 | Any | Any |
| EAP 3 Standard | 10 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 6.0 | |
3 new intakes
Instead of three start dates per year, our new programs will have six, offering greater flexibility for students and education agents. The maximum gap between any EAP 2020 program is 7 weeks, and the end dates for the new programs are within 5 weeks of all QUT university start date. This means students can easily remain visa compliant and can receive their final EAP grade and articulate to their next course with plenty of time.
Increased pass rates
Mr Mark Bowron, QUTIC English Language Programs manager, advises the new program should lead to increased pass rates in all three EAP levels. “The revised curriculum and program structure means only those students who score less than 49% would need to repeat the same level. Those who score between 50-64% can progress to the 15-week stream at the next level, keeping their motivation high and improving their chances of progressing on time.”
QUT International College has a strong reputation for providing our students with multiple safety-net pathway options regardless of their academic or cultural background. The new EAP program has been designed with this in mind, and is based on a more realistic expectation of English ability progression. Under the EAP 2020 students will be expected to progress by IELTS 0.5 in 10 weeks.
More free time to work and play
The EAP 2020 program structure is based on a 20 hour in-class study week, with an additional 5 hours per week of self-guided learning. Classes will be conducted in the morning or afternoon, but not across the entire day. This provides greater flexibility for students undertaking part-time employment, playing sport or wanting to enjoy the lifestyle that Brisbane offers.
There are plenty of other great reasons why students should choose QUT to improve their English language:
- Be a genuine university student with access to all of QUT’s world-class facilities and services
- 15 students per class which means personalised attention
- An extensive variety of student support services
- Highly qualified and experienced English language teachers
- No hidden costs (all textbooks and learning material are included in the tuition fee)
- Progression to the university is based on internal assessment – no further IELTS exam is necessary (B. Nursing exception)
The QUT International Admissions team is currently reviewing all student applications and offers that include an EAP program commencing in 2020. These students will be transitioned into the new EAP and revised offer letters will be progressively issued.
Comments are closed.