Academic English Program

One 12- or 14-week level of Academic English will help you prepare for success in an undergraduate degree program in the United States.

Classes meet Monday to Thursday for a total of 18 hours per week.

Completing one level makes you eligible for a TOEFL waiver to Pace University undergraduate degrees.

*Short-term students may also register for a 6- or 7-week Academic English course. These courses are available during the Fall 1, Spring 1, and Summer 1 semesters only.

Apply Now for the Academic English Program

Two levels of the 12- or 14-week Academic English courses will help you prepare for success in a graduate degree program in the United States. Level Two is the most advanced level at the ELI and helps students enter degree programs with the highest English proficiency requirements.

Classes meet Monday to Thursday for a total of 18 hours per week.

Completing two levels makes you eligible for a TOEFL waiver to Pace University graduate degrees**.

*Short-term students may also register for a 6- or 7-week Academic English course. These courses are available during the Fall 1, Spring 1, and Summer 1 semesters only.

Apply Now for the Academic English Program

Learn the critical thinking, research, and writing skills needed in an American university. Work on research projects on a topic that you choose.

Hours/week: 5
Days: Classes are on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Time: Mornings or Afternoons. Check our Class Schedules for specific meeting times.

Apply for Academic Writing & Research Skills

Learn and practice skills for group discussions and class presentations. Work on real graduate projects, and use your new skills to organize, research, and deliver professional presentations.

Hours/week: 5
Days: Classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Time: Mornings or Afternoons. Check our Class Schedules for specific meeting times.

Apply for Academic Communication Skills

Improve reading, writing and critical thinking skills necessary for success in a U.S. University. The focus of this course is on reading and high order critical thinking skills (analysis, synthesis, interpretation, evaluation, and application) with a minor emphasis on writing as a measure of assessment.

Hours/week: 4
Days: Classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Time: Mornings or Afternoons. Check our Class Schedules for specific meeting times.

Apply for Academic Reading Skills

Gain insight into American culture, practice and acquire English by viewing and analyzing different genres of film and other audio-visual based media. You will use learning strategies and methods to gain insight into cultural norms in the United States, acquire vocabulary, practice pronunciation, listen more attentively, engage in discussion and write reviews.

In this course, you will:

• Identify and evaluate cultural references found in films and other audio-visual based media
• Acquire slang, idiomatic expressions, and other informal language
• Acquire topic specific vocabulary and use this flexibly with other topics and in other contexts
• Outline, summarize and provide a critical review of a feature length film
• Participate and lead class discussions over movies and audio-video media
• Recognize and produce pronunciation features such as intonation, word and sentence stress, reduced and connected speech

Start Date: Spring 2026
Hours/week: 4
Days: Classes are on Mondays and Wednesdays
Time: Mornings or Afternoons. Check our Class Schedules for specific meeting times.

Apply for American Culture & Media

Develop the informal language and stylistic features needed for social interaction with their classmates and for a deeper understanding of their professors. The course focuses on interactions and language that is found in university lectures, materials and classroom/campus situations.

Special emphasis is on learning the key differences in formal versus informal language use, vocabulary (idiomatic expressions, phrasal verbs, slang) and how language is used to express sarcasm and humor in U.S. culture.

Start Date: Fall 2025
Hours/week: 4
Days: Classes are on Mondays and Wednesdays
Time: Mornings or Afternoons. Check our Class Schedules for specific meeting times.

Apply for Social English in U.S. Academic Culture

With an equal emphasis on both grammar and pronunciation, students learn to communicate fluently and accurately in English in any setting - whether it's academic or workplace-related. Our comprehensive grammar instruction will cover everything from sentence structure and verb tenses to phrasal verbs and conditional statements, ensuring that students have the knowledge they need to succeed in English-speaking environments. Pronunciation instruction will help students reduce their accent and sound more natural and native-like, while also improving their listening skills.

Start Date: Summer 2025
Hours/week: 4
Days: Classes are on Mondays and Wednesdays
Time: Mornings or Afternoons. Check our Class Schedules for specific meeting times.

Apply for Polishing Your English

The English Language Placement Exam (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Duolingo) requirement will be waived for students who successfully complete the first Academic Program level (for prospective Pace Undergraduate students only) and are academically qualified. ELI Students will apply to the Undergraduate Admission department before the completion of the Academic Program Level One.

While attending ELI, students can receive assistance with undergraduate applications. An advisor will review the following documents:

• Completed application for errors
• Personal essay

**The English Language Placement Exam waiver does not apply to students that have already been accepted to the Pace Global Pathways Program.

The English Language Placement Exam (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo) requirement will be waived for prospective Pace University graduate students who successfully complete both levels of the Academic Program and are academically qualified. ELI Students will apply to the Graduate Admission department before the completion of their Academic Program.

While attending ELI, students can receive assistance with graduate applications. An advisor will review the following documents:

• Completed application for errors
• Personal essay
• Resume (if applicable)

*Note that the first level of the Academic Program will waive the English Language Placement Exam requirement from the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems Masters-level programs. LLM and JD applicants must complete the Pre-Law English program to waive the English Language Placement Exam requirement. All other colleges and Masters-level programs at Pace University require completion of both levels of the Academic Program (Level Two) to waive the English Language Placement Exam requirement.

**The English Language Placement Exam waiver does not apply to students that have already been accepted to the Pace Global Pathways Program.