Summer Study

If you’re beginning an RIT degree in the fall, taking summer English classes can prepare you by familiarizing you with RIT and boosting your confidence to tackle new academic challenges. The English Language Center offers two summer study options divided by skill and education level.

• Intensive learning pace with lots of assignments
• Consistent feedback from the instructor
• 20+ hours per week on classwork and assignments
• Build professional skills — so you know what kind of language professors expect
• Interact with other students and learn by doing — language is an interactive skill
• Interact with thematic content — learn about RIT majors, the RIT campus and the local Rochester area

In-person Summer Semester

Enroll in a 4-week Summer Program to complete your English language requirements before your academic program begins in the fall semester.

Because the in-person summer term is very intensive, regular summer enrollment is normally for one summer term only (either Summer 1 or Summer 2, but not both). With special permission, it may be possible to take both summer terms.

ELC summer programs are divided by skill level:

• Beginner & Intermediate ELC Program: May 30 to June 30
• Advanced ELC Program: July 7 to August 1

Therefore, summer program applicants or participants should have a test score (TOEFL, IELTS or the RIT English Language Exam) to become eligible for a summer program.

RIT students who are admitted to a degree program can be enrolled in ELC courses by simply emailing ritelc@rit.edu. Non-degree English language students can apply via the ELC application.

Summer In-Person Advanced & Academic English (Late Summer)

Academic preparation courses for both Graduate and Undergraduate study:

• Classes begin July 7 and end August 1, 2025
• Three offered courses focus on academic and professional language skills. 
  • Spoken communication
  • Writing and reading
  • Analysis of academic discourse
• Each course meets 10 hours per week
• Each course costs $2184
• Completion of courses meets RIT admission standards
• Students on F-1 study visas must take at least two courses to maintain visa status
• Minimum TOEFL of 60/ IELTS of 6.0 or equivalent on the RIT English Language exam

Summer In-Person Beginner & Intermediate English (Early Summer)

Courses build English language skills especially for students want to prepare for university or work:

• Classes begin May 30 and end June 30, 2025
• Three offered courses focus on language development 
  • Speaking and interaction
  • Writing and reading
  • Grammar
• Each course meets 10 hours per week
• Each course costs $2184
• After completing one level, students may continue at a higher level in the Fall semester
• Students on F-1 study visas must take at least two courses to maintain visa status
• Students who want to complete a proficiency level in the program must take all three courses
• Designed for students below TOEFL of 60 or IELTS of 6.5

Online Summer Semester
Graduate Students Only

Three online courses are offered across the summer to prepare student for graduate study and meet all RIT graduate program English requirements. The RIT English Language Center offers online courses currently for students preparing for Graduate study. Courses for undergraduate or general language learners are not offered at this time.

Summer 2025 Graduate Academic English Online

Three online courses are offered across the summer to prepare student for graduate study and meet all RIT graduate program English requirements.

• Each course last 4 weeks, with 6 synchronous hours per week
• Each course costs $2184
• Minimum TOEFL of 60/ IELTS of 6.0 or equivalent on the RIT English Language exam
• Completion of courses meets RIT graduate admission standards

How to apply:

If you are an accepted RIT student, you simply need to contact ritelc@rit.edu to enroll! 

Students outside of RIT who are preparing for a university degree must complete a formal application to the program. Students must meet general ELC application criteria and must also meet a minimum TOEFL/IELTS requirement for the University English program. Please visit our application page, or contact us at ritelc@rit.edu for questions about how to apply.

What is the ELC online method?

All ELC courses:

• focus on academic communication (what do professors expect?) to build professional skills
• include themes about RIT majors in science, technology, arts and business

Student expectations and requirements

RIT English Language Center online courses are not pre-packaged self-study courses. ELC online students should expect to the class to meet 2 or 3 times per week synchronously and to spend around 10 or more hours pers week to complete practice and assignments. ELC online courses include (and require!) interaction with instructors and other students. The courses are designed to coach students toward effective professional and university-level communication. The instructors are there to help (and to challenge) students to meet their learning goals.

• Must have a fully functioning computer or tablet with audio recording and web-cam capabilities. Telephones or computers without video will not get the job done.
• Must have a stable broadband Internet connection for the required synchronous class time and other assigned activities.
• Must attend a number of classes synchronously (in real time) every week with the instructor and other students. Synchronous classes will be delivered on Eastern Daylight Time (UTC -4:00). Students in other time zones will need to adapt to the schedule, to incorporate these attendance requirements into their schedules regardless of local time.
• Must submit assignments regularly (3 to 5 times per week), Monday – Friday.
• May be required to meet with other students online and/or the instructor to complete specified tasks each week.