Calendar and Costs
What are the dates and costs of the English classes at TIEP?
TIEP offers classes throughout the year. There are seven start dates and eleven sessions of different lengths each year. Costs vary by the length of the session and range from $895 for a 3-week session to $3695 for a 16-week semester. For details click here.
What does the tuition payment include? When is it due?
Tuition is due at registration. Tuition includes:
- Classroom Instruction (20 hours per week)
- Placement Testing
- Institutional TOEFL
- Computer Lab with e-mail and Internet access
- Wireless Internet Access
- Certificate
- Social Activities
- Conversation Club
- Photo ID
- Orientation Program
- Immigration Counseling
- Housing Information and Assistance
- University Information and Application Assistance
What is the refund policy?
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REFUND POLICY
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|
1 WITHDRAWAL REQUESTED AND APPROVED |
2 AMOUNT OF REFUND, BY ENROLLMENT PERIOD |
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| (a) 1 - 4 weeks | (b) 5 - 8 weeks | (c) 9 - 16 weeks | |
| (a) Before classes begin | 100% - $150 cancellation fee | 100% - $150 cancellation fee | 100% - $150 cancellation fee |
| (b) During class days 1 – 5 | 0% | 50% | 75% |
| (c) During class days 6 – 10 | 0% | 0% | 50% |
| (d) After the 10th class day | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Do the tuition and fees include housing and meals?
No. We estimate living expenses for most students to be $800 - $1000 per month. During the summer TIEP offers special packages with University Towers dormitory that include tuition, room, and meals. For details click here.
When is the application deadline?
There is no deadline, but we recommend that students apply at least one month before the start of classes if they need to apply for a student (F-1) visa.
When is registration?
Registration is generally 3 to 5 days before the first day of class. For details click here.
What type of payment does TIEP accept?
TIEP accepts traveler's checks, personal checks drawn on a U.S. bank, bank drafts, bank wires, VISA and Master Card, and cash. We accept payment only in U.S. dollars.
Does TIEP offer scholarships?
TIEP is unable to offer scholarships. TIEP is a private, non-profit organization and it does not receive government funds. TIEP works to provide a very high quality program of instruction at a very reasonable cost.
Is it possible to arrange a payment plan?
It is possible for students registering for at least 10 weeks of study to arrange for an installment payment plan for payment of tuition and fees. An additional fee ($100 - $150) is charged depending on the number of approved payments.
When do classes meet?
TIEP's intensive English classes meet four hours per day, five days a week, Monday through Friday. They begin at 8:30a.m. and finish at 12:30p.m. Students use the English Skills Center and labs for independent study in the afternoon.
Optional elective courses (including TOEFL Preparation and Conversation and Pronunciation Skills) are available in the afternoon.
Part-time evening courses meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Admission to TIEP
Is the TOEFL required for admission?
TOEFL is not required for admission.
Is there an age requirement?
TIEP students are 17 years of age or older (except for custom-designed programs for groups).
Program Information
When do classes meet?
TIEP's intensive English classes meet four hours per day, five days a week, Monday through Friday. They begin at 8:30a.m. and finish at 12:30p.m. Students can use the English Skills Center and labs for independent study in the afternoon.
Optional elective courses (including TOEFL Preparation and Conversation and Pronunciation Skills) are available in the afternoon.
Where do classes meet? What are the physical specifications of the building?
TIEP classes are held in a three-story building located at 1103 West 24th Street that serves as headquarters for the Texas International Education Consortium and also houses the Texas Intensive English Program. Classrooms and other areas of the building that students need to access are located on the first and second floors. The first floor is wheelchair accessible, but the second floor is not. Students need to be able to climb stairs to access the following facilities on the second floor: computer lab, student library, student lounge areas, vending machines, some classrooms, and some teacher offices.
Is there a placement test?
New students are placed in classes on the basis of their performance on the TIEP Placement Exam. The exam is administered during registration. It takes two hours and has five components: grammar, listening comprehension, reading comprehension, writing, and an oral interview. Students learn the results of the TIEP Placement Test on the first day of class when they receive their class schedules.
What is the class size?
The average class size is 12 students, with a maximum of 16 students per class.
What types of intensive English courses does TIEP offer?
TIEP offers beginning to low-intermediate English language instruction in one track (Foundations of English) and intermediate to advanced English language instruction in three tracks (English for Academic Purposes, English for Business and Careers, and English for Communication and Culture).
Does TIEP offer evening courses?
Yes. For details click here.
Does TIEP offer courses for children?
TIEP students must be at least 17 years old to enroll in regularly scheduled classes. It is possible to arrange a private tutorial for younger students with one of our highly qualified instructors.
