Maryland English Institute (MEI)

3117 Susquehanna Hall
Phone: 301-405-8634
Fax: 301-314-9462
mei@umd.edu
http://mei.umd.edu

Interim Director: Jon Malone

The mission of Maryland English Institute (MEI) is to provide English language instruction and assessment at the postsecondary level for speakers of other languages who wish to learn English for academic, professional, or personal reasons. MEI fulfills its mission by providing:

  • a full-time, multi-level Intensive English Program
  • part-time courses for matriculated University of Maryland students
  • courses for international teaching assistants
  • assessment of oral communication skills of international teaching assistants
  • custom-designed programs for UMD constituents and external organizations

MEI offers rigorous courses of study while providing a positive and supportive learning community and promoting cross-cultural understanding.

Two regular instructional programs are offered for admitted and prospective undergraduate and graduate students who are non-native speakers of English: a bridge program for admitted students and a full-time intensive program for admitted students or independent applicants who do not have UMD admission.

Bridge Program: Advanced English as a Foreign Language (UMEI005): This course is open only to students who are admitted to the University of Maryland. Before entering the course, students should already have earned one of the following minimum standardized English test scores:  6.5 on IELTS, 84 on iBT TOEFL or 110 on the Duolingo English Test (DET). Students who are admitted as bridge program students are expected to enroll in UMEI005 in their first semester and must pass the course within one year in order to become fully admitted. UMEI005 course sections usually meet four days per week, two hours per day. The program is designed to strengthen the language skills necessary for academic work at the University of Maryland. Undergraduates may enroll in two additional courses totaling eight credits at maximum while they are enrolled in UMEI005. The course is weighted at six credits, but these credits are not applicable to the university degree for UMEI005.

Intensive English Program (UMEI011-UMEI013): This full-time English language program is open to non-native speakers who wish to improve their English for academic, professional or personal reasons.

Students may be admitted to the Intensive English Program in two ways:

  1. as a result of the University of Maryland's admissions process for degree programs, or
  2. through independent application directly to MEI.

There are three intensive English sessions per year: one for fall semester, one for spring, and a seven-week session in the summer. Each consists of approximately 18 hours of instruction weekly. The intensive program offers varied levels of instruction with the opportunity to choose from several electives for part of the program. Interested students should contact MEI directly for further information before applying.

For independent applicants to MEI, satisfactory completion of the intensive program does not guarantee acceptance into UMD degree programs. Students who already have UMD admission when they enroll at MEI will matriculate into degree programs when they successfully complete the required courses.

Tuition remission cannot be applied to MEI courses.