Discipline-specific Academic English Programme

The Academic English Programme (AEP) offers workshops, lectures, courses (sometimes referred to as 'preparatory learning') and modules for your discipline, focusing on the language and communication skills needed to perform effectively on specific degree programmes at Reading.

Our discipline-specific language and literacy experts closely analyse the texts, assignment types and communicative situations you will encounter on your degree. We then design lessons to develop the specialised language, text organisational (or 'genre') knowledge, reading-to-write skills, and communication strategies you will need to engage successfully with them.

We currently provide input for more than thirty different student groups, from first-year undergraduate to postgraduate research level, across the campus.

If you are a student at Reading, talk to your Department about what is potentially available to you from the discipline-specific AEP.

If you are a staff member and would like a new workshop or course for your students, please see our Academic Language and Literacy Liaison page for details on who to contact. 

Read a summary of our activity:

Henley Business School

For master's students, preparatory learning in Academic Writing for Business Management (ILMABMN), Academic Writing for Business Management and Accounting (ILMAACN) and Academic Writing for Accounting and Finance (ILMACFN) is offered in Semester 1. MSc Accounting and Finance students are supported in Semester 2 with 3 AEP workshops on 'Pathways to Assessment Success'. Oral communication skills workshops are delivered to MSc Entrepreneurship students. Preparatory learning is also offered to ICMA master's students in Semester 1 (ILMAEFN: Academic English for Finance) and students of digital business (ILMADBN: Academic Writing for Digital Business).

For first-year undergraduate Accounting, Finance and Business Management students, AEP provides the two-semester preparatory learning courses Academic Skills and Language for Business and Management (IL1ABMN), Academic Skills and Language for Finance (IL1AFNN) and Academic Skills and Language for Accounting (IL1AACN).

Art, Communication and Design

IL1ACDN English for Arts and Communication Design is a two-semester preparatory learning course designed specifically for first-year undergraduate students in the School of Arts and Communication Design. The course aims in particular to support students who have entered their degree programmes with IELTS or equivalent below 7.0.

Institute of Education

For master's students, two semesters of Academic Writing input are provided by AEP via the preparatory learning course ILMAESN: Academic Writing for Education. For students on BA Education Studies, AEP provides the preparatory learning course Academic Skills and Language for Education (IL1AEDN).

Law

AEP preparatory learning focusing on key writing skills and genres for Law is offered to undergraduate students from part 1 to part 3, Academic Skills and Language for Law (IL1ALWN; IL2ALWN; IL3ALWN). A one-semester course (Semester 1 for September entry students; Semester 2 for February entry students) is also offered to Master's students (Academic Writing for LL.M (ILMAWLN).

Humanities

For students on MA Applied Linguistics and MA TESOL, AEP provides a Semester 1 preparatory learning course Academic Writing for Applied Linguistics and TESOL (ILMATLN). The course focuses on key writing skills and language required for PGT assignments. In Semester 2, two courses are offered for PGT DELAL cohorts with students following the most relevant for their studies: Dissertation Writing for Applied Linguistics and TESOL (ILMATDN) and Academic Writing for TESOL Portfolio (ILMATPN).

Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Preparatory learning is provided for undergraduate students in the School via three one-semester courses: IL1AECN (Academic Skills and Language for Politics, Economics and International Relations); IL1APRN (Academic Skills and Language for Politics, Economics and International Relations) and IL1APPN (Academic Skills and Language for Philosophy, Politics and Economics). Students are placed on the most appropriate course for their programme and timetable. For Part 3 students studying for a double degree at Reading and an overseas institution, the course Advanced Oracy Skills for Politics and International Relations (IL3APRN) is provided.

For TNE NUIST 3+1 Economics students, AEP provides a preparatory learning course, Academic Writing for Economics (IL3AECN). For PGT students studying Data and Decision Analysis in Nanjing AEP provides two courses, Academic Writing for Economics - Postgraduate (ILMAECN) and Dissertation Writing for Economics - Postgraduate (ILMAEDN).

For postgraduate students, AEP offers the course ILMAPRN Academic Skills and Language for Politics, Economics and International Relations (Postgraduate).

Agriculture, Policy and Development

For  students in the Graduate Institute of International Development, Agriculture and Economics (GIIDAE), the Academic English Programme offers a two-semester preparatory learning course ILMAPDN: Academic Skills and Language for GIIDAE.

For undergraduate students, AEP provides the course Academic Skills and Language for Agriculture, Policy and Development (IL1APDN).

Chemistry, Food & Pharmacy

AEP offers a two-semester Part 2 English for Science module (FB2CAL) for 2+2 transnational Food Science students. For Part 1 and master's Food Science students, preparatory learning courses are offered in Semester 1: UG Academic Skills and Language for Food Science (IL1AFSN) and PG Academic Skills and Language for Food Science (ILMAFSN).

For Part 3 NUIST 3+1 TNE students, support is provided via the Semester 1 preparatory learning course IL3ACHN Academic Skills and Language for Chemists, and workshops in Semester 2 focusing on dissertation and exam writing.

For part 1 MPharm students, writing and oral communication support is provided in Semester 2  through the preparatory learning course IL1APHN English for Pharmacy.

Psychology & Clinical Language Science

Preparatory learning is delivered at PGT level, Academic Writing for Psychology (ILMAPYN), and undergraduate level, Writing for Undergraduate Psychology (IL1APYN), focusing on Psychology genres including Essays, Critical Reviews, Reflections, Reports and Dissertations.

Built Environment

The preparatory learning course, Academic Writing for Construction Management and Engineering (ILMACMN) provides input on language and skills for Reflective Writing (Semester 1) and Dissertation Writing (Semester 2); A Research Writing workshop is delivered by AEP on the master's Research Skills module, CEM10A.

Archaeology, Geography & Environmental Science

Academic writing support for international students is integrated into the Skills for Independent Learning and Research (GVMSILR) module provided for master's Environmental Science students. In a similar way, Academic Grammar for Writing support for TNE NUIST 3+1 Environmental Engineering students is delivered by AEP staff as part of their Research Skills and Project Management (GV3RSP) module.

Mathematical, Physical & Computational Science

The preparatory learning course Academic English for Meteorologists (ILMAMTN) provides input on dissertation writing and oral communication.