Preparatory Semester

Introduction

For a long time international Bachelor and Master programmes at Saxion, taught in English, have been popular with students from all over the world. Apart from the appropriate educational background, it is essential that students master the English language sufficiently to be able to follow the international courses. For students who need intensive English language preparation in order to be admitted, Saxion offers preparatory courses of various duration and content.

Aim of the programme

The semester course is a 15-week intensive English course to upgrade your English language skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking) to the level required for four-year Bachelor programmes, Final Year Bachelor courses and Master programmesTo improve your English competence to the level required for admission to Saxion 4-year Bachelor or final year Bachelor courses or Master programmes.

Apart from improving your English, there are other benefits you may derive from taking part in the preparatory programmes. If you come from cultural backgrounds in which studying and teaching is done in completely different ways from what you will find at Saxion, preparation for more active and interactive study methods will lead to a better chance of academic success afterwards. Another benefit may be that it allows you some time to adapt yourself to Dutch culture and life in the Netherlands before you start your academic course.

Course content

It comprises:

• an intensive 240-hour English course from the beginning of February until the end of June. General improvement of all the four skills, including IELTS preparation; 60 hours of supervised self-study and homework
• development of learner autonomy
• introduction to the Netherlands, including some excursions and outings

This course starts in September and February. At the end of the course, in January and June, there is an opportunity to take an IELTS test or a Saxion Entrance test to prove your language proficiency.

Requirements

It is essential that prospective students have already reached a score of IELTS 5.5 so that the starting level is in line with the level (IELTS 6.0) they have to achieve to get admission to courses of higher education.

Prospective students are required to apply for their future four-year course, Final-year or Masters programme at the same time they seek entry to the Preparatory courses. The reason for this is to ascertain if they have the proper previous education for their intended future studies.

Note for young students

Living and studying abroad demands a willingness of the student to adapt to a different culture, to accept different ways of doing things in the host country, different norms and values. Students will have to mature very fast and look after themselves: cook their own meals, clean their room or house, stay healthy.