Is my English good enough?

Many OU students don't have English as their first language and find studying in English at university level more challenging than native English speakers. However, even native English speakers can find it difficult to adapt to the academic style of English writing used at university.

Types of language problem

Language problems often fall into two main categories.

Difficulties in understanding can cause particular problems when

• reading the style of language used in a course
• listening to others, either in group sessions or telephone tutorials
• trying to respond to spoken or written questions
• encountering colloquialisms, idioms and cultural references (for example from current television programmes) that are used in online forums or other discussions
• making use of examples used in explanations.

Difficulties in writing for others to read may relate particularly to

• punctuation or the use of paragraphs
• making mistakes with verb tenses, or with subject and verb agreement
• using the wrong word or putting words in the wrong order
• errors in spelling
• inability to write at length in order to construct essays or reports
• using a style which does not suit UK academic work.

Does the OU have a language entry requirement?

No.

The OU does not require you to have a qualification in English language or to take a specific test before you can register for a course. In fact, some students take OU courses in order to gain a qualification in English. However, you do need to have a reasonable standard of English to study successfully with us. Poor English language skills make study more difficult, and if you have trouble reading and expressing yourself in English you will need to allow extra time for study.

Note that OU courses at Level 2 or above assume you have a proficiency in English language as well as some knowledge of specialised terminology and that you can use an academic style of writing.

What do I do if my English isn't good enough?

If you are not sure whether you are ready to study at university level then consider these options.

• You could work on improving your English on your own, preferably before you begin study with the OU - look at the Further links and resources for English section for suggestions.
• You could take an Openings course with the OU. These short courses take up to 20 weeks to complete and include telephone tuitions from a tutor. They are designed to teach academic skills, rather than to improve your English language, however, you submit three pieces of written work and will get a better idea of whether you are ready for further university study. Openings courses are for UK resident students.
• You could take English for academic purposes online (L185), a 30-point, level 1 course that will help you to develop your skills of reading, writing and communicating in academic English. L185 can be taken as part of a degree programme in a range of disciplines. It is different from subject-based Openings courses in that it offers support and development of academic English. It draws material from many different OU courses and prepares students to work with a wide range of academic texts, including spoken presentations.

The LearnDirect site (or phone 0800 101 901) provides information on local courses in basic English for UK residents. These are up to Level 2 (roughly equivalent to GCSE A*-C), and the fees are partly subsidised through Skills for Life funding. There can be long waiting lists to start a course.

Note that completing a course in basic English is a helpful first step, but would not give you a strong enough foundation for university-level study, which makes demands equivalent to Level 4 and Level 5 in these courses.

English UK lets you search for English language courses at associated language schools and centres, which usually offer assessment tools to help you to diagnose your needs and offer tuition to suit your ability. They include Level 2 (GCSE A*-C) and beyond. The courses are usually studied full time for 5–10 weeks, and courses and examinations must be paid for. They are accredited by the British Council.

Students outside the UK may find that the OU has a country coordinator or representative who can advise on local sources of support. Go to Contact the OU and choose your country from the drop-down list to see contact details for your local coordinator.

• You could find out what English courses are available at your local college or adult learning centre.

OU help and advice

Whether or not you have registered for a course, in the UK you can get help and advice about your English language concerns from your OU regional or national centre. You can also arrange to visit your regional centre to look at course materials and typical assignments.

Or instead you could visit one of the OU events that are held around the country each year, where you can see examples of course materials and talk informally with staff. See OU events for details of events near you.

If you want to discuss your studies with an Educational Adviser, it’s best to telephone to make an appointment. For more information, ring 0845 300 60 90 and ask to speak to Learner Support.

You may decide to improve your skills before you start to study with the OU, but can still discuss your study plans with us. Your regional centre may be able to tell you about how to find colleges or centres near to you which run language classes.

Related pages
Difficulties with English language