What CEFR level does the Certificate in English Language Studies take me to?

Most students reach a confident B2, with stronger learners moving into the lower band of C1. A placement test at the start and end of the course maps your exact level on your transcript.

Is the Certificate in English Language Studies accepted as English-language proof for UK university entry?

For LSJHML's own Diplomas and BA programmes, yes. For other UK universities, acceptance varies — some accept it; others require IELTS or a Cambridge English Qualification alongside. Admissions can advise on specific institutions.

How is the Certificate in English Language Studies different from the Certificate in Academic English?

Academic English is a focused study-skills and writing course. English Language Studies is broader — it includes academic English plus reading, listening, oral presentation and grammar consolidation. The two can be taken back to back for a fuller foundation.

Can I take the Certificate in English Language Studies fully online?

Yes. The online route runs live small-group classes with the same tutor support as the on-campus route, and all reading, writing and listening exercises adapt naturally to remote delivery.

Will the Certificate in English Language Studies help me with IELTS?

Yes — indirectly. The course doesn't follow the IELTS test format specifically, but the academic-English skills it teaches map directly onto what IELTS Academic measures. Many students take an IELTS test shortly after the course.

Certificate in English Language Studies | LSJHML London | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The Certificate in English Language Studies at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a three-to-six-month UK qualification for international learners (or UK adults returning to academic study) who want to strengthen their academic English to working B2 standard and develop the study skills UK higher education assumes.

This is academic English taught as a foundation for further study or skilled work in English-medium environments — not a survival-English course. You leave able to read academic articles confidently, write structured essays to a recognised UK standard, and present orally in an academic register.

Key Features

CEFR-aligned curriculum taking learners from B1 to B2 with optional B2+ extension exercises.
Academic reading workshop — strategies for difficult texts, source evaluation, note-taking discipline.
Essay-writing module — UK essay conventions, structure, paragraph discipline, citation basics.
Oral academic presentation — structured presentations with peer and tutor feedback.
Three study modes — on-campus, fully online with live classes, or distance learning.
Pathway to LSJHML degrees — accepted as English-language preparation for entry to Diploma and Bachelor programmes.

What You Will Learn

The Certificate in English Language Studies is built around the academic-English skills universities and English-medium employers actually need their applicants to demonstrate.

Academic reading — handling long, dense texts in your subject area.
Note-taking and summary writing.
UK essay conventions — introduction, thesis, evidence, conclusion, citation.
Grammar consolidation at B1–B2 level with attention to academic register.
Vocabulary expansion using academic word lists.
Listening to lectures and structured note-taking from them.
Oral academic presentation with structured argument.
Study skills — time management, revision strategy, exam technique.

Who This Course Is For

International learners preparing for UK higher education.
Working professionals in English-medium environments wanting to strengthen academic register.
Heritage English speakers wanting to formalise their language with a recognised UK qualification.
Returners to UK education who want a refresher in academic English conventions.

Career Pathways

The Certificate in English Language Studies is a foundation credential supporting progression into further study or English-medium employment. Typical applications include:

Progression into a UK Diploma or BA at LSJHML or partner institutions
Strengthened applications to UK higher education generally
English-medium employment in international organisations, NGOs, multinational corporates
Translation Assistant and bilingual support roles
EFL Teaching Assistant (with appropriate teaching qualification)
Continued Study (Diploma in English Language, BA English Language)

The Certificate articulates into the Diploma in English Language at LSJHML for students continuing.

Entry Requirements

Minimum age 16.
Secondary school qualification (GCSE/O-Level or international equivalent).
IELTS 4.5 (or equivalent) on entry — placement test offered.
No prior academic English experience required.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.