The English Pathways programme at Cambridge is designed for students who want to strengthen their communication skills and confidence in English.
The English Pathways programme at Cambridge is designed for students who want to strengthen their communication skills and confidence in English. Whether your aim is academic study, professional growth, or everyday fluency, the course builds the language tools needed to succeed. Through reading, writing, speaking, and listening, you’ll practise using English in realistic contexts while also exploring topics that connect with university life and global issues.
English Pathways gives you two weeks to improve your language skills through engaging, practical work. You’ll build vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation while also focusing on academic writing, discussion skills, and presentation techniques. Lessons connect language learning with real-world tasks — writing articles, preparing interviews, or giving talks — so you can immediately apply what you learn.
Collaboration is central. You’ll work in pairs and groups to solve problems, create projects, and share ideas, gaining confidence in using English with others. Activities are varied and interactive, from debates and role-plays to reading and analysing texts that reflect real academic settings.
The programme also prepares you for future study. You’ll learn strategies for note-taking, essay planning, and structuring arguments in English, all of which are essential for success at university. By the end of the course, you will have developed your fluency, accuracy, and confidence, ready to use English more effectively in academic, professional, and social settings.
This course is part of the programme
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The UK’s number one multi-campus summer school, SBC offers academic and English-language focused summer courses taught by expert tutors in prestigious venues including the University of Oxford, and Eton.
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Apply NowStudents stay in high-quality boarding school or university-style accommodation, usually in single or shared rooms. Facilities are modern and safe, with common areas for socializing. Boys and girls are accommodated separately, and staff are always nearby.
SBC generally offers 15 to 20 hours of tuition per week, depending on the course, combining taught components and skills based group project work. At Oxford College and Dukes Cambridge 25 hours of tuition are offered weekly, combining lectures, seminars, tutorials, and industry experience sessions.
SBC welcomes students of all English proficiency levels, from beginner to advanced. Placement tests are conducted in advance of student arrival to ensure students are placed in the appropriate class for their ability.
SBC ensures a high level of supervision. There is a dedicated team of welfare staff to supervise students 24/7. Staff-to-student ratios are typically high to ensure students are supported both academically and pastorally.
Earlscliffe fees include return transfers to/from London Heathrow and London Gatwick for flights/trains scheduled to arrive/depart between 9am-3pm on published arrival and departure days.
For other locations, students are provided with the option of using SBC's Shared Transfer Service from/to London Heathrow Airport and St. Pancras International.
When a student arrives, an SBC staff member wearing a bright yellow t-shirt will be waiting to greet her/him and accompany them to our Welcome Club. At Welcome Club, she/he will have the chance to meet other students arriving, have some light refreshments and relax. After a little rest, students will be accompanied by students and SBC staff to board the coach and be taken directly to the School in a private coach. The Shared Transfer Service can be used by students using the following flight times:
Flight landing time on arrival day: 06:00-17:00 Flight take-off time on departure day: 8:00-18:00 If you book a flight outside of these times or to/from another UK airport, we can look at sending a staff member in a taxi to collect or drop off your child, but it will cost more than the Shared Transfer Service. Quotations are available upon request.
Yes, course insurance is included in the cost of your course. This covers essential medical insurance, including emergency treatment and other related costs.
Yes, students receive a certificate of achievement at the end of the course, detailing their progress and any academic milestones they’ve reached. Students at Oxford College and Dukes Cambridge receive a Letter of Recommendation to support their university applications.
Students from countries outside the UK or Schengen Area may require a standard visitor visa. SBC provides supporting documentation, including confirmation letters, but students or their families are responsible for the visa application process. It’s recommended to apply for a visa well in advance. Please see the following website for more details: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa
