English language courses
The Modern Languages Laboratory is USI University language centre. It offers English language courses from A1.1 level up to C1.1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Each course aims to develop oral and written comprehension and oral and written production skills.
The courses are free of charge for the academic community of Università della Svizzera italiana, subject to availability. In particular, they are integrated with the language requirements of the Bachelor's degree courses of the Faculty of Economics and the Bachelor's degree of the Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society and the Master's degree courses.
Team Modern languages laboratory
English language courses supervisor
USI English language lecturers
Location
Classes take place on the Lugano campus.
CEFR level
Knowledge of the CEFR level allows you to assess your starting language skills and to enrol in the language course that best suit your needs.
Self-assessment grid CEFR from A1.1 level to C1.2 level
Study path
The courses offered are aimed at those who know the English language at A2 level and above.
|
Starting level |
Autumn term |
Spring term |
Autumn term |
Spring term |
|
A2 |
B1.1 |
B1.2 |
B2.1 |
B2.2 |
|
A2+ |
B1.2 |
B2.1 B2.2 |
B2.1 B2+.2 |
B2+.1 |
|
B1 |
B2.1 |
B2.2 |
B2+.2 |
|
|
B1+ |
B2.2 |
B2+.1 |
B2+.2 |
|
|
B2 |
B2.2 B2+.2 |
B2+.1 |
B2+.2 |
Official English language certification
The IELTS Examination Centre is active at Università della Svizzera italiana.
Frequently asked questions:
Reading the Frequently asked questions section helps to resolve doubts quickly at any time. To make it easier to find answers, the questions are divided into different topics.
Click on the FAQ button.
SCHEDULING AND ONLINE ENROLMENT ACADEMIC YEAR
USI's Modern Languages Laboratory accompanies you throughout your studies, offering free of charge language courses at several CEFR language levels and in various ways:
- Intensive 60-hours pre-semester courses prior to the semester start in both autumn and spring semesters, the first two weeks in September and the first two weeks in February.
- Semester-time courses of 28, 42 or 56 hours with 2, 3 or 4 hours per week during the semester with the same number of hours of self-study.
The tables published in the accordion below show the language offering for the autumn and spring semesters. The Modern Languages Laboratory advises you to plan your language studies for the entire academic year in advance. Careful planning of the levels to be attended is particularly important if you need to reach a B2.2 or C1.2 level of knowledge by the end of your studies and take the language exam in session or hand in a recognised B2 or C1 certificate that exempts you from the USI exam.
N.B.: Dates and times may be subject to change. The Modern Languages Lab receives final confirmation from the administration in September for the autumn semester and in February for the spring semester.
Expand All
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Autumn semester, courses and enrolment
List of courses offered during the Autumn Semester – SA
Click on the course to see the descriptive
Course
Entry level
Period
Lasting
Schedule
A.A. 2023-2024
Preparing to study in English part 1 B2+/C1. Intensive course open to all, in particular to Master students. Registration via link below
B2+
Pre-SA
60 lesson hours
08.30-14.30 from Monday to Friday
04.09.2023 – 15.09.2023
English language B1.1 for COM and ECO 1st year students, automatic registration via faculties*
A2.2
SA
56 lesson hours
Tuesday 15:30-17:00 and Friday 9:00-10:30
25.09.2023 – 22.12.2023
English language B1.2 for COM and ECO 1st year students, automatic registration via faculties*
B1.1
SA
56 lesson hours
Tuesday 15:30-17:00 and Friday 9:00-10:30
25.09.2023 - 22.12.2023
English language B2.1 for COM and ECO 1st year students, automatic registration via faculties*
B1.2
SA
56 lesson hours
Wedneday 9:00-10:30 and Friday 11:00-12:30
25.09.2023 - 22.12.2023
English language B2.2 for COM and ECO 1st year students, automatic registration via faculties*
B2.1
SA
56 lesson hours
Wednesday 9:00-10:30 and Friday 11:00-12:30
25.09.2023 – 22.12.2023
English language B2+.2 for COM and ECO 1st year students, automatic registration via faculties*
B2.2
SA
56 lesson hours
Wednesday 15:30-17:00 and Friday 13:30-15:00
25.09.2023 - 22.12.2023
Preparing to study in English part 2 B2+/C1. Course open to all, registration via link below
B2.1
SA
56 lesson hours
Monday and Tuesday 17:30-19:00
25.09.2023 - 22.12.2023
English language B1.2 ECO - reserved for BA ECO, in case of availability MA ECO may attend too, automatic registration via faculties*
B1.1
SA
56 lesson hours
Monday and Wednesday 15:30-17:00
25.09.2023 - 22.12.2023
English language B2.1 ECO - reserved for BA ECO, in case of availability MA ECO may attend too, automatic registration via faculties*
B1.2
SA
56 lesson hours
Wednesday 13:30-15:00 and Thursday 17:30-19:00
25.09.2023 - 22.12.2023
English language B2.2 ECO - reserved for BA ECO, in case of availability MA ECO may attend too, automatic registration via faculties*
B2.1
SA
56 lesson hours
Wednesday 15:30-17:00 and Thursday 13:30-15:00
25.09.2023 - 22.12.2023
English language C1.1. Course open to all, registration via link below
B2+.2
SA
56 lesson hours
Tuesday and Wednesday 17:30-19:00
25.09.2023 - 22.12.2023
English for studies in Economics & International Policies - Academic Course - reserved for ECO students - Enrolment on GESTU
B2+
SA
28 lesson hours
Thursday 11:00-12:30
25.09.2023 - 22.12.2023
Academic Writing B2+ / C1 and above - Academic Course - reserved for ECO students - Enrolment on GESTU
B2+.2
SA
28 lesson hours
Tuesday 11:00-12:30
25.09.2023 - 22.12.2023
English for economists B2-B2+ - Academic Course - reserved for ECO students - Enrolment on GESTU
B2.2
SA
28 lesson hours
Group 1 Monday 11:00-12:30, group 2 Monday 13:30-15:00, group 3 Tuesday 09:00-10:30, group 4 Wednesday 13:30-15:00
25.09.2023 - 22.12.2023
Medical English - Reserved for USI Professors of the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, registration via link below
SA
28 lesson hours
25.09.2023 - 22.12.2023
Staff course General English B1.2 - Reserved for USI staff, registration via link below
B1.1
SA
28 lesson hours
Thursday 11:00-12:30
25.09.2023 - 22.12.2023
ONLINE REGISTRATION:
Limited places available, please enrol only if seriously interested.
