Academic Year Course
A structured, intensive long term course ideal for students wanting to improve their level of English
If you need to improve your overall level of English across all the core language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) for career or study purposes, the Academic Year Course (AYC 30) gives you the platform to achieve your goals.
Start dates are, unlike all our other courses, every 6 weeks with 4 weeks of semester holidays spread over the year.
About the Academic Year Course
The Academic Year Course (30 lessons per week) is a structured and intensive course offering more homework, projects and mentoring by our Director of Studies. To summarize, there are 30 lessons a week, or 6 lessons a day, with 2 lessons a day focusing on your preferred choice of Academic English, Fluency, or English for Work. It is thus the ideal course to chart your progress. With more frequent tests, it allows you to personalise your course according to your learning objectives.
YOU WILL
- Improve your overall level of English
- Achieve your learning goals
- Follow a structured and intensive course
- Expand your vocabulary
- Enjoy a flexible learning pathway
- Choose a study stream that fits your learning objectives
Share this page
Fast Facts
Entry level
Starter + for Fluency
Minimum Pre-Intermediate / B1 to join Academic
or Minimum Elementary / A2 to join Work Streams
Streams are run with a minimum of 4 students per stream.
Minimum Age
17 years
Length of Course
12 / 18 / 24 / 30 / 36 / 42 / 48 weeks
Start date
Every 6 weeks
2023 dates
09/01/2023 – 20/02/2023 – 03/04/2023 – 15/05/2023 – 03/07/2023 – 14/08/2023 – 02/10/2023 – 13/11/2023
2024 dates
08/01/2024 – 19/02/2024 – 01/04/2024 – 13/05/2024 – 01/07/2024 – 12/08/2024 – 30/09/2024 – 11/11/2024 – 06/01/2025
Class size
Lessons/week
30 lessons/week (22.5 hrs)
Joining the Academic Year Course
You can choose to join the Academic Year Course at any of our 8 entry points throughout the year and follow the programme for 12, 18, 24, 30 or 36 weeks. For students who need to progress for academic reasons onto an exam preparation course (IELTS, TOEFL iBT, TOEIC, Cambridge), this course allows you to switch to your required exam preparation course in the last module of the AYC at no additional cost. However, there is one condition for the switch — you need to be at the required level to start the exam prep course. This will ensure your success in attaining your required grade.
Alternatively, you may just want to improve your English level and communicate better for career or personal reasons. In this case, then the Fluency or Work Streams are the better options for you. Please review the chart below for more information.
In addition, the Academic Year Course (AYC) is one of our best value for money courses, especially if you also book ESE accommodation. We offer self-catering apartments which are popular with our long-term students from all over the world.
Academic Year Course Flexible Learning Pathway
Academic Stream
If you want to sit for the IELTS, Cambridge or TOEFL iBT exam or intend furthering your studies at university, this stream allows you to concentrate on Academic studies. You develop important skills, such as study skills, summarising, planning and writing essays, paraphrasing, giving presentations besides learning other skills which you need for academic success.
Work Stream
Should you want to improve your English for work purposes, this stream allows you to concentrate on using English for business. Skills include, but are not limited to writing a good CV, applying for a job, writing business correspondence, answering questions in an interview and other skills beneficial for career advancement in any sector. Moreover, it is also ideal for students who want to prepare for a business exam such as BEC or BULATS.
Fluency Stream
This gives you a more structured alternative to long-term General English. By following the Fluency Stream, you become more fluent and consequently become a confident speaker of English, while you engage in oral communication activities based on recent and interesting topics in multinational classes.
Each Stream is run with a minimum of four (4) students per Stream.
Semester Holidays
Depending on your course start date and the duration of your stay, you may have a one or two week break during the course. Package prices which include the Academic Year course and accommodation does not include any accommodation during these semester holidays and a supplement fee may apply.
Semester holidays are the following:
- Summer 2023: 26/06/2023-02/07/2023
- Autumn 2023: 25/09/2023-01/10/2023
- Winter 2023/2024: 25/12/2023-07/01/2024
- Summer 2024: 24/06/2024-28/06/2024
- Autumn 2024: 23/09/2024 – 27/09/2024
- Winter 2024/5: 23/12/2024 – 03/01/2025
Two Attractive Destinations
Why not combine 12 weeks of Academic Year course in Malta with a few weeks at our sister school English in York in the UK? You can choose to follow a few weeks to General English either before or after your Academic Year course. To this end, you will benefit from studying in two attractive destinations in Europe. Visit www.english-in-york.co.uk for more information about our school in York.About York
Just a two-hour train ride away from London, York is one of England’s most beautiful historic and famous cities. In addition, it was recently voted the European Tourism City of the Year and it ranked the 4th safest city in the UK in the Complete University Guide’s ‘How Safe is Your City?’ ranking. York is now a thriving student city attracting over 25,000 multinational students every year.What else is included in your course?
Course materials
Course certificate
Personal Notebook
ESE eLearning
Free WiFi at school
Welcome evening
What is your level of English?
Don’t worry – we’ll figure that out for you. Before arrival you must do the ESE online placement test, which must be submitted at least 7 days before you start your course. If you do not manage to do your test from home, then you will be will asked to sit for a short placement test on your first day at school. Our academic staff will ensure that you follow your course at the right language level for you.
