Practicalities for the USI community

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.

 

Modern languages laboratory

Team Modern languages laboratory

 

English language courses supervisor

Christopher Dawson

 

USI English language lecturers

Louise Bostock

Rut Castanera

Christopher Dawson

Sunita Sharma.

 

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.

 

FAQ

 

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

  • 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:

     

    Pre-semester Intensive English language course Autumn Semester- online enrolment

     

    Semester-time English language Autumn Semester – online enrolment

     

    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:

     

    Pre-semestral Intensive English language course – Spring Semester – online enrolment

     

    Semester-time English language courses Spring Semester – online enrolment

     

    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