Acclimatizing to Academia in Canada
Unique Opportunity for Incoming International Grad Students
This pilot program will allow up to 15 eligible graduate students who would be due to start in September 2024 to come to Kingston and participate in a vibrant program centred around sustainability which will hone their academic skills to a Canadian university standard, while also introducing them to the University and community, and the local area and facilities.
All over the world, young people are showing their worry about the planet’s future. Queen’s University is among the world leaders in looking to the future and developing new solutions to humanity’s continuing challenges. Learning English at the same time as taking a course designed around the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will help students get the language skills and practical experience they need to make global and local changes.
This 3-week English immersion program focuses on developing language skills using Canadian academic content and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. It emphasizes the knowledge, skills and strategies needed for academic success. Moreover, students will actively engage in the Kingston and Queen's community, and immerse themselves in the language and culture of the city and University to ensure the smoothest possible start to their graduate careers.
The pilot program will have graduate students grouped in their own dedicated class and will allow participants to connect with fellow international graduate students and build their peer network. This graduate-focused cohort will begin to explore the research tools and resources available at Queen's and will use them to complete sustainability-focused projects. Having completed CASES, students will start their graduate programs at full speed, having had a chance to get to know the surroundings, and set up vital infrastructure for their lives in Kingston.
Classes
There are 20.5 in-class hours per week which take place in two classes — Core and Lab-Spoken.
Core
We use all four language skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) in a variety of real-world situations to develop the English knowledge and fluency needed to communicate globally. Canadian cultural content and SDGs are used to produce fun, interactive classes which truly engage and inspire us to address the challenges of the future and provide a good insight into academic production at the University.
Communication Skills
This class helps us develop important speaking and listening techniques. Students practice speaking through presentation, group work, and pronunciation practice while listening practice uses real-world sources, such as TED talks and CBC videos, and teacher and peer interaction. By the end of this class, you will feel much more confident about talking with others and presenting your ideas in English, a vital asset in the collaborative world of graduate studies.
Student Life
Program fees include three excursions to local Kingston attractions and afternoon and weekend activities, such as films, sports, baking, games, shopping, festivals, and visits to Kingston's many cultural and historic sites.
Admission Requirements
Students entering this program should have an accepted offer of admission from the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs. Queen's School of English does not accept direct applications for acceptance into this program.
- Step 1: If you are a new international student for September 2024, and have been made an offer from the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (SGSPA) to come to Queen’s to do a graduate program, then you will also receive an email letter outlining the CASES program.
- Step 2: Indicate your interest in participating in the CASES program, by completing the Initial CASES Registration Form (link is within the email letter sent to you). Space in the program is limited, so students will be accepted on a first-come basis. You will be advised if you have been accepted.
- Step 3: If accepted, the SGSPA will forward your interest to the School of English to follow up with you on all other requirements for the program.
- Step 4: The SGSPA will reissue you your letter of offer, recognizing the CASES program option, which you can use for VISA purposes. It is your responsibility to secure all immigration VISA requirements for entry into Canada for your academic program and participation in CASES.
- Step 5: Secure your accommodation. This is your responsibility and at your cost.
Queen’s University is dedicated to providing a variety of accommodation options to cater to the preferences and requirements of our students during their academic pursuits.
- Homestay Accommodation: Our Homestay program, in partnership with the Canada Homestay Network (CHN), offers students the chance to live in a safe, welcoming home, inclusive of meals, and the support of a Canadian family. This immersive experience is recommended for its cultural benefits and is also available to students accompanied by family members or partners. For further details on the Homestay program and to apply, please visit the QSoE Where to Stay webpage.
- On-Campus Residence: Available from August 12 to August 25, 2024 (check-out date). We encourage students to enjoy the vibrant residential life offered by our on-campus housing during this period.
- Donald Gordon Centre: To ensure continuous accommodation, the Donald Gordon Centre can provide lodging from August 25 to August 30, 2024. This option offers the convenience of staying on campus with the comfort of hotel amenities.
We urge students to secure their accommodations promptly as availability is limited.
Although this course does have an academic component and is graded, nothing will appear on your University transcript and it will not affect your ability to take up your studies. This is a good opportunity to identify any areas you have challenges with and seek out help and support to address them.
All students are invited to a graduation ceremony to share in the success of their colleagues. Following the program, you would start your graduate studies as scheduled.
A huge part of the course is about situating yourself in the community and getting to know the local environment and facilities, and so it is not possible to take this course online.
The bespoke 3-week program only operates in August, and so while Queen's School of English does offer the CASES course at other times of year, it would not be adapted for the particular needs of graduate students. We strongly encourage students to study in the Fall with the SGSPA student cohort.
The program fee of $2,300 CAD will be fully subsidized by the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs and your academic faculty. You will not be charged additional tuition for the program.