Academic English assistance and support

If you have been accepted to study at the University of Queensland, you have already met our high English language requirements. However, we want you to thrive in your chosen program and your professional life after university, not just survive. That’s why we, in the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology, offer all new students Academic English Screening (AES) at the beginning of semester.

AES is a quick check of discipline-relevant language skills, designed to identify students who would benefit from additional academic English support to cope with the academic communication demands of their courses and thrive in their program.

AES is not an exam and you can't fail. Results will not appear on your University transcript or affect your admission to the University. You do not need to prepare anything or study for the AES.

The screening takes between 15 and 25 minutes to complete. AES can be taken on your own devices (tablets, laptops or phones).

If the AES result recommends additional English language support, UQ College and UQ offer a range of free academic English courses.

• To enhance your general academic English communication skills, attend a free workshop series via UQ College where you can meet other students and work together on your academic writing and speaking skills (English for Academic Communication). These short, interactive courses start in week 2 and week 5 of each semester, run for three weeks (two hours per week), and can be fitted around your other classes.
• For a longer, self-paced course, to build your skills in academic writing, UQ has a free MOOC that focuses on argumentative research essays (Academic English – ACE101x).
• You can also access discipline-specific English for Academic Communication support when you take the following courses:
  • Undergraduate Engineering: ENGG1100
  • Postgraduate Engineering: ENGG7902
  • Undergraduate Architecture: ARCH1100
  • Undergraduate Information Technology: DECO1100
  • Postgraduate Information Technology and Interaction Design: DECO7110

These classes provide English support for the assessment in your courses, helping you to submit your best work and develop skills that will assist you throughout your program. 

We’ll also help you to develop professional communication skills as you progress through your program. Your coursework, together with UQ’s academic English support, will set you up for a successful career in your chosen profession.

Academic English Screening

Who needs to take it?

The Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology has a large and diverse student body. Therefore, the approach taken with AES is to offer it to all students regardless of their linguistic backgrounds.

It may seem strange to be asked to complete AES if English is your first language, however, it is important you take the screening seriously and pay close attention to the questions as they can be quite challenging even for native speakers. If you rush through the quiz you may be identified as needing support, even if you don’t.

From 2020, all new students in the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology will be offered the opportunity to take AES, and in some courses participation in the screening will be required. (If AES is required in your course, your lecturer will let you know during Orientation or in week one of semester.)

Your program enrolment will not be cancelled if you do not follow up with any English language support recommended to you. However, students who do take the support offered are more likely to pass their courses and perform at their best. If you do not take AES, or if you are identified as needing support but then choose not to follow up, and then your academic results are subsequently unsatisfactory, you may have difficulty progressing.

Receiving the AES recommendations

You'll be emailed your AES results, with a recommended course of action (if required) – check your university email account regularly. English language support is provided at no additional cost.

If you have a health issue/impairment that makes it hard for you to perform well on the quiz, and you feel you have not done as well as you could on AES, you should email us.

Your AES result will be one of the following:

• Band 1 = Your AES result indicates that you would benefit from additional academic English language support to help you cope with your studies. You will be advised about the next steps.
• Band 2 = Your AES result indicates that you probably have enough academic English language ability to cope with your studies and therefore additional English language support is optional for you. However, we encourage you to take advantage of the support to help you thrive in your program.
• Band 3 = Your AES result indicates that you do not require any English language support. No further action is required.