Why choose the IELI to study English? 

At the IELI at the University of North Texas you can:

• Be admitted to UNT without a TOEFL or IELTS score;
• Take university courses for credit while studying English;
• Develop the academic English skills you need to be successful at the university;
• Live in a quiet, friendly college town with a warm, sunny climate!

Top Location

UNT is located in Denton, Texas, a safe and affordable college town of about 100,000 people.  Denton is:

• 45 minutes from downtown Dallas, TX
• 45 minutes from downtown Fort Worth, TX
• 3 hours 30 minutes from Austin, TX

Denton’s quiet, small town locale makes it a great place to study, while its proximity to the large, dynamic cities of Dallas and Fort Worth provide endless possibilities for fun outings and internship opportunities.

About the University of North Texas

Ranking and reputation. Established in 1890, the University of North Texas is one of largest public research universities in the U.S and has received many extraordinary titles and rankings including:

• Tier 1 Research University The Carnegie Classification
• America’s Top College Forbes, 8 consecutive years
• Best in the West College The Princeton Review
• #3 Logistics and Supply Chain Management program in the U.S.
• #4 Computer Science degree program in the U.S. for best annual return on investment
• #1 Education Counseling program in Texas and #4 in the nation
• The first Jazz Studies program in the world

Areas of study. The University of North Texas offers 101 bachelor’s, 82 master’s and 38 doctoral degree programs in 11 colleges including:

• Engineering (Electrical, Computer Science, Information Technology, Materials Science, and more)
• Business (Accounting, Business Analytics, Economics, Finance, Logistics, and more)
• Music (Composition, Jazz Studies, Choral and Instrumental, and more)
• Education (Counseling, Education Psychology, Teacher Education, and more)
• Merchandising, Hospitality, and Tourism

Student population.  Approximately 38,000 students pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of North Texas, including over 2,500 international students from more than 100 countries.

International students are appreciated and welcome at UNT!

About the Intensive English Language Institute (IELI)

Established in 1977, the IELI has a 40-year record of success with helping language learners reach their academic, professional, and personal goals.   The IELI is a premier, fully-accredited intensive English program because of its rigorous academic standards and highly qualified, dedicated and experienced instructors and staff.

Faculty and Quality:

• All IELI instructors have a master’s or PhD in English as a Second Language (TESOL) or a related field
• IELI instructors and administrators have extensive ESL/EFL experience overseas and in the U.S.
• The IELI was one of the first programs accredited by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA) in 2000 and was recently reaccredited until 2025

Academic Program:

• 7 levels of proficiency:  beginner through advanced
• 20 hours of instruction per week divided into two main courses:
  • Communication class:  listening, speaking, reading, and vocabulary
  • Writing class:  grammar, writing, library research
• Concurrent enrollment in undergraduate and graduate UNT courses in level 6 for qualified students
• Five 8-week terms per year with start dates in January, March, June, August or October

Student Services and Cultural Program:

The IELI Student Services Coordinator helps students settle in and adapt to life in the U.S. by assisting with:

• Airport pick-up
• Finding housing
• Dining options
• Academic advising
• Events & field trips such as:
  • Conversation partners
  • Lake Lewisville boat cruise
  • The Stockyards in Fort Worth
  • American Thanksgiving Party

Value:

• Conditional admission to UNT: IELI graduation meets the English proficiency requirement for admission to UNT (No TOEFL or IELTS required)

• Small classes:  Average size of 12 students per class
• Automatic Placement Option: Students with TOEFL scores over 50 or IELTS scores over 5.5 can directly place into IELI upper levels
• Access to all UNT services and facilities
• Low cost of living in Texas:  The cost of living in Texas is much lower compared to the cost of living in cities on the east and west coast of the U.S.

Source: From www.numbeo.com and Livingwage.mit.edu