Bridging English

You have two options for structuring your study time. We strongly recommend the BE Advantage option as it provides a crucial safety net for your pathway to UQ.

BE Advantage (Recommended)

Choosing BE Advantage means you will complete your end-of-program assessment at least six weeks before the start of the UQ semester. Successful completion of the BE Advantage allows you to take a break from study, prepare, and get organised for your UQ program before the semester officially begins.

BE Standard

The BE Standard course will finish immediately before the start of the UQ semester. It is recommended that you only choose this option if you are genuinely unable to start with the BE Advantage.

The length of your Bridging English course will depend on your current English Language Proficiency (ELP) test results. It is important to check the start date of your UQ degree program, then calculate your pathway timeline based on your ELP test results to determine when you need to begin your Bridging English (BE) program.

To ensure you are able to receive your Student Visa in time to start class, offshore students should accept their offer 10 weeks prior to start date and onshore students 2 weeks prior to start date. 

• 20 contact hours per week.
• Up to 18 students per class.
• Bring your own device to complete online coursework, assessment, and self-directed learning resources.
• Classes run from Monday to Friday, and you'll be assigned to either the morning session (8:15am - 12:45pm) or the afternoon session (1pm - 5:30pm).

Core learning outcomes

The curriculum is designed to equip you with the essential academic English language skills for success in a demanding university environment.

By the end of the program, you will be able to:

• speak clearly and confidently in academic contexts, apply skills needed to understand complex listening texts (like lectures), and participate effectively in speaking tasks
• express ideas in writing using appropriate features of academic style, read university-level texts critically, and write more clearly and accurately across various formats
• extend your range and use of academic vocabulary, and learn to appropriately use key grammatical structures in both writing and speaking.

The Bridging English curriculum is divided into modules that comprehensively address the language needs of university students.

Listening and speaking

These modules focus on building the comprehension and communication skills required for successful participation in university life. You will:

• learn key skills for identifying information when listening to complex academic texts (such as lectures)
• participate in speaking tasks to apply new language in context, helping you speak clearly and confidently
• learn how to present effectively in English
• gain a deeper understanding of vocabulary and grammar in use
• complete online workbook tasks, activities, and review tests for reinforcement
• receive personalised feedback on your speaking skills.

Reading and writing

These modules develop your ability to engage with scholarly material and produce high-quality academic work. You will:

• read academic texts to identify key ideas and arguments
• learn to write more clearly and accurately in an academic context
• develop your use of grammar and vocabulary specifically for reading and writing
• gain critical thinking and research skills necessary for success at university and in your career
• receive personalised feedback on your writing skills.

Formative Assessment

During your course, formative assessment is continuous, ensuring you know you are on track to meet your UQ entry requirements.

You will complete formative assessments every five weeks from BE30–10 to track progress across listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills.

• Progress is measured as satisfactory or limited in each skill area.
• Personalised feedback helps identify strengths and areas for improvement.
• Additional academic support is available with our Learning Advisers at the UQ College Learning Centre.

BE10 Final Assessment

You will be assessed across all four academic English skills through a combination of exams, presentations, and written assignments.

Assessments include:

• Group oral presentation
• Research essay
• Reading exams
• Listening exams
• Writing exams
• Speaking exam.

You must successfully complete all assessments to achieve a passing final grade.

You need to meet the academic requirements for entry to the UQ program and be within the specified range of English language proficiency for that program. Minimum entry is IELTS 5.0 or recognised equivalent for most programs, with some programs requiring a higher level.

S: Speaking, L: Listening, R: Reading, W: Writing

*For UQ programs that require a higher-than-minimum English:

• The BE 30, 25, 20 and 15-week pathways are not available
• For BE 10 entry, Academic IELTS overall score cannot be more than 0.5 band below the specified UQ program requirement. If specified, sub-bands cannot be more than 0.5 band below the sub-band requirement. If not specified, no more than one band below the UQ degree program overall band requirement. Please ensure you refer to the specific UQ entry requirements for your chosen program.

^UQ College and The University of Queensland only recognise TOEFL iBT with section scores reported on a 1-30 scale. We do not recognise:  

• TOEFL iBT with section scores reported on a 1-6 scale  
• TOEFL iBT Home Edition  
• TOEFL ITP.

To ensure your TOEFL iBT result is valid for Australian visa purposes, you must select 'Taking TOEFL for Australia' when registering for your test. 

^^These test results are currently accepted only by UQ College and cannot be used for direct entry to The University of Queensland.