English Pathway – Dukes Cambridge

Academic Content
Engage in 20 hours of focused academic study each week, led by an experienced tutor. Lessons combine interactive seminars with practical workshops, helping you deepen your subject knowledge while developing analytical and communication skills.

Time to Shine
Put your learning into practice through exciting group projects that culminate in the end-of-week Time to Shine Ceremony. Collaborate with your peers to research, create, and present ideas, showcasing your progress and confidence.

Fieldwork
Take your learning beyond the classroom with guided fieldwork. You’ll explore locations connected to your subject, carry out on-site research, and test your ideas through practical investigation. These sessions bridge theory and experience, helping you see how what you learn applies in context.

Dedicated Academic Coaching
Receive tailored academic coaching to support your pathway to university. Whether it’s refining your personal statement, improving presentation techniques, or developing your academic goals, these sessions provide personalised guidance to help you succeed.

English Language Development
Throughout the programme, you’ll have ongoing opportunities to enhance your English. Build vocabulary specific to your field, strengthen your writing, and develop the confidence to express ideas clearly in discussions and presentations — especially during your Time to Shine project.

Create and Launch a Magazine

In the first week, students become storytellers. Drawing on their experiences in the throughout the programme so far, they will produce a polished mini-publication — part magazine, part scientific journal — filled with articles, interviews, reflections, and creative insights inspired by the week’s discoveries.

Guided by expert tutors, students will master the art of editorial writing, teamwork, and visual design as they transform their research and reflections into a beautifully curated publication. The week culminates in a professional-style launch event where their finished work is unveiled and shared with the audience — a proud moment that turns English learners into confident communicators and ambassadors of the Challenge Lab.

Present Big Ideas for the Future

In the second week, students step into the spotlight to deliver an inspiring group presentation centred on the theme of “Big Ideas for the Future.” Working collaboratively, each student contributes a short but powerful segment — introducing a global challenge, proposing a creative solution, or offering a personal viewpoint on progress and innovation.

This experience mirrors the dynamic, collaborative energy of the Challenge Lab while refining students’ skills in formal academic English, persuasive speech, and confident delivery. By the end of the week, they will have mastered not just what to say, but how to say it — presenting with clarity, poise, and genuine insight. It’s an unforgettable opportunity to think boldly, speak confidently, and truly shine.

Fieldwork Research — Exploring English in the Heart of Cambridge

Step beyond the classroom and into the living language of Cambridge. In this immersive research project, students investigate how English shapes communication in the city — from the academic formality of university notices to the subtle nuances of cultural signage.

Students examine how tone, structure, and purpose shift across real examples of written English. Back in class, they compare these findings with their own writing, discovering how language adapts according to audience, context, and intention.

This is English in motion — a chance to see how meaning is crafted in the world’s most iconic academic city, and to understand how great communicators make every word count.

Strengthen Core Language Skills
Enhance your accuracy and fluency across reading, writing, listening, and speaking. You’ll build a solid foundation in both academic and practical English, gaining the confidence to use the language effectively in a variety of contexts.

Apply English in Realistic Contexts
Put your English skills into practice through engaging projects, discussions, and presentations. You’ll explore how English is used in education, the workplace, and daily communication, helping you apply your learning with purpose and confidence.

Develop Analytical and Critical Skills
Strengthen your ability to interpret texts, construct arguments, and assess information critically. These skills will help you think deeply, communicate clearly, and approach complex ideas with confidence in English.

Build Communication and Teamwork
Collaborate with international peers on group projects and presentations. You’ll refine your communication skills, learn to express ideas effectively, and gain experience working as part of a diverse and dynamic team.

Module 1: Academic English
Build the essential skills required for success in English-speaking academic settings. You’ll learn how to structure essays effectively, write with clarity and precision, and engage critically with academic texts — providing a strong foundation for future university-level study.

Module 2: Communication and Presentation
Enhance your spoken English through interactive debates, discussions, and presentations. You’ll work on pronunciation, fluency, and confidence, developing the ability to express your ideas clearly and persuasively in both formal and informal contexts.

Module 3: Creative and Practical English
Put your English skills into action through creative and applied projects such as journalism, storytelling, and other real-world writing tasks. These sessions encourage you to use language imaginatively and effectively, showing how English connects ideas across a range of disciplines and professions.