Classes meet Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to noon during the academic year. Please see the Calendar for dates. In Summer, classes meet Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. The amount of instruction is the same in each session, whether in summer or during the academic year.

Please see Application Procedures. You must be at least 16 years old.

We offer five proficiency levels. Once a year, usually during the Spring II Session, a Level 6 is formed. Listening/speaking, reading, writing and grammar are taught at all levels. TOEFL preparation is given in the upper levels. Conversational English for American social situations, field trips, and optional extracurricular activities provide an orientation to American culture. For more information, see Curriculum.

All instructors in the Center for ESL are trained in TEFL/TESL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language/ Teaching English as a Second Language) and have graduate degrees.

Students are tested before their first day of classes to determine their Level of study. Placement in Levels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (or 6) is by examination. The next term's placement depends on progress, grades, TOEFL score, and teachers' recommendations.

CESL gives its recommendation to students who successfully complete Level 5 (or 6). Almost all students will study a minimum of two terms (8 weeks each) to pass Level 5 (or 6) and earn the recommendation.

The University of Kentucky currently accepts our recommendation for entrance to undergraduate programs. For undergraduate information, please see http://www.uky.edu/Admissions/

The Graduate School currently accepts our letter of recommendation for entrance to the Graduate School. Individual graduate programs may have additional requirements. For Graduate School information, see http://www.rgs.uky.edu.

Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) also accepts our recommendation for admission. For information about BCTC, see www.bluegrass.kctcs.edu

There are many requirements for admission to an academic degree program at the University of Kentucky. English language proficiency is only one requirement. THEREFORE, ADMISSION TO THE CENTER FOR ENGLISH DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMISSION TO THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.

If you need to prepare for the TOEFL, our curriculum emphasizes the necessary language skills. TOEFL preparation is a regular part of the curriculum. The Institutional TOEFL is given at the end of every ESL session to students in the Intensive English Program at UK. Please check with the CESL office for dates and times.

This is required for all CESL students in F-1 student status. See costs.