Type of courses offered | Who can enrol? | How much does a course cost? | How and when do I enrol?
Type of courses offered
Self study learning paths for B1 and B2 general English
These guided self-study learning paths use
- the BBC Learning English online courses;
- additional materials, integrated with the BBC courses, consisting of:
- grammar tests to check your understanding of the grammar in the BBC units studied
- short writing tasks, which are corrected by your tutor
- speaking tasks (recorded), which your tutor will give you feedback on
- links to extra exercises
- listening and reading tests, similar to those in the CLA language exams
- tutoring on Zoom to talk with your tutor
Structure of the courses
LEVEL B1
The B1 learning path will take approximately 90 hours to complete and includes:
- 40 units of the low intermediate and intermediate BBC Learning English courses
- a grammar test after every three units
- 4 writing tasks
- 4 speaking tasks
- 4 test listening and reading tests
- 4 meetings with your tutor to discuss the course and your preparation for the B1 language exam.
LEVEL B2
The B2 learning path will take approximately 110 hours to complete and includes:
- 47 units of the intermediate and upper intermediate BBC Learning English courses
- a grammar test after every three units
- 5 writing tasks
- 5 speaking tasks
- 5 test listening and reading tests
- 5 meetings with your tutor to discuss the course and your preparation for the B1 language exam.
It is necessary to pass the test at the end of each module to access the following module. Tests can be repeated as many times as necessary.
Admission Requirements
Before enrolling you need to take the online placement test and achieve a result that allows you to access a course of at least level B1a (for the B1 self-study learning path) or level B2a (for the B2 self-study learning path).
Specialist English for Engineering online course
The course takes place entirely online, with no fixed hours. Students can complete the activities that they choose, at a time that suits them.
The course is aimed at students from the Departments of Industrial Engineering and Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering who are preparing for the B2 specialist English exam for engineering students that is required for the Bachelor’s degree, some Master’s degrees, and for the 5-year degree in Building Engineering and Architecture, but who do not feel it necessary to attend a course to improve their speaking skills, or who are unable to attend one this semester.
The English for Engineering course, whether Self Study or blended, offers flexibility to meet the diverse needs of engineering students, including:
- Working on specific skills
- Improving grammar and vocabulary
- Completing simulations of different types of exercise included in the test
The course is also useful for all engineering students who wish to improve their knowledge of English used in the field of engineering, whether for study purposes or for professional reasons.
Structure of the course
The Self Study course is offered in both semesters, using the same material.
Students will find materials to develop their
- Listening Skills
- Reading Skills
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
- Writing Skills
as well as
- Exam Listening Practice
- Exam Reading Practice
- Writing Tasks
Students can assess their level in relation to the level of the B2 specialist English test for engineering students by completing Exam Practice Listening and Reading exercises, and Writing Tasks.
Students are supported in their online work by a teacher, who corrects exercises and provides personalized advice on which materials to use. Most exercises are corrected automatically, giving the student a good degree of independence.
Students should be aware that going from B1 to B2 level is estimated to take approximately 200 hours of guided study and should plan the time they spend on the course accordingly.
Students who are interested in attending the course with classroom lessons to develop speaking skills can enrol for the blended B2 specialist English for Engineering course.
Further information is available at the following link: Specialist English for Engineering blended courses for levels B2
Admission Requirements
To enrol in the B2 specialist English for Engineering course students must possess a B1 level, or have achieved a result on the CLA placement test that gives access to a B2a course.
Students who obtained their B1 level on the university admission test should be aware that this tests only the passive skills of listening and reading. Students whose writing or speaking skills are not up to B1 level are recommended to take a B1 course before proceeding to a B2 course.
Who can enrol?
- students at Trento University
- students following single courses who have to pass a language exam
- doctoral students at Trento University
- postgraduate students at Trento University
- students at the Music Conservatory in Trento
- technicians, administrative personnel, students on scholarships, researchers and lecturers at Trento University
People from outside the university and from organisations affiliated with Trento University can access the online courses only if they are already attending a language course at the CLA.
How much does a course cost?
Self study learning paths for B1 and B2 general English:
- €20
Specialist English course for engineering:
- Free: for students who need to pass the B2 exam in their study plan on Esse3
- €50 for students who need to pass the B2 exam in their study plan on Esse3 but who have already enrolled on another B2a or B2 blended course, for other students of the University, and for doctoral students.
- €100: for technical and administrative