First Year English Language Program

The ELI's First Year English Language Program (ELI FYP) forms the major and mandatory component of the KAU First Year Program for all newly admitted full-time KAU students. The program is composed of different tracks with different exit proficiency levels catering to the English language needs for faculties in each track.

The ELI FYP is delivered by experienced and highly-qualified faculty members to approximately 20,000 full-time male and female students each year across the ELI’s four campuses. There are a range of deanships and units created specifically to assist students throughout the program’s duration.

The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) is used to describe the language proficiency levels in each program.

General English Track (ELIA)

9 hours per week

This track is for students who are registered in KAU programs where English is not the only or main language of instruction. The ELIA curriculum consists of two modular courses over one academic year that students must complete successfully. The material gradually increases in complexity and scope ending at the B1 level as reflected on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).

ELIA 110 Course Specifications ELIA 120 Course Specifications

Academic English Track (ELIS)

15 hours per week

This track is for students who are registered in KAU faculties where English is the only or the main language of instruction. The ELIS English Language curriculum consists of two modular courses over one academic year that students must complete successfully. The program ends at the B2 level on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).

ELIS 110 Course Specifications ELIS 110 Course Specifications

English Majors Track (ELIE)

15 hours per week

The ELIE track is for incoming students intending to major in English in the Department of European Languages and Literature at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. Students on this track are required to get a score on the Cambridge English Placement Test that corresponds to proficiency level A2 as reflected on the Common European Framework Reference (CEFR). The study on this track is over two semesters, taking students from A2+ to B2 on the CEFR.

ELIE 110 Course Specifications ELIE 120 Course Specifications

Geo-Sciences Track (ELIG)

9 hours per week

This track is tailored for students registered with the faculties of Environmental Sciences, Earth Sciences and Marine Sciences at KAU. The ELIG track consists of two courses studied over the course of two semesters. Two courses are taught in this track with each course building on the academic and language skills acquired in the previous level. The program ends with the A2 level as reflected on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).

ELIG 110 Course Specifications ELIG 120 Course Specifications

Communication and Media Track (ELIC)

9 hours per week

This track is tailored for students registered with the Faculty of Communication and Media. The two intensive ‘English for Media’ courses are taught over one academic year of two semesters. The program starts at the A1 level and ends at the A2 level on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).

ELIC 101 Course Specifications ELIC 102 Course Specifications

Faculty of Arts and Humanities Track (ELCA)

3 hours per week

This non-intensive track is intended for students registered to major in programs other than English at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. The ELCA Track curriculum consists of two academic semesters taking students to A1+ level as reflected on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).

ELCA 101 Course Specifications ELCA 102 Course Specifications

Health Sciences Track (ELIH)

15 hours per week

This track is designed for medical students who are registered in one of the medical faculties at KAU after successfully completing all the required courses in the first, and second semesters. The track covers B1, (B1+) and B2 levels as reflected on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).

All ELIH students need to do the placement test.

ELIH 110 Course Specifications ELIH 120 Course Specifications

Full First Year English Language Program (FYP) course details are available on our National Commission for Academic Accreditation and Evaluation (NCAAA) course specificaion documents.