Build skills and increase your confidence – our courses are taught by specialists in Academic English and designed to meet the needs of students and staff at the University of Oxford.
We also have courses for partners of University staff or students who are not members of the University in their own right.
This six-week intensive programme provides students with the necessary academic writing and speaking skills to prepare them for studying in English at Oxford. The course is suitable for both postgraduates and undergraduates. International academics, and students preparing to study at universities other than Oxford, are also welcome to apply.
You can enrol on any of our courses individually without having taken a previous course at the Language Centre. Learners should have reached a minimum English language proficiency of B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference (IELTS 6.5+)
You can enrol on any of our courses individually without having taken a previous course at the Language Centre. Learners should have reached a minimum English language proficiency of B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference.
This course is designed specifically for Oxford students and staff, Academic Writing with AI provides a structured approach to effectively integrate AI tool at each stage of the writing process.
CACE offers tailored courses for undergraduate and postgraduate students from Oxford colleges, divisions and departments, to support them in developing academic writing, AI literacy and communication skills for study, research and professional practice.
The Academic Writing Hub is designed to support students at the University of Oxford in developing their academic writing. Whether you’re clarifying assignment expectations, refining your paragraph structure, or tailoring your writing to your discipline, the Hub offers two ways to engage with its resources.
Please note: The default fee shown in the Cosy booking system is the staff rate. If you are an Oxford University student, the system will recognise your status through Single Sign-On (SSO) during the checkout process, and the fee will automatically be adjusted to the student rate before you reach the payment page.
| CACE Courses 2025–26 | OU Students (including Visiting and Recognised Students) | All Other OU Members (staff, academics, researchers, OU Hospitals staff and OU Press staff) | Full Alumni, Partners of Staff and Students, Retired Staff, Honorary Fellows | General Public |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term-time course (per term) | £105 | £165 | £220 | £320 |
| Academic Writing with AI (per term) | Free | Free | £220 | £320 |
| Intensive course (Week 9) | £105 | £165 | £220 | £320 |
Support on offer for international students and staff
Academic English courses at the Language Centre are open to all non-native English-speaking members of the University, with specialist courses also available for Academic Visitors, partners of University members, and prospective students through pre-sessional summer programmes.
There is no priority form and no requirement for prior approval from departments, faculties or colleges for Academic English courses. These courses are considered an entitlement for international students whose first language is not English. If you would like to discuss your students’ English language learning needs, please contact the courses administrator at admin@lang.ox.ac.uk.
The outcome of the 2009 consultation by the Education Committee on language learning within the University highlighted the importance of prioritising language courses required for study and research, as well as Academic English provision for students whose first language is not English.
For 2025/26, the registration charge to departments, faculties and colleges is £105 per student, per term, per course. In addition, students contribute £105 per term, per course. Once students have enrolled, colleges, departments, faculties and institutions will receive a list of enrolled students for verification and payment on a termly basis.
The University Language Centre offers a six-week online Pre-sessional English course each summer for incoming international students. Departments and colleges may wish to consider including the course as part of a conditional offer where appropriate.
For most students, the course is expected to improve overall IELTS scores by at least 0.5 points and may be particularly suitable for applicants narrowly missing University entrance requirements. It can also help students strengthen specific language skills such as speaking, writing, reading or listening. The Language Centre would not normally recommend accepting students with a score below 6.0 in any individual IELTS component. For further advice, please contact admin@lang.ox.ac.uk.
The Language Centre can tailor Academic English courses to meet the specific requirements of departments, faculties and colleges. Courses can vary in length, timing and assessment format, and may be delivered online, on departmental premises, or at the Language Centre.
Tailor-made courses provide a cost-effective way to offer high-quality language support. Students benefit from learning alongside their peers, while tutors can develop materials directly relevant to their discipline and academic context.
The Language Centre invoices the sponsoring department, faculty or college shortly before or at the start of the course. Students attending a commissioned course do not pay fees directly to the Language Centre.
For 2025/26, the overall course fee is £210 per student, per course, per term, comprising:
There is no requirement for prior approval before eligible students enrol, as Academic English provision is regarded as an entitlement for students whose first language is not English.
For enquiries, please contact admin@lang.ox.ac.uk.
Sam McIlroy, Director of the Centre for Academic Communication in English
The Language Centre is pleased to offer individual learning and support with our expert Academic English tutors.
Tutorials are arranged between students and the tutor (and the department or college if they are funding the tutorials) at a time and frequency that best suits the student’s academic needs.
The fee is £120 per hour.
To enquire, please email admin@lang.ox.ac.uk.
Prospective commercial partners are welcome to enquire about commissioning an Academic English course by emailing admin@lang.ox.ac.uk.
Explore an example brochure for Oxford Academic English Skills for Research, a course designed for an international client.
What is the CACE programme of courses?
The CACE programme is for students and staff who need Academic English support to help them succeed in their work and study at Oxford. There are courses in Written Communication and Spoken Communication as well as several other courses for specific groups, such as English for international undergraduates, academic visitors, and partners of University staff.
What level do I need to enrol on an Academic English course?
We accept all matriculated Oxford students, that is, those who are taking a recognised course at the University. For term-time courses other learners such as academic visitors should ideally have reached the minimum Oxford University language requirement, the equivalent of C1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) or IELTs 7.0, but we will accept students slightly below this. Courses for partners of University staff accept students with a range between B1 and C1 on the CEFR. For the summer pre-sessional course please click here.
What if I’m placed on a waiting list?
We do sometimes get cancellations, and if a space in class becomes available we will email you to let you know. Alternatively you may be able to enrol on a class at a different time. We also offer intensive classes in 9th week, at the end of term.
Are the course fees subsidised?
In 2025/26 the Language Centre will receive a grant of around 35% of its running costs from the University, which is the overall subsidy of the service. The Language Centre needs to raise the rest of its running costs from course fees (plus some premises rental income in the summer vacation). The course fees are set at four price points, in ascending price order, from the lowest prices for students, through staff, to related persons, and finally members of the general public. For term-time Academic English courses students’ college or department also make a significant contribution to the cost of the course so that we can limit the fees we charge to learners (see above).
What is the fee for Visiting and Recognised Students?
The fee is the student fee. We charge the same student fee for Matriculated, Visiting and Recognised students of Oxford University and its colleges.
How do I enrol on a programme organised specifically for my department/college?
Please contact your departmental or college course administrator.
Who will my tutor be?
Our tutors are specialists in Academic English.
What times are the classes?
Please see the timetables. Our in-person courses run during the day (the Language Centre building is open between 08.45 and 17.00) but some of our online courses are in the early evening.
Where is the Language Centre?
We are at 12 Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6HT. Please visit the Language Centre website for more information.
Can I eat and drink at the Language Centre?
We provide water fountains and cups, but please bring your own water bottle to be environmentally friendly. You are welcome to consume your own food and drink in the seating in the open area on the ground floor, but we ask that only water in sealed containers is taken into the classrooms.
Do you have wifi?
Yes, we are in an Eduroam zone for University students and staff. Members of the general public can access Sky’s WiFi.
The Language Centre, 12 Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6HT
