The Intensive English Program (IEP) is specially designed to help incoming AUC students improve their English as quickly as possible. Based on their TOEFL or ELPET scores, new students are placed in one of the following courses:

Intensive Intermediate English (ELIN98)
Intensive Advanced English (ELIN99)

Sections are small, with a maximum of 17 students each. Classes meet five hours per day, five days per week. Courses focus on a review of grammar, improvement of reading comprehension, essay writing, increasing vocabulary, study skills instruction, and listening and note taking practice. Integration of skill areas is stressed at all levels.

Grading is based on a pass/fail system. Undergraduates in the IEP may take up to a full calendar year (two semesters and a summer session) to reach the freshman English level.

The ELI's CALL lab (computer lab) is used by teachers to supplement course material, and students are encouraged to practice their skills through independent study during open access hours outside of class time. In addition, IEP students attend several special lectures given by AUC professors in various fields; give an oral presentation in their classes; and contribute articles, essays, stories, etc., to the IEP student magazine, ELIte, which is published each semester.