Students can improve their English language skills and build knowledge while simultaneously pursuing academic studies at one of Canada's top-ranked comprehensive universities.

  • Experience world-class education from a Canadian university
  • Gain intercultural skills through a global educational experience
  • Curriculum can be tailored to suit participants' academic and professional learning goals
  • Students should consult with their home university to determine if credit can be awarded

 

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Description

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Program at a glance

Program description

Academic Specialized Studies and English Training is a 12-week (300-hour) program comprised of two parts:

  1. Students take advanced English language studies for the full 12 weeks (22 hours per week of class time, plus homework, activities and Learning Centre support outside of the classroom). 
  2. Students also take an academic specialized course for 10 of the 12 weeks (36-44 hours total instructional time). Additional time for homework is required. A wide selection of academic specialized courses is available to choose from.

Certification

Upon successful completion, students will receive a:

  • Certificate of Completion and Record of Grade for the English language training
  • Professional Development Certificate for the academic specialized course

Delivery style

  • Courses are offered face to face on the beautiful UVic campus.
  • Blended delivery styles: A combination of in-person learning and online learning components can be arranged depending on the topic of study.
  • Academic specialized courses require a minimum of 15 students, and are typically between 15 and 20 students.

Program features

Our focus is on teaching excellence and an exceptional student experience—this ensures that students are equipped for personal and professional success. Students can expect a dynamic learning environment that will expose them to a variety of teaching methodologies, including: 

  • Case studies
  • Global examples of best practices
  • Classroom discussions 
  • Group work 
  • Hands-on projects
  • Engaging learning activities
  • Field trips and socio-cultural activities
  • Intercultural competency building

Instructors

All English language teachers are TESOL-trained and have international experience. Most teachers hold master’s degrees and have over 15 years of teaching experience. Depending on the specific learning objectives, the academic specialized courses may be taught by, or in collaboration with:

  • Professors from UVic or other academic institutions
  • Specialists from the public or private sectors

Program schedule

Here is a sample of course offerings. If you are looking for a course topic not listed here, please contact us as we may be able to offer a customized course to suit your needs.

 

Business Writing and Presentation Skills

Communicating effectively in a professional environment requires specific skills and the selfconfidence to apply them effectively. Accordingly, this course is designed to improve writing and speaking skills by providing practical, repeatable processes and easily applied strategies for achieving success. Class discussions—as well as individual and group exercises—will be designed to encourage active participation; emphasis will be placed on peer support and feedback.

Management Communication

This course in professional business communication from a management perspective includes: developing communication strategies, enhancing written and oral messages, writing reports, proposals and executive summaries and diagnosing and addressing some of the more challenging management communication issues such as crisis management and media relations

Intercultural Communication

As a global citizen, an understanding of cultural differences and the ability to work in diverse cultures are critical skills for working in local and international settings, and in building socially just communities. Find out how power imbalances can impact interactions, and discover practical tools to strengthen inclusivity and build you cultural competencies.

Healthy Aging

As older generations live longer, the challenge is to improve health and quality of life in the later years. The University of Victoria is home to a prominent aging research centre, The Institute on Aging & Lifelong Health, as well as key clinical and community resources. This is a health professional development course. Learn about research and initiatives in areas such as mental health and aging, dementia care, non-communicable disease, fall prevention, sexual health in seniors, and assistive technologies to improve monitoring and quality of life. Includes customized presentations and site visits.

Neonatal Care

Caring for vulnerable, ill or preterm newborns demands highly specialized skills and technologies, integrated into a continuum of care after discharge. Victoria, BC is home to a Level-3 neonatal intensive care unit, as well the specialist Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health. This is a health professional development course. Learn about topics such as research and practice in neonatal and perinatal care, NICU technologies, kangaroo care, early breastfeeding support, neonatal abstinence, continuum of care after discharge from NICU, quality assurance, data collection and benchmarking, and outcomes monitoring. Includes customized presentations and site visits.

Palliative Care

Palliative care is offered alongside therapeutic treatment for patients facing advanced illness, and not only at the end of life. Palliative care involves a broad interdisciplinary team including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, social workers, dieticians, and many others, working to improve the quality of the patient’s life and support the family. This form of care requires strong interprofessional teamwork and attention to both clinical and psychosocial issues. This is a health professional development course. Learn how palliative care is structured and delivered in Canada. Includes customized presentations and site visits.

Business Intelligence and Data Analytics Fundamentals

The fundamentals of Business Intelligence and Data Analytics are skills that are increasingly important in today’s workplace. This course will provide the framework for understanding, using and evaluating a variety of techniques and skills in analyzing data sets and making appropriate interpretations of the data. (Additional tutorials can be added for the group for additional cost approx. $100 per student for 10 sessions.)

Data Analytics Coding Fundamentals

This course will develop the fundamentals of coding and scripting for data analytics. Develop the ability to script and code for basic tasks in data analytics in common data analytic tools such as R, Python, and Excel. Learn to import and export data appropriately, perform fundamental data manipulations, and automate basic analysis elements. (Additional tutorials can be added for the group for an additional cost of approx. $100 per student for 10 sessions.)

Data Visualization and Reporting

Develop skills in data visualization and reporting. Learn how to use common industry reporting and visualization tools such as Excel, Tableau, PowerBI and Shiny. Learn how to evaluate strengths and weaknesses of various data representation techniques and the fundamentals of dashboard design for various types of monitoring, analyzing and reporting. (Additional tutorials can be added for the group for an additional cost of approx. $100 per student for 10 sessions.)
Female instructor.

Educational Leadership

This interactive course provides observations and discussions for participating education professionals and/or administrators to develop leadership skills needed to build supportive and collaborative learning environments and respond to changing global needs in education.

Photo of teacher.

English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI)

English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) is a course designed for educators hoping to teach their subject matter in English. This course offers a stimulating, interactive teaching and learning environment in which education professionals receive training in various teaching methodologies and pedagogies.

Estimated fees per program

The estimated tuition fee of this 12-week program is CAD $5,000 to $6,500.

To receive a proposal with pricing, please contact us for details.

Program dates

The timeline required to organize courses varies depending on each course and situation. A timeline will be discussed at the beginning of the planning process. Typically, we require a minimum of three months advanced notice to offer the academic specialized courses.

Application information

Registration requirements

Students must meet the minimum English language requirement to be successful in the academic specialized courses.

  • Students must have a minimum 5.5 IELTS, CEFR B2, or equivalent.
  • Students can take the online ELC English Proficiency Test (EPT) to determine their level of English proficiency.

How to apply

Ready to get started? Please use our Let's Connect contact form to tell us more about your needs. Our team will be in touch to discuss your details.

Let's Connect

Questions?

Ask us!
ELC Recruitment Team
Email elcinfo@uvic.ca

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