Faculty of Open Learning & Career Development

EAP Program Placement

Before you can begin to study in one of our EAP courses, we need to know your level of English

The EAP Placement Test is used to make sure every student is in the level where they will learn the most. Please enquire at els@dal.ca about our class placement equivalents. Registering for the EAP Placement Test takes place when you apply to the EAP Program.

Four Possible Placements in the EAP Program

The Details
Online and face-to-face delivery options are available. | Cost: $4900 effective January 2024 (cost includes textbooks). $200 application fee | Time Commitment: This course is 12 weeks with 24 hours of instruction per week. *Summer Special courses are available for 8 weeks and cost $3,300.

Course dates for 2025 (all levels):

April 7 to June 267, 2025
September 8 to December 5, 2025

Both delivery methods include scheduled and self-paced content. Learn more about online and face-to-face delivery.

Course Materials: Course texts are included in the fees. They include digital course books as well as supplementary texts, and materials, including authentic materials for listening and reading. Audio-visual and multimedia material, such as videos, audio recordings, and web-based content is also used.

EAP Foundations 1

This is a pre-intermediate course at the A2 level that is an introduction to English for Academic Purposes (EAP).

In this course, students will:

Enhance their oral communication skills in formal and informal university settings
Improve their understanding of short texts of a variety of styles and disciplines
Expand their general and specialized vocabulary
Write more accurate sentences and paragraphs
Explore the topics, practices and behaviours associated with academic success at university

Language requirement: CEFR Level A2 (What does this mean?)

Course Delivery Method:

100% online
Face-to-face on campus

EAP Foundations 2

This is an intermediate-level course at the B1 level with a focus on building a solid foundation in English for academic purposes.

In this course students will:

Learn to apply their improved English language skills to academic tasks;
Be introduced to the research process and learn to write well-structured, accurate essays and other texts;
Form strategies for reading and listening comprehension of short academic texts and lectures;
Improve their speaking abilities when discussing their area of study and other topics;
Broaden their knowledge of the topics, practices and behaviours associated with academic success at university.

Language requirement: CEFR Level B1 (What does this mean?)

Course Delivery Method:

100% online
Face-to-face on campus

EAP Level 1

This an upper-intermediate course at the B2 level in English for Academic Purposes (EAP). It is designed to develop students’ listening, speaking, reading, writing, research and academic skills in preparation for study at university.

The course focuses on key spoken and written academic genres and provides learners with opportunities to:

develop a range of listening skills and strategies
participate in various speaking situations in the academic context
develop academic reading skills
improve writing abilities over a range of academic genres

It also includes instruction on:

research and library skills along
academic behaviour - time-management and study skills for effective independent learning and knowledge of academic integrity.

Language requirement: CEFR Level B2 (What does this mean?)

EAP Level 2

This C1 level course prepares students for undergraduate or graduate-level study in English.

It allows students to:

develop their ability to read effectively and comprehend high-level academic texts;
acquire a rich academic vocabulary;
apply listening and note-taking strategies to lectures on a variety of academic topics
build on their writing and research skills by producing texts in several academic styles
boost their skills in speaking effectively in presentations, discussions and debates
improve their vocabulary in their particular area of study
gain familiarity with rules and principles of academic integrity
improve academic behaviours such as time management, independent learning and collaboration

Language requirement: CEFR Level C1 (What does this mean?)

Note: EAP Level 2 students going into an undergraduate program can request information on attending one credit course. Please contact els@dal.ca.

If you have been placed in EAP Level 2 and wish to begin your degree program in September, you may be interested in our EAP 2 Academic Connections program beginning in July. Learn more.

Intensive Summer EAP Courses

Each level is 8 weeks and 192 hours. The cost of tuition is $3,300. Class times consist of 24 hours per week.

2025 dates:

July 7 to August 28, 2025

EAP Foundations 1 Summer Special Course

CEFR Level A2+ (What does this mean?)

Length: 8 weeks
Tuition Fee (text included): $3,300
Class Times: The class times depend on your choice of online or face-to-face delivery. Learn more about online delivery here.

EAP Foundations 2 Summer Special Course

CEFR Level B1+ (What does this mean?)

Length: 8 weeks
Tuition Fee (text included): $3,300
Class Times: The class times depend on your choice of online or face-to-face delivery. Learn more about online delivery here.

EAP Level 1 Summer Special Course

CEFR Level B2+ (What does this mean?)

Length: 8 weeks
Tuition Fee (text included): $3,300
Class Times: The class times depend on your choice of online or face-to-face delivery. Learn more about online delivery here.

Important Details

You will be placed into EAP Level 2 if:

you have an IELTS of 6.0
TOEFL iBT of 60
Pearson Academic score of 51
or CAEL CE 50

A (pdf/jpeg) copy of your test report can be submitted anytime before the first day of class. Any standardized English exam test report is not acceptable once a student has been placed in a level in the EAP Program and the course has begun.

If you don’t have an IELTS score of 6.0 or above OR a TOEFL score of 60 or above, you must write the Placement Test at Dalhousie to determine in which level you will begin. Registering for the EAP Placement Test takes place when you apply to the EAP Program.

Applicants to Dalhousie Faculty of Graduate Studies who successfully complete ECLC UAP 500 with 80% or above can enter EAP Level 2 without taking an EAP Placement test.

EAP Placement Test Format

The EAP Placement test is approximately 2 hours long and is to be completed on a computer. There will also be a short writing task or a 15-minute interview.

Your test scores and writing will be reviewed by an instructor. You will then be placed into one of the 4 levels in the EAP program. No moving of levels is permitted.

The placement test is very accurate. It places students into the level that is most appropriate for their current English language skills. On rare occasions, the instructional team may observe that a student’s real skills and abilities do not correspond with the level they have been placed in. In such cases, they may recommend a level change up or down to the Associated Director. The Associated Director's decision is final.

The only way a student can use a test score in this manner is:

Present an IELTS 6.5 for an undergraduate program, OR
Present an IELTS 7.0 for most graduate programs

Either successful presentation will result in the student gaining full acceptance into their degree program. The student will not have to complete the EAP program if they choose not to do so.

Low Scores

If your placement test score is too low to enter our lowest-level course (EAP Foundations 1), we will arrange for you to study at another language school in Halifax. The Dalhousie University EAP Program does not offer an A1-level course. This doesn’t affect very many students. In fact, fewer than 10 students per year find themselves in this situation.

Dalhousie English Test

A special placement test may also be written to gain entrance to Dalhousie University's graduate programs.

Can you answer “yes” to either of the following statements?

I have an IELTS or TOEFL test result that is very close to the required score for entrance into my Dalhousie academic program and I think I can do better.
I do not have an IELTS or TOEFL test result but I think my English is at the level required by my Dalhousie academic program.

Next Step:

Contact the Faculty of Graduate Studies at graduate.studies@dal.ca or your departmental graduate coordinator to ensure you are eligible to take the test.

Dalhousie University