Higher Education With Kaplan International
University Experience Year
Kaplan’s Academic Gap Year
Learn more University Experience Year
Learn more Learn English and study at an American university
Kaplan’s University Experience Year is designed to introduce you to life in a real American university. Over 32 weeks you will build advanced fluency in English, strengthen your critical and analytical thinking skills, gain in-depth experience of a real-life English-speaking academic environment, and achieve valuable academic credits from one of our prestigious American university partners.
You’ll divide your time between fine-tuning your English fluency and studying one of a fascinating range of university courses.
After Kaplan’s University Experience Year, you’ll be more than ready to reach for your goals – you’ll be on your way there.
Your University Experience
Simplified Admissions
With a Kaplan University Experience year, you’ll only need to apply for your I-20 visa once.
The power of immersion
Using your new English skills as you study alongside American students, you’ll build lasting confidence, independence and self-belief.
Specialized language training
You will achieve the advanced fluency you need to successfully write essays, join debates and deliver presentations in English.
Transferrable credits
Gain 3 – 6 credits from an American university, which can be used to support a future application to a degree.
Three Prestigious Universities
Choose from a range of subjects at one of three highly prestigious universities, each located close to your Kaplan English school.
Kaplan's Partner Universities
UC Berkeley
UC Santa Barbara
Pace University
George Washington University
In the 1960s, Berkeley was a focal point of hippie culture and the Civil Rights Movement, and it’s still a magnet for scholars, idealists and philosophers whose ideas challenge the mainstream.
Highlights
- The world’s number one public university according to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges guide.
- Eight Nobel Prizes and four Pulitzer Prizes are held by current faculty members.
- Berkeley’s libraries hold over 12 million books – one of the largest collections in the USA.
* You can study Kaplan's University Experience Year with UC Berkeley in our schools in Berkeley and San Francisco
Key Dates
With six Nobel Prize winners and 34 members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences on staff, UCSB is ranked within the top five American public universities, and globally recognised as a tier-one research institution.
Highlights
- 10 national research centers on-site, including the Kavli Insititute for Theoretical Physics and the Materials Research Laboratory.
- Ranked fifth among all public universities in the USA, by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges guide.
- Rated within the top 50 universities worldwide by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the Shanghai Rankings.
* You can study Kaplan's University Experience Year with UC Santa Barbara in our school in Santa Barbara
Key Dates
Since its foundation in 1906, Pace has placed student opportunity at the heart of its academic mission. Alongside its commitment to excellence in teaching, the university provides one of the largest internship programs in the New York metropolitan area, with thousands of placements available at industries including business, entertainment, government and technology.
Highlights
- Ranked within Payscale.com’s top 9% of US universities for salary potential.
- Almost 90% of faculty members hold a PhD.
- All Pace University degree programs are registered with the New York State Education Department.
* You can study Kaplan's University Experience Year with PACE University in our school in New York
Key Dates
Inspired by its location in the heart of modern American politics, GW seeks to empower its students to make a difference in the world. Committed to ideals of civic engagement, the university treats the whole city of Washington D.C as an extension of the classroom, hosting seminars in the U.S Capitol, the Newseum, the Kennedy Center and beyond. Alongside a stimulating intellectual environment on-site, GW encourages its students’ personal and professional growth through an extensive internship program, with opportunities in government, media, the arts and more.
Highlights
- George Washington University is the largest institution of Higher Education in Washington D.C.
- 450+ student organizations, including groups focused on careers, arts and philanthropy.
- The university provides an extensive careers service, including twice-yearly Career Fairs attended by over 120 companies.
* You can study Kaplan's University Experience Year with George Washington University in our school in Washington D.C.
Key Dates
Course Overview
32 weeks
Pre-sessional English Classes
If your proficiency in English has not yet reached Intermediate, choose a package of pre-sessional English classes before your first semester begins
Semester 1
English training and orientation
Intensive English training will help you reach the advanced proficiency you need to thrive in an English-speaking academic setting. You’ll receive specialist preparation for your college classes, including tours of the campus, and help completing the enrolment process.
Our university partners recognize our English levels. You’ll begin college classes with the equivalent of TOEFL level 80 or above, but you won’t have to sit a separate TOEFL exam as part of the application process.
