The English Language Institute

The University of Alabama

2007 Calendar

Spring 1, 2007: January 8 - March 2
Spring 2, 2007: March 19 - May 10
Summer 1, 2007: May 14 - June 25
Summer 2, 2007: June 28 - August 10
Fall 1, 2007: August 20 - October 12
Fall 2, 2007: October 18 - December 14

2008 Calendar

Spring 1, 2008: January 7 - February 29
Spring 2, 2008: March 4 - May 2
Summer 1, 2008: May 12 - June 23
Summer 2, 2008: June 26 - August 8
Fall 1, 2008 August 18 - October 10
Fall 2, 2008: October 16-December 12

Session Length

Fall and Spring sessions at the ELI are approximately 8 weeks long, while Summer sessions are approximately 6 weeks long.  All sessions include the same number of instructional hours (148).

Half Sessions

Students who are not able to attend "full" sessions (6-8 weeks) are invited to attend "half" sessions (3-4 weeks).  Half sessions are available only at the beginning of each full session; starting dates for full and half sessions are the same.

Costs Per Session (148 hours of instruction)

Costs to attend the ELI are comparable to or in many cases lower than those of other intensive English programs in the U.S.   All costs are listed in US dollars.

ITEM COST fall/spring sessions COST summer sessions
Tuition $1,800 $1,800
University Student Fee 335 $252
Medical Insurance

(Not required if student shows proof of insurance for U.S.  Waiver form showing acceptable insurance coverage must be completed by student's insurance company and submitted to ELI office prior to enrollment.)

 $225 $175
On-Campus Housing

(Housing charges vary according to assignment. Estimated range of cost for housing is $850 - $1200 per session. All housing assignments are subject to availability.)

 $940 $685
Meals (estimate) $700 $525
Books (estimate) $125 $125
    
TOTAL $4,125 $3,562

Other Costs:

  • Application fee: $50 (non-refundable, valid for one year)
  • Optional classes are available for an additional cost of $50-$75 per subject. (See more information.)
  • Students should plan to bring approximately $200 - $300 per session for personal expenses.

Additional Information

  • Half-sessions are available at the beginning of each full session. Starting dates for full and half-sessions are the same. The estimated cost of a half-session is $2,305 in the Fall and Spring and $2,024 in the Summer..
  • Session costs typically increase slightly each year in August, beginning with the Fall 1 session.
  • The ELI's summer sessions are designed so that students may choose to complete either one or two full-time sessions in 12 weeks. Students on an F-1 (student) visa should refer to the ELI Student Handbook for information on maintaining full-time status during the summer sessions.

Withdrawals

Housing

Students at the English Language Institute may choose to live in University residence halls on the University of Alabama campus or in off-campus housing, such as private apartments.  Living on campus in University residence halls is convenient because it gives ELI students excellent opportunities to interact with American students and to participate in campus activities.  Students who are sure they wish to live on campus should request and submit a UA Residence Hall Application as soon as possible after applying for ELI admission.

Meals

Students who would like to eat their meals on campus in University dining halls may purchase weekly meal plans or simply pay for each meal separately.  Students who live in housing with kitchen facilities may, of course, choose to prepare their own meals at home.

Kang Duk Kwon from Japan

"I could not speak and write English properly when I was in Japan, but now I am studying in the athletic training education program at The University of Alabama. Studying English at the ELI was a great experience for me."

Campus Facilities

Health Services and Insurance

The Student Health Center is conveniently located on campus and provides medical care for all UA students, including ELI students.  The University of Alabama requires all international students to have medical insurance while in the U.S.  Upon arrival at the English Language Institute, students must show proof of adequate coverage or purchase medical insurance when registering for classes.

Libraries and Computer Centers

There are five libraries on the University of Alabama campus: main (serving the humanities, social sciences, and arts), business, science and engineering, education, and law.  A number of student computer laboratories are also conveniently located on campus, some of which remain open 24 hours per day.

Recreation Center and Activities

ELI students have full use of UA's Student Recreation Center, which is complete with modern exercise equipment, a swimming pool, and basketball, racquetball, and volleyball courts.  ELI students may also use the UA tennis courts, soccer fields, Aquatic Center, and golf course.

ELI students are welcome to join one or more of the many UA student organizations, which may be academic, athletic, religious, social, or international in nature.

In addition, a variety of campus activities take place practically every day on the UA campus, and ELI students are welcome to attend.  These activities include athletic events, concerts, films, dramas, and guest lectures.

UA Campus Map

Follow this link to see a campus map.  The ELI is located in the heart of the campus in B.B. Comer Hall, which is situated just across the street from the Ferguson Student Center (containing the UA cafeteria and food court, bookstore, post office, and theater).

Location & Climate

The University of Alabama is located on a large, beautiful campus in Tuscaloosa, a friendly city of 90,000 people.  Tuscaloosa is just one hour away by car, bus or train from Birmingham, the largest city in Alabama.  Other nearby cities include Atlanta, Georgia (3 hours), Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee (4hours), and New Orleans, Louisiana (4.5 hours).  Gulf of Mexico beaches are also nearby (4.5 hours).

The state of Alabama is located in the southeastern portion of the United States and is bordered by the states of Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, and Florida. Because of its location, Alabama enjoys a relatively warm climate most of the year.  Summer is hot, winter is mild, and spring and fall are warm and filled with colorful flowers and trees.