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Program Overview
The ESL program at Webster University, St. Louis currently consists of two levels — Level 4 and Bridge Level.
In Level 4 of our ESL program, we use a sustained content-based approach, which means that every ESL student in Level 4 ESL attends one undergraduate content course. Assignments in addition to ESL classes. The skills work ESL classes reflect the topics and assignments of typical American university coursework, and for Level 4 students, they specifically relate to the undergraduate content course assignments.
The Bridge level consists of high-level academic English classes focused on preparation for actual university-level coursework. Those courses are usually taken in conjunction with a student’s first undergraduate or graduate courses.
Placement Exam
All test days are considered tentative. Please email ESL Program Director to confirm.
Online, synchronous placement testing is available. Please contact the ESL Director at ctrachtova77@webster.edu to set up individual online testing.
Friday, Aug. 12, 2022 (EPT, written, oral)
Recommended for future graduate students or undergraduate students
Friday, Aug. 19, 2022 (EPT, written, oral)
Recommended for future undergraduate students only
Friday, Oct. 21, 2022 (EPT, written, oral)
Recommended for future graduate students or undergraduate students
*Individual test dates also available
All test days are considered tentative. Please email ESL Program Director to confirm.
Online, synchronous placement testing is available. Please contact the ESL Director at ctrachtova77@webster.edu to set up individual online testing.
Friday, Jan. 6, 2023 (EPT, written, oral)
Recommended for future graduate students or undergraduate students
Friday, Jan. 13, 2023 (EPT, written, oral)
Recommended for future undergraduate students only
Friday, March 17, 2023 (EPT, written, oral)
Recommended for future graduate students or undergraduate students
Friday, May 26, 2023 (EPT, written, oral)
Recommended for future graduate students or undergraduate students
*Individual test dates also available
*all times approximate except start time*
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
CaMLA EPT: 60 minutes
Written Exam: 90 minutes for reading and writing and essay
Oral Exam: 15 or so minutes per student
Additional notes:
- Please call or email ctrachtova77@webster.edu to confirm the testing room location before the test date.
- Please arrive 15 minutes prior to test time in order to check in and pay. The test usually begins at 10 a.m. Please contact Carolyn Trachtova to verify.
- Please bring #2 pencils and a picture ID.
- You can use a paper dictionary for the written portion. No electronic dictionaries or cell phones can be used during the test.
Additional information about the test can be obtained in the ESL Office, 405 Browning Hall (ISB) by appointment.
Enrollment Process
There are two ways to study ESL at Webster University.
Students who wish to study ESL at Webster University and then continue in their studies to earn an undergraduate or graduate degree should start the admissions process with our international admissions team. The process for applying to the ESL program is the same as for all international students who are interested in studying at Webster.
Students who wish to study ESL only can apply as non-degree-seeking students. When students are filling out the non-degree application, for the level of interest, choose "Undergraduate study" (ESL courses are undergraduate level courses). Then, choose the St. Louis campus. For the term, choose "other." When it asks for courses, write "ESL study full time only." The minimum number of terms required for non-degree-seeking students is two 8-week terms or one semester.
Students do need to submit a standardized test score that establishes their English proficiency. This can be a TOEFL, IELTS, DuoLingo, Pearson test. We accept other tests – to confirm other possibilities, please contact the ESL Director.
Enrollment options are designed to meet the needs of multilingual students at varying levels of English proficiency.
Please contact the ESL Director to with questions about the ESL schedule and tuition: ctrachtova77@webster.edu
ESL Program Levels
Level 4
Students have 19 hours of face-to-face ESL instruction at the low B2 level and earn
9 credit hours of elective credit (undergraduate students only). In addition, students
attend ISTL 1000: Introduction to Global Studies or ISTL 2150 Global Explorations,
the undergraduate classes that provide content for ESL class instruction, or they
do independent content study.
Bridge Program
Students take 6 credit hours of ESL instruction (two 3-credit classes) at the high
B2 level. Typically, students take one 3-credit course per 8-week term at the same
time as the coursework for their undergraduate or graduate degree. These courses are
ESLG 4250: Research Writing and Library skills and ESLG 4050: ESL Seminar (academic
oral skills and citation).
Level 4 includes five ESL courses per term. The core courses are:
- Academic Reading
- Academic Writing
- Grammar
Those courses are offered every term.
Other skills alternate terms. These courses include:
- Pronunciation
- Oral Presentation
- Cultural Keywords (Academic Vocabulary)
- Academic Study Skills
- Full-time Program (Level 4):
- Students are registered for and earn 9 ESL undergraduate elective credits per level per term.
- Students attend 19 hours of ESL coursework and 3 hours of an undergraduate content course per week.
- Students who attend two terms or more (Level 4 and Bridge level) will pay a flat fee of $14,820 per semester (1 semester=2 terms).
- Individual ESL classes are $450/credit hour. One individual class = $1350
- This figure does not include living expenses, fees, mandatory health insurance, or books and supplies.
| Full program Level 4 start | Undergraduate (UG) ESL Tuition Flat fee = $29,640 per academic year |
| FP Level 4 (1 term) | $14,820 FP Level 4+BR. Term 1 12 ESL Credits total, 4-7 UG Credits |
| Bridge Term 1 | |
| Bridge Term 2 | $14,820 BR. ESL Term 2+ Regular UG courses 6 ESL credits total, 7+ UG credits |
| Total | $29,640 |
BRIDGE Program: (Advanced)
- Students are registered for and earn 6 ESL undergraduate elective credits per level per term.
- Students enroll in ESL for two terms, taking one ESL class per term at the same time as one or two undergraduate classes per term or semester.
- Students enrolled in two terms or more will pay a flat fee of $14,820 per semester (1 semester=2 terms).
- Individual ESL credits are $450/credit hour. Undergraduate classes are charged at the regular undergraduate tuition rate.
- This figure does not include living expenses, fees, mandatory health insurance, or books and supplies.
| Bridge start | Undergraduate (UG) ESL Tuition Flat fee = $29,640 per academic year |
| Bridge Term 1 | $14,820 BR Term 1 + BR Term 2 6 ESL credits total, 7+ UG credits |
| Bridge Term 2 | |
| Undergraduate classes (semester or term) | $14,820 All Reg. UG classes 13+ UG credits |
| Total | $29,640 |
Full-time Program (Level 4): 9 credits per level per term
- Students attend 19 hours of ESL coursework.
- Students enroll in nine credits of ESL for 8 weeks (at $360/credit hour, for a total of $3,240).
- This figure does not include living expenses, fees, mandatory health insurance, or books and supplies.
BRIDGE Program: 6 credits (two terms)
- Students enroll in ESL for one term, taking two ESL classes and one graduate class during the Bridge term
- ESL tuition-only is $1,080 per class. Total = $2,160.00 for both ESL courses.
- Graduate fees will be charged at the regular graduate tuition rate.
| Graduate (GR) ESL Tuition $360 per credit hour |
FP 4000 (one term) |
Bridge (two terms) |
Total Does not include GR classes taken during Bridge level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 4 start | $3240 9 ESL credits |
$1080 x 2 = $2160 6 ESL credits |
$5400 Total 15 ESL credits |
| Bridge start | $1080 x 2 = $2160 6 ESL credits |
$2160 Total 6 ESL credits |
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