About and contact

We are a distinct UCL teaching department with experience and expertise in delivering courses in degree preparation, foreign languages, English language teacher training and the UCL Summer School.

We first opened in 1991 as the UCL Language Centre, delivering English for Academic Purposes (EAP), credit-bearing Modern Foreign Language (MFL) modules and evening language courses. Our name was formally changed in 2009 to reflect our wider teaching remit and role across all UCL faculties and to enable international students to access UCL degree programmes.

In 2019, we joined the UCL Institute of Education, a world-leading centre for research and teaching in education and social science.

The IOE has been ranked number one in the world for education for the past 13 years in the QS World University Rankings by Subject (2026).

What we offer

We offer courses and support for UCL students, international students preparing for university study, and people who want to develop their language or teaching skills.

Our work covers academic communication, modern foreign languages, English for Academic Purposes, British Sign Language, degree preparation, pre-sessional English, summer courses and English language teaching qualifications.

UCL Academic Communication Centre

We support current UCL students to communicate effectively in their academic discipline.

The UCL Academic Communication Centre helps students develop their academic language and literacies, including academic writing, reading, critical thinking, critical reading and oral communication. Students can access support through one-to-one tutorials, workshops, courses, webinars and Moodle resources.

We also work with UCL staff to design teaching provision that embeds academic language and literacies into modules and programmes.

Academic Writing Seminar Series

An annual schedule of webinars in which speakers present research and innovations in practice, and reflect on personal and institutional experiences of academic writing. Read more about the Academic Writing Seminar Series.

Modules as part of your degree

Students at UCL can take credit-bearing modules as part of their degree. These include modules in modern foreign languages, English for Academic Purposes and British Sign Language.

Postgraduate courses

For postgraduate students, we offer academic courses to develop writing, speaking and reading skills. These include Academic English courses, academic reading in French, German and Italian, and British Sign Language courses. Read more about academic courses for postgraduates.

We offer courses for international students preparing for undergraduate or postgraduate study in the UK.

The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates are UCL’s international foundation year. They are for international students whose high school qualifications do not allow direct entry to a UCL undergraduate degree. Students prepare for undergraduate study and can progress to UCL or another leading UK university.

The International Pre-Master’s is for international students preparing for postgraduate study at a leading UK university. Students develop the academic and English language skills needed for successful postgraduate study.

Our Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who hold an offer to study a UCL degree and need to meet their English language requirement. These courses help students develop the academic, language and study skills they need before beginning their degree.

The Pre-University Online Course for High School Students is a two-week online course for students aged 16 to 18 who are considering applying for a UK undergraduate degree. Students develop their academic and English skills while exploring UCL and UK academic culture.

Undergraduate students from around the world can spend their summer studying at UCL in London.

The UCL Summer School welcomes students from universities around the world to study for three or six weeks in July and August. In 2025, students came from 66 countries and represented more than 300 universities from six continents, making it a truly international experience in the heart of London.

The Summer English Course for International University Students is for students who want to improve their English language skills during their August university break. Students study in person at UCL while experiencing the social and cultural highlights of London.

We offer language courses for learners at different levels, from beginners to advanced students.

Our evening language courses include modern foreign languages and British Sign Language. Languages include French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Modern Greek and Spanish.

We also offer online Dutch courses for beginners, intermediate and advanced learners, as well as specialist courses in areas such as early modern Dutch, business Dutch, medical Dutch and grammar. Courses can be taken individually or in groups.

We offer Cambridge English teaching qualifications for people who want to teach English to speakers of other languages.

The CELTA is an introductory teaching qualification for people beginning or developing their English language teaching career. The DELTA is a higher-level qualification for experienced teachers who want to develop their knowledge and practice further.

As part of these qualifications, trainee teachers teach English language classes for adult learners.

Expertise

All our language teaching staff hold a teaching qualification, and an increasing number are Fellows or Senior Fellows of the Higher Education Academy.

We bring together expertise across a broad range of areas, including:

  • Teaching across nine foreign languages, EAP and BSL, including research skills in students’ chosen language.
  • Developing international students’ academic, linguistic and study skills at pre-undergraduate and pre-graduate level, enabling them to transition successfully between diverse education systems and access the UK’s top universities.
  • Subject teaching in Maths, Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences at pre-degree level.
  • Overseas consultancy expertise in undergraduate foundation course development.
BALEAP logo

BALEAP accredited

The BALEAP Accreditation Scheme, run by the British Association for Lecturers in EAP, is designed to establish and sustain the standard required of specialist courses in EAP to enhance the student experience.

We first gained accreditation for our Pre-sessional English course in 2010.

People

We have an international teaching and professional services community of over 200 staff from across the world. CLIE staff have access to the extensive portfolio of professional development activities, as well as the UCL Organisational Development portfolio.

Our staff retention and satisfaction scores are high with respect to recognising: sense of purpose, working autonomy and cultural difference.

Last year, we welcomed 5,500 students from over 40 different countries through our doors. This, combined with the rich diversity of our staff, makes CLIE a truly international place to work and study.

Prospective student enquiries

If you are thinking of applying to one of the below courses and have questions, please contact us using these details.

If you’d like to visit our centre, please contact us to make an appointment in advance so we can ensure a member of the staff is available to welcome you.

Language modules as part of your degree

Evening Language Courses

  • Email: clie-eveningcourses@ucl.ac.uk
  • Phone number: +44 (0)20 7679 1069
  • Office location: Room LG07c, 26 Bedford Way
  • Normally open for visitors: Tuesday and Thursday, 12–6pm

International Pre-Master’s

  • Email: pre-masters@ucl.ac.uk
  • Phone number: +44 (0)20 3987 2678 (10–11am)
  • Office location: Room 121, 26 Bedford Way

Pre-sessional English

  • Email: presess@ucl.ac.uk
  • Phone number: +44 (0)20 3987 2679 (10–11am)
  • Office location: Room 121, 26 Bedford Way

Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (International Foundation Year)

  • Email: upc@ucl.ac.uk
  • Phone number: +44 (0)20 3987 2678 (10–11am)
  • Office location: Room 121, 26 Bedford Way

Online English Course for International University Students

  • Email: ssec@ucl.ac.uk
  • Phone number: +44 (0)20 3987 2679 (10–11am)
  • Office location: Room 121, 26 Bedford Way

Pre-University Summer Course for International High School Students

Summer/Spring English Course for International University Students

  • Email: ssec@ucl.ac.uk
  • Phone number: +44 (0)20 3987 2679 (10–11am)
  • Office location: Room 121, 26 Bedford Way

UCL Summer School

  • Email: summer@ucl.ac.uk
  • Phone number: +44 (0)20 7679 5522
  • Office location: Room LG09, 26 Bedford Way

UCL Academic Communication Centre

Academic and administrative management

Language modules as part of your degree

Evening Language Courses

CLIE, 26 Bedford Way

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UCL Centre for Languages & International Education
26 Bedford Way
London
WC1H 0AP
United Kingdom

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