This fall 12–week intensive English language program develops knowledge, skills, and strategies for academic success in the Queen's Faculty of Law Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law. It is offered online once per year from early September to early December.
Classes
There are 22.5 scheduled class hours per week; while the vast majority of this time is synchronous, some class time may be given over for asynchronous work. Students should expect to spend more than 30 hours per week in total on class time, homework, and extra practice. The classes focus on integrated practice in all four language skills — listening, reading, speaking, writing — and introduces learning strategies common in Canadian post-secondary education, such as critical thinking and task-based learning, while following standards of academic integrity. Assessment is completed frequently through tests, essays, presentations, and projects which demonstrate students' mastery of the material taught in class. Classes usually take place between 8am and 4pm Kingston time, though every effort is made to make a convenient schedule for all participants within those times.
The 12-week program is composed of 4 courses:
- Core — 15 hours per week of integrated skills development at a University Preparation level.
- Lab-Spoken — 3 hours per week of focused speaking and listening practice.
- English for Specific Academic Purposes (ESAP) — 3 hours per week of individualised practice researching and communicating about your major/research focus.
- Elective — A 1.5 hours per week course devoted to students' interests in which English is used practically to learn other topics/skills. This class is ungraded, but has a participation/attendance requirement to pass.
To meet the conditions of your Queen's Faculty of Law Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law conditional offer, you must get an average grade of A (85%) across your Core, Lab-Spoken, and ESAP courses, as well as meeting the minimum attendance requirements as outlined in our policy guide.
Student Life
Program fees include online activities, such as films, games and discussion clubs. Kingston-based students studying online can also join our in-person Student Life Program activities.
Admission Requirements
Students entering this program should have a conditional offer of admission from Queen's Faculty of Law for the Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law. Queen's School of English does not accept direct applications for acceptance into this program.
Students are tested prior to acceptance and, based on their CaMLA English Placement Test (EPT) scores, may be advised not join ESLA 150 if their English level does not meet a minimum requirement.
Students for this course are accepted exclusively through conditional offers by the Faculty of Law. Please visit the Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law site for more information on how to apply. Any queries about application should be directed to immigrationdiploma@queensu.ca.
If you have a conditional offer, then the condition is passing the ESLA 150 course with an A (85%) average. You can only submit language scores prior to the application document deadline. Language scores are submitted as part of your application directly to the Faculty of Law. Any queries about tests accepted or deadlines should be directed to immigrationdiploma@queensu.ca
Students who do not achieve an average of an A (85%) have not met the conditions of their offer. Unfortunately, the pathway only runs for the Fall semester, and so students would have to reapply to the Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law program. Any queries about deadlines or application procedures should be directed to immigrationdiploma@queensu.ca.
Students who meet the conditions of their offer and achieve an average of an A (85%) across the ESLA 150 course would be automatically enrolled by the Faculty of Law into the Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law's Winter semester starting in January. No further testing or application would be necessary.
The bespoke 12-week program only operates online, and so while Queen's School of English does offer the ESLA 150 course on site, it would not be adapted for the extremely high-level students who normally participate in the Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law program, nor would it be focused on needs which are specific to that group.
The bespoke 12-week program only operates in fall, and so while Queen's School of English does offer the ESLA 150 course at other times of year, it would not be adapted for the extremely high-level students who normally participate in the Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law program, nor would it be focused on needs which are specific to that group. We strongly encourage students to study in the Fall with the GDipICL student cohort.
Furthermore, any classes taken outside of a student's conditional offer in order to independently improve one's English (such as ESLA 140 Advanced) would not grant advanced standing in the GDipICL pathway or application process. If a student passes ESLA 150 outside of a Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law conditional offer, a language waiver would be granted for a period of 2 years; however, such a language waiver does not guarantee the success of any application. Any queries about the application process should be directed to immigrationdiploma@queensu.ca
If you are given a conditional offer by the Faculty of Law, you will be contacted by Queen's School of English to arrange for English language placement testing. If you are successful in that test and place into the ESLA 150 course, you will receive an invoice and payment instructions.
The current tuition cost for a semester of ESLA 150 is $5,800, though additional student fees and textbook costs will apply.