How does the IELP work?
Classes are offered in 8-week sessions and 4-week sessions — with five 8-week sessions and ten 4-week sessions offered each year. See session dates.
Students take a placement test and enroll in the number of sessions necessary to achieve their desired English language level. Currently, we offer five levels of English instruction: Intermediate 1, 2 and 3, and Advanced 1 and 2.
Full-time students study 20 hours per week, which includes two core classes and one elective course. Part-time students can choose to study 4 to 16 hours per week.
Core English Courses (16 hours per week)
- Listening & Speaking (8 hours per week)
- Reading & Writing (8 hours per week)
Elective English Courses (4 hours per week)
Elective courses may include Business English, English for Sustainable Development, Academic Vocabulary, Conversational English, Grammar, American Film and more.
Sample Weekly Schedule
Here is a sample weekly schedule for a full-time student. Actual classes, times and dates may differ.
|
Monday |
9:30 to 11:30 a.m.: Reading & Writing 11:30 a.m. to 1:10 p.m.: Lunch Break 1:10 to 3:10 p.m.: Listening & Speaking |
|---|---|
|
Tuesday |
9 to 10:45 a.m.: Elective 10:55 to 11:50: Reading & Writing 11:50 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Lunch Break 1:30 to 2:50 p.m.: Listening & Speaking |
|
Wednesday |
9:30 to 11:30 a.m.: Reading & Writing 11:30 a.m. to 1:10 p.m.: Lunch Break 1:10 to 3:10 p.m.: Listening & Speaking |
|
Thursday |
9 to 10:45 a.m.: Elective 10:55 to 11:50: Reading & Writing 11:50 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Lunch Break 1:30 to 2:50 p.m.: Listening & Speaking |
|
Friday |
9:30 to 11:30 a.m.: Reading & Writing 11:40 a.m. to 12:35 p.m.: Listening & Speaking Afternoon: Activities |
Choose Your Pathway
Fast-track Pathway with Conditional Admission
The fastest way for conditionally admitted IELP students to enter the University is to complete the IELP successfully at the Advanced 2 level. This is the most common pathway through the IELP and into UAlbany.
Students may also receive pre-placement in the IELP at the Advanced Level with submitted scores of 5.5 on the IELTS or 61 on the iBT.
Conditionally admitted students can finish the IELP in just one semester and then enter UAlbany for academic studies.
Guided Pathway
Start a UAlbany academic program while an IELP student.
Advanced IELP students can take a for-credit, academic course for one semester with assistance, support and guidance from IELP faculty.
Contact [email protected] for more information.
Concurrent Enrollment
Another popular pathway is for IELP students to be concurrently enrolled.
Concurrent Enrollment allows non-degree students to take IELP classes and UAlbany academic courses at the same time to experience the American higher educational system.
Contact [email protected] for more information.
Academic & Language Skills Boot Camp
This four-day intensive course is designed for international students who will begin their academic studies at UAlbany in the fall or spring.
Students learn the key skills that promote success in University-level study for a broad range of majors.
Contact [email protected] for more information.
Conditional Admission to UAlbany & Albany Law School
conditional-admission
Undergraduate Programs
Students who successfully complete the IELP are not required to provide a TOEFL or IELTS score for admission to all undergraduate programs.
To apply for conditional admission as an undergraduate student, you must complete both an undergraduate international admissions application and an IELP application.
Visit the International Admissions website for more information.
Graduate Programs
Some UAlbany graduate programs offer conditional admission to students who successfully complete the IELP, if all other admissions standards are met.
Please contact Director of Graduate Recruitment and Marketing Soha Acosta at [email protected] to see if your program participates in conditional admission with IELP. Visit the Graduate School website form more information.
Additionally, Albany Law School offers a conditional admission option for international lawyers who meet all admission requirements except the minimum English language requirement for regular admission to the law school.
IELP Levels & Language Proficiency Test Score Equivalencies
| IELP Level | iBT TOEFL | IELTS | DuoLingo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intermediate 1 | 32-42 | 4.5 | 70 |
| Intermediate 2 | 44-52 | 5.0 | 75 |
| Intermediate 3 | 53-60 | None | 80 |
| Advanced 1 | 61-64 | 5.5 | 85 |
| Advanced 2 | None | None | None |
Note: Students with a 61 iBT, 5.5 IELTS or 85 DuoLingo can place into the Advanced 1 Level of the IELP. Students with a 32 iBT, 4.5 IELTS or 70 DuoLingo can place into the Intermediate 1 Level of the IELP.
Visit the International Admissions website (undergraduate applicants) and Graduate School website (graduate applicants) for test score requirements for academic program admissions.
Additional Information
IELP Annual Reports
Founded in 1978, the Intensive English Language Program (IELP) offers academic and professional English language instruction to help students achieve their language goals and experience American culture at UAlbany.
We undertake this Annual Report to share what the IELP is doing, to monitor recent trends and to measure ourselves year-over-year, according to key metrics.