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International Programs

Online ESL Courses and Programs

Designed and taught by our creative and expert language teachers, these courses are fun and challenging. Improve your English language skills, gain confidence, and experience the U.S. culture from anywhere in the world.

Both Conversation and Conversation and Fluency are 100% live online for maximum interaction with classmates, UC San Diego Cultural Ambassadors, and the instructor.  Enjoy a cultural exchange from the comfort of your own home, have interesting discussions, and improve your fluency!

The online courses, Conversation and Conversation and Fluency, are not CEA-accredited.

Conversation and Fluency (10 hours/week)

Course Description

This program is designed for those students looking for an engaging virtual exchange experience. Students develop their conversation skills through a variety of fun lectures, discussions, group presentations, language games, and live interactions with UC San Diego Cultural Ambassadors. Special focus is placed on listening, speaking, vocabulary, and grammar. Through unique virtual field trips and activities, students explore San Diego and Southern California and experience US culture in a new way. All classes are live online.

Course Features

Level:  High-beginner to advanced
Hours: 10 hours per week, 40 hours total
Duration: 4 weeks
100% LIVE online instruction
Platform: Zoom; Canvas LMS

Dates and Price

Monday-Friday, 6-8 p.m. Pacific Time

2025 Dates:

  • March 3 - 27
  • July 7 - August 1 
  • August 4 - 29
  • September 2 - 26

Prices: 

  • Application fee: $50 USD
  • Tuition: $1,000 USD
  • 2024 International Student Service fee: $200 USD
  • 2025 International Student Service fee: $250 USD
  • Books and Materials: $50 - $75 USD
For all 2025 program dates and prices, visit the Dates and Prices page or download the 2025 Dates & Prices document. This document also lists the financial verification required for your program application if you need the Form I-20 for a student visa. 

Conversation and Fluency (15 hours/week)

Course Description

This program is designed for students who are looking for an engaging and robust virtual exchange experience with the plenty of opportunity to practice speaking English.  Students develop their conversation skills through a variety of fun lectures, discussions, group presentations, language games, and live interactions with UC San Diego Cultural Ambassadors. Special focus is placed on listening, speaking, vocabulary, and grammar. Through unique virtual field trips and activities, they explore San Diego and Southern California and experience U.S. culture in a new way. In addition to 10 hours of Conversation classes, students will also have a 5-hour per week pronunciation workshop, building their fluency, accuracy, and confidence through dynamic speaking activities. Working closely with our caring and expert instructors, they will identify the areas of pronunciation they most want to improve. Lessons are then customized to focus on targeted individual sounds, word and sentence stress, linking, and intonation. All classes are live online.

Course Features

Level:  High-beginner to advanced
Hours: 15 hours per week, 60 hours total
Duration: 4 weeks
100% LIVE online instruction
Platform: Zoom; Canvas LMS

Dates and Price

Monday-Friday, 6-9 p.m. Pacific Time

2025 Dates:

  • March 3 - 27
  • July 7 - August 1 
  • August 4 - 29
  • September 2 - 26

Prices:

  • Application fee: $50 USD
  • Tuition: $1,500 USD
  • 2024 International Student Service fee: $200 USD
  • 2025 International Student Service fee: $250 USD
  • Books and Materials: $50 - $75 USD

For all 2025 program dates and prices, visit the Dates and Prices page or download the 2025 Dates & Prices document. This document also lists the financial verification required for your program application if you need the Form I-20 for a student visa. 

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2025 Dates and Prices

View programs, dates, prices, and financial verification requirements.

Contact Us

Call
+858-534-6784

Email
ipinfo@ucsd.edu

Regular Mail Address
University of California San Diego
Division of Extended Studies
International Student Services, 0176D
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, CA 92093-0176
USA

Physical Location & Express Delivery
University of California San Diego
Division of Extended Studies
International Programs
8980 Villa La Jolla Drive - suite 380
La Jolla, CA 92037 USA
USA

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