The Rice University Intensive English Program is open to non-native speakers of English who have a serious desire to improve their language skills. This challenging ESL program is useful to working professionals and to students preparing for university study or professional programs. Students from more than 90 countries have attended the ESL program at Rice, located in Houston, Texas. The program has been offered since 1978.

The Intensive English Program offers six sessions yearly. Each session lasts seven weeks. In one year, ESL students should be able to progress through the six-level core program. Classes meet four hours daily, five days per week.

The course of study is based on an integrated skills approach with listening, speaking, reading, writing and grammar components. Fluency and accuracy in both spoken and written English are emphasized. Classes average ten students. The small class size allows each participant a maximum amount of individual attention and an opportunity to develop conversational skills.

Intensive English classes at any specific level, beginning through advanced, will depend on sufficient enrollment. Students must be open to accepting a morning (8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) or afternoon schedule (1:00-5:00 p.m.) as assigned by the Director.