'Academic language... is nobody's mother tongue.' – Bourdieu et al., 1994

We run courses and programmes for people at all levels and from a wide variety of backgrounds. Whether or not English is their first language, we help people learn to communicate more effectively, both within and between disciplines.

Our International Foundation Programme and pre-sessional courses offer international students the best possible preparation for a higher level of education, providing a tailored transition to undergraduate or postgraduate study. To enable more people to access a University education, we offer a range of widening participation courses.

Valued by staff, students and peers

We are actively engaged in the Teaching English for Academic Purposes community – researching, publishing, and sharing our expertise through academic development courses for teachers. We also run development courses for University staff.

We are a member of UPA (University Pathway Alliance) and are accredited by BALEAP, the global forum for English for Academic Purposes professionals. Their most recent pre-sessional accreditation report, conducted in 2021, concluded that: 'The Centre has a powerful strategic vision and is highly valued within the institution both as a pipeline into subject programmes and for the academic development opportunities that are offered to all students in the University.’

The centre’s contribution is also evident in the feedback of our students. In our 2024 survey of pre-sessional students, more than 96% rated their overall experience as very good or excellent.

Inclusive and accessible

As a centre, we actively champion equality, diversity and inclusion. We work with students and staff to challenge accepted norms and ensure everyone's voice is heard.

Our purpose-built facilities are located in the heart of Bristol. Visit our contacts page for information on how to find us.