*For students in the Faculties of Communication and Economics in their first year, enrolment for English language courses is automatic. The Placement Test dates and link will be forwarded shortly before the start of the semester by the secretariats. On the basis of the test results you will be assigned to the correct level.
Second year and third-year students interested in the courses can contact Dr. Christopher Dawson, supervisor of the English language courses.
For all other USI students and USI staff, registration is via the online registration form. Please click on the links below:
Priority will be given to students on study programmes that require the attainment of B2 or B2+ level (Bachelor's degree from the Faculty of Economics and Bachelor's degree from the Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society) or C1 level (Master's degree).
Withdrawal
For a good course planning, it is very important to have precise data on the number of participants. In the event of an unexpected withdrawal, it is the candidate's responsibility to inform the administration before the start of the course by writing to [email protected]
-
Spring semester, courses and enrolment
List of courses offered during the Spring Semester – SP
Click on the course to see the descriptive
Course
Entry level
Period
Lasting
Schedule
A.A. 2023-2024
Preparing for IELTS B2-C1. Intensive course open to all, registration via link below
B2.2
Pre-SP
60 lesson hours
08:30-14:30 from Monday to Friday
05.02.2024 - 16.02.2024
English language B1.2, for COM and ECO 1st year students, automatic registration via faculties*
B1.1
SP
56 lesson hours
19.02.2024 – 30.05.2024
English language B2.1, for COM and ECO 1st year students, automatic registration via faculties*
B1.2
SP
56 lesson hours
19.02.2024 – 30.05.2024
English language B2.2, for COM and ECO 1st year students, automatic registration via faculties*
B2.2
SP
56 lesson hours
19.02.2024 – 30.05.2024
English language B2+.1, for COM and ECO 1st year students, automatic registration via faculties*
B2.2
SP
56 lesson hours
19.02.2024 – 30.05.2024
English language B2.1 ECO - reserved for BA ECO students, automatic registration via faculties*
B1.2
SP
56 lesson hours
Monday 10:30 and Tuesday 12:30
19.02.2024 – 28.05.2024
English language B2.2 ECO - reserved for BA ECO, in case of availability MA ECO may attend too, automatic registration via faculties*
B2.1
SP
56 lesson hours
Monday 14:30 and Tuesday 14:30
19.02.2024 – 28.05.2024
B2 Exam focus - reserved for BA ECO and COM 2nd and 3rd year students, registration via link below
B2.1
SP
56 lesson hours
Monday 12:30 and Tuesday 16:30
19.02.2024 – 28.05.2024
English language C1.2. Course open to all, registration via link below
C1.1
SP
56 lesson hours
19.02.2024 – 30.05.2024
English language and English-speaking cultures - Academic COM course open to all, registration via link below.
BA COM students: Enrolment on GESTU
B2.2
SP
56 lesson hours
19.02.2024 – 30.05.2024
English for economists B2-B2+ - Academic ECO Course - reserved for ECO students - Enrolment on GESTU
B2.2
SP
28 lesson hours
19.02.2024 – 30.05.2024
Staff Course General English B2.1 - Reserved for USI staff, registration via link below
B1.2
SP
28 lesson hours
Tuesday 11:00-12:30
19.02.2024 – 30.05.2024
ONLINE ENROLMENT:
Limited places available, please enrol only if seriously interested.
*For first-year Communication and Economics students, the courses continue from the autumn semester. Second- and third-year students interested in the courses may contact Dr. Christopher Dawson, supervisor of the English language courses.
For other USI students and USI staff, registration is via the online registration form. Click on the links below:
Priority will be given to students on study programmes that require the attainment of B2 or B2+ level (Bachelor's degree from the Faculty of Economics and Bachelor's degree from the Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society) or C1 level (Master's degree).
Withdrawal
For a good course planning, it is very important to have precise data on the number of participants. In the event of an unexpected withdrawal, it is the candidate's responsibility to inform the administration before the start of the course by writing to [email protected]
Faculties
Targets
Tags
Updated on: 13 September 2023