Break
Study Break for 3 weeks
After a semester of intensive English training, you’ll reach the required level of English proficiency to begin college classes.
Semester 2
Kaplan Advanced Classes
Fine-tune your English skills with a range of English course options, including working towards Proficiency English, test preparation classes for TOEFL or iGrad, and English for Academic Purposes.
Credit Bearing Course
Attend credit-bearing classes in your chosen subject, alongside American college students at your selected institution.
How does it work?
Kaplan's University Experience Year offers you world-class English language training alongside tailored academic support. We'll help you navigate the American college experience with ease.
What to expect
Semester 1
Intensive English Training
26.25 hours of intensive English tuition, including Specific Skills sessions and access to K+.
Orientation
Orientation sessions include a campus tour of your chosen institution, a walking tour of the city, and group seminars on the US classroom experience.
Admission counselling
Individual guidance to help you through the process of choosing your credit-bearing course and enrolling at your chosen institution, including assistance with application forms and help meeting deadlines.
Semester 2
Advanced English
Fine-tune your English skills with a range of English course options, including Working towards Proficiency English, test preparation classes for TOEFL or iGrad, and English for Academic Purposes.
Academic support
Personal support to ensure you get the most out of your studies, including help with the vocabulary of your course subject, guidance on academic writing and lecture comprehension, and project coaching.
Academic credentials
By the end of your course not only will you gain a Kaplan certificate to testify to your achievement in English (accepted in lieu of a TOEFL score by several universities around the world) you can also gain 3 – 6 credits from our partner university.
* Each week you receive
20 English lessons (15 hours)
Master difficult grammatical structures, fine-tune your pronunciation, read complex texts and build a large working vocabulary.
8 specific skills sessions (6 hours)
Eliminate your weaknesses, explore your interests or prepare to achieve the qualifications you need.
7 K+ sessions (5.25 hours)
Our exclusive K+ Online and K+ Online Extra materials help you reinforce progress made in class and provide instant feedback, while our teacher-led K+ Learning Clubs allow you to socialize and practice your language skills at the same time.
What to expect
Simplified admissions
When you choose Kaplan’s University Experience Year, you’ll benefit from world class tuition without having to go through the highly competitive admissions process. You won’t need to sit any additional tests to begin your college classes: your Kaplan certificate will be accepted in lieu of a TOEFL score.
Your college transcript
When you complete your University Experience Year, you will receive a transcript from a prestigious American university, recording your classes, grades, and credit hours. If you’re planning to take an undergraduate degree in the US or Canada, you can use your transcript both to support your application, and to count towards your eventual degree.
Enrolment requirements
The credit bearing course fees range from $281 to $1,690 per credit. This amount might vary depending on the university partners and the course availability, alongside other additional fees that might apply per institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Our University Placement Service offers personalized guidance to help you find the right subject and university, along with practical help and advice throughout the application process. You’ll receive a Conditional Letter of Acceptance from your chosen institution, and our free English pre-arrival test and study plan will help you understand the requirements and prepare you to meet them.
There is no need for F1 students to return to their home country between the end of the University Experience Year program and transitioning to a university if:
- The transfer I-20 is requested no more than 60 days after you complete your University Experience Year.
- There is no more than a five-month gap between the completion of your University Experience Year and enrolling as a university student.
You can take one college class for three credits, or two classes for six credits. All credits are transferrable.
No. You do not need to take the TOEFL test to begin your course or to progress to your university extension school. If you wish to progress to continue your studies after your University Experience Year, your Kaplan certificate will be accepted in lieu of a TOEFL score by many partner universities in the Kaplan’s University Placement Service network.
Applications to universities outside of the UPS networks typically require an English test score from an external provider.
We’re so confident in our teaching methods that we’ll make you a promise. Provided you meet all attendance and study requirements, you will reach the equivalent of TOEFL 80 in time for your college classes– or we’ll offer four weeks of extra tuition, free.
If you are not able to start your credit bearing course, we will assess how much of the additional University Experience Year services you have benefited from and discuss with you how we can help you reach your English proficiency goals.
No, payment for the credit bearing course will be made directly to the university before your second semester begins. The exact price will depend on your chosen university extension school, your selected course and the number of credits you take.
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