Academic Research and Communication Skills (ARCS)

Statement to support the introduction of Academic Research and Communication Skills (ARCS)

(Replacing English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and Inquiry and Research Skills (IRS))

The new Academic Research and Communication Skills (ARCS) module has been created by merging the current English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and Inquiry and Research Skills (IRS) modules into a single, integrated 30-credit module. This change represents an enhancement to the existing provision in academic and language standards.

1. A coherent and authentic preparation for undergraduate study

In undergraduate programmes, academic language use and research skills are inseparable: students are expected to read critically, evaluate sources, construct arguments, write assignments, and present ideas in academic English at the same time as they conduct inquiry and research.

ARCS integrates English language development, academic literacy and research practice through a discipline-relevant teaching culminating in a research-based project. This mirrors the way students are required to work at undergraduate level and prepares them effectively for the demands of degree study.

2. Academic literacy embedded in authentic assessment

Academic literacy is formally embedded within the programme and counts towards students’ offers for progression, reflecting the reality that success at university depends on academic communication and research competence, not only test-based language proficiency.

The ARCS grading scale is aligned to IELTS equivalence (for example, 70% corresponds to IELTS Band 7), ensuring that outcomes remain transparent, benchmarked, and comparable to recognised English language standards.

3. Continued compliance with English language requirements

ARCS fully meets—and strengthens—the requirements currently met by EAP as an alternative to an external English Language Qualification. The module explicitly develops and assesses:

Academic reading, writing, listening and speaking
Discipline-specific academic conventions
The ability to synthesise sources and communicate ideas
Research-based academic communication in written, spoken and multimodal format

4. Clear alignment with undergraduate expectations

The ARCS module assesses students in all four skills through discipline specific and integrated authentic tasks. It culminates in a research-based project with written, spoken and visual outputs (e.g. conference-style poster and presentation). This reflects the types of tasks students will encounter in their degree programmes and allows admissions teams and faculties to have confidence that students have demonstrated these skills.

In summary, ARCS is an integrated and coherent module which maintains the function of EAP as an equivalent English Language Qualification while providing a more meaningful and relevant preparation for undergraduate study.

For further information about our 2026/27 refreshed curriculum, please click hereLink opens in a new window.