Summer Course in English Phonetics
Whether you're a teacher, a student or a fan of English, whatever your native language (including English), here is an opportunity to study English phonetics virtually and in-person at UCL.
SCEP 2025: online and in person!ONLINE MODULE 11-15 AUGUSTIN-PERSON MODULE 18-22 AUGUST |
These are the 2025 fees. You can make your booking here:
Booking for Online Module Booking for In-Person Module
As in 2024, the Summer Course in 2025 is offered with two options.
Option1: 5-day Online Module 11-15 August (equivalent to the VSCEP we offered 2021-2023)
Option 2: the 5-day Online Module 11-15 August PLUS an In-Person Module, live at UCL, 18-22 August, for those who wish to build on the first week and can come to London.
Online Module 11-15 August
- The Online Module is offered as a self-contained introductory course. No previous knowledge of English Phonetics is required, though more advanced applicants looking for a refresher course are welcome. This module can be taken from anywhere in the world, and will run each day between 11:15 BST (UTC+1) and 15:15 or 16:15 BST depending on your time zone (details to be confirmed; see the timetable for more information).
In-Person Module 18-22 August
- The In-Person Module is an optional second week, and builds on the work in the Online Module. We strongly advise that applicants for this In-Person Module should either have taken the Online Module in the previous week, or have already taken SCEP or VSCEP in a previous year. If you are new to SCEP, it is not recommended to apply for the In-Person Module alone. This module will run each day between 9:00 BST (UTC+1) and 16:00 BST (exact timetable to be confirmed).
- Both Modules contain lectures, small-group practical classes and ear training sessions. The Online Module in week 1 is an introductory course to English Phonetics, with two lectures and one practical class per day. The In-Person Module in week 2 builds on this, with one lecture, two practical classes and one ear training session each morning, and this year there will be additional ear training sessions and lectures in the afternoons. The second week will focus on developing your practical skills, with the opportunity to socialise in person and enjoy London.
Please note that we cannot arrange accommodation for you in London. You can book UCL student accommodation directly.
Whether you're a teacher, a student or a fan of English, whatever your native language (including English), here is an opportunity to study English phonetics virtually and in-person at University College London!
You can brush up your knowledge of the theoretical side of phonetics and bring yourself up-to-date on new developments. You may want to do ear-training and listening practice. Or you may just want to improve your own English pronunciation. It's all available in UCL's famous Summer Course in English Phonetics, founded over a century ago by the great Daniel Jones.
Our course covers all the main aspects of English phonetics:
- phonemic system (vowels and consonants)
- segmental analysis (allophonic processes)
- connected speech processes
- sentence stress (tonicity, accentuation)
- intonation (nuclear tones and prenuclear patterns)
These topics are investigated both in lectures and in practical classes. Practical groups are kept small and are organised according to your prior knowledge of English and your English proficiency. For example, we may have groups consisting of
- teachers of English as a foreign language
- undergraduate students of English
- university academics and postgraduates
The course covers with both speaking and listening skills. You get plenty of practice in pronunciation performance and in auditory discrimination in special ear-training sessions.
Here is the provisional timetable for SCEP 2025.