International Ambassadors, November 2018

Improve your academic English

Free, optional modules to develop your confidence with written or spoken English

ISE stands for In-Sessional English: Academic Language and Communication.

This programme is aimed at students who have English as an additional, second, or foreign language though it is open to all.

ISE provides 10 optional short modules which help you develop confidence in the use of written or spoken English for your studies and assessments here at the university.

ISE modules are free of charge, but you must register early if you want to get a place on your first choice of option. ISE modules last for 5 weeks except for one 10-week module which is for postgraduate students only.

See ISE Module Catalogue 2025–2026 below for more information on what we offer or email ise@port.ac.uk for queries.

How to register for an ISE Module

For Campus students at the University of Portsmouth

An ISE Module may be taken up to four times in each academic year 2 see the Registration and Module Dates 2025–2026 below. 

Complete your registration

Please select up to three module options. We will try to match you to your first option, but this may not always be possible. See the ISE Module Catalogue 2025–2026 for a brief description of modules on the ISE programme.

Please also note that not every module will be available in every session (sessions are numbered TB1A, TB1B, TB2A, TB2B).

If you do not see your preferred module option in one session, it will be available in another. You can ask ise@port.ac.uk for more information.

 

For Distance Learning Students at the University of Portsmouth and Campus Students on the London Campus

Complete your registration

 

Registration and Module Dates 2025–2026

Notes:

  1. There are no classes during consolidation weeks or vacation weeks.
  2. The online module is only available to Students from the London Campus and Distance Students from the University of Portsmouth.

Teaching Block 1

  First session (TB1A) Second session (TB1B)
You must book your place between these dates Wednesday 10 September – Friday 3 October Monday 3 November – Tuesday 11 November
The 5-week ISE Modules take place between these dates Monday 6 October –
Friday 14 November		 Monday 17 November – Friday 19 December
For the 10-week ISE Module, you must book your place between these dates Wednesday 10 September – Friday 3 October
The 10-week ISE Module takes place between these dates Monday 6 October – Friday 19 December

 

 

Teaching Block 2

 
  First session (TB2A) Second session (TB2B)
For the 5-week ISE Modules, you must book your place between these dates Monday 19 January –
Tuesday 27 January		 Monday 2 March – Tuesday 10 March

The 5-week ISE Modules take place between these dates		 Monday 2 February – Friday 6 March Monday 16 March – Friday 8 May
For the 10-week ISE Module, you must book your place between these dates Monday 19 January – Tuesday 27 January
The 10-week ISE Module takes place between these dates Monday 2 February – Friday 8 May

 

 

ISE Module Catalogue 2025–2026

Notes:

STEM = Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics

Module code Module title Module description
M32098 Communicating ideas visually and verbally Using visuals to organise information and presenting visuals as part of an assessment
M32099 Developing An Academic Style: Phrase and Sentence Structure (Adv) Identifying the phrase and sentence structures common in clear and effective academic writing
M32101 Developing an ear for English: Understanding pronunciation Recognising the features of rapid and fluent Standard Southern British English pronunciation
M32103 Developing effective paragraphs for communicating your ideas clearly Using paragraph and text organisation clearly and effectively
M32104 Developing language for presentation, seminar and group work Develop confidence in effective communication with an audience of peers and/or tutors
M32105 Developing Scientific Language for Presentation, Seminar and Group Work Develop confidence in effective communication with an audience of peers and/or tutors (STEM focus)
M32108 From taking notes to writing assignments Review strategies for effective reading, note-taking, and managing information
M32109 Improving your academic English for dissertation and final report writing Overview of strategy and language for planning, organising, and writing an extended project or undergraduate dissertation
M32110 Language for scientific report writing Overview of strategy and language for planning, organising, and writing an extended project (STEM focus)
M32137 Writing a postgraduate dissertation Overview of strategy and language for planning, organising, and writing a postgraduate dissertation