Program Completion & University Placement
How long does it take to complete the program?
The amount of time a student spends studying at TIEP depends on many factors including the student's proficiency in English at the time of enrollment, reason for learning English, effort and motivation, personality, and second language learning ability. Returning students are placed in new classes based on the results of the TIEP Placement Exam, semester grades, and teacher recommendations. Students who make good progress (usually those whose final grades are As and Bs) usually advance two levels after a 15-week semester; for example, progressing from intermediate classes to advanced classes.
How long does it take for a student to be ready for university admission? How long does it take to "pass" the TOEFL?
Generally, it takes beginning students three semesters of study, intermediate students two semesters of study, and advanced students one semester of study to be ready to begin academic study at a U.S. college or university. Students who complete TIEP's highest academic preparation level have an average TOEFL score of 573 (IBT score 89) with 23% scoring above 600 (IBT score 100).
Do universities accept TIEP students without a TOEFL score?
The following Texas universities agree to waive the official TOEFL score requirement requirement for TIEP's advanced-level students who have successfully completed the TIEP program and who are seeking admission to their campuses:
- Angelo State University
- Austin Community College
- Lamar University
- Sam Houston State University
- St. Edward's University
- Stephen F. Austin State University
- Sul Ross State University
- Tarleton State University
- Texas A&M International University
- Texas A&M University - Commerce
- Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
- Texas A&M University - Kingsville
- Texas Woman's University
- The University of Texas-Pan American
- The University of Texas of the Permian Basin
- West Texas A&M University
If you would like to receive a free Study Guide to Texas Universities, click here.
Does TIEP offer conditional admission to some universities in the United States?
Yes. For details click here.
Does TIEP give the TOEFL and TOEIC tests?
TIEP offers Institutional TOEFL exams six times per year to enrolled students. One TOEFL exam is included in each semester's tuition and fees.
TIEP is an official TOEIC Test Center and offers the TOEIC Open Test twelve times per year.
What kinds of certificates are awarded?
Certificates of Successful Completion are awarded at the end of each session to qualifying students. Students with 100% attendance receive a Certificate of Perfect Attendance. Students with no grade lower than 'A' receive a Certificate of Academic Excellence.
Student Services
What types of housing are available? How will I find a place to live?
Dormitories, apartments, cooperatives, and homestays are available. Generally students make their own arrangements for housing. We can make housing arrangements for students prior to arrival for an additional fee. For details click here.
What kinds of out-of-class activities are available?
TIEP offers social and cultural activities including International Food Tasting, Student Talent Show, school picnic, Ice Cream Social, and holiday-related activities.
Austin also offers many annual events including Carnival Brasileiro, Capitol 10,000 marathon, Kite Festival, South by Southwest Music and Film Festival, Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo, Cinco de Mayo Celebration, Old Pecan Street Arts and Crafts Festival, Clarksville-West End Jazz and Arts Festival, July 4th Fireworks Display and Symphony Performance, Zilker Park Fall Jazz Festival, Halloween on Sixth Street, Great Taste of Austin, Victorian Christmas on Sixth Street, and the Holiday Trail of Lights.
Does TIEP offer health insurance?
Yes. TIEP offers health and accident insurance through HTH Worldwide Insurance Services. Students with nonimmigrant visa status must have health insurance during their study at TIEP. Students who have health insurance that will cover their medical expenses in the United States must bring proof of the insurance, in English, with them to registration. Students who do not have proof of insurance will need to purchase the comprehensive, health and accident insurance offered by TIEP through HTH Worldwide or a comparable insurance plan.
General Information about TIEP
Is TIEP accredited?
Yes. TIEP is fully accredited by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA) and agrees to uphold the CEA Standards for English Language Programs. CEA is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a reliable authority concerning the quality of education or training offered by the English language institutions and programs it accredits.
Where is TIEP located? How close is TIEP to the dormitories?
TIEP is located in the West Campus area of central Austin. Dormitories are within a five-minute to twenty-minute walk to TIEP. To see a map, click here. To view images of TIEP and Austin, click here.
Who are the teachers?
The TIEP faculty have native English speaking proficiency and master's or doctoral degrees in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), foreign language education, or closely related fields. Current faculty have an average of more than fifteen years of experience teaching English to speakers of other languages. Most of the faculty have studied and/or taught overseas and have traveled extensively.
What countries do TIEP students come from?
Students from 123 countries have studied at TIEP.
Students from approximately 25 countries enroll at TIEP each semester. The percentages of students from different regions of the world for the past two years are given below:
- 2% Africa
- 56% Asia East
- 3% Asia West, Central, and South
- 7% Central America and Mexico
- 3% Europe
- 21% Middle East
- 7% South America
- 1% North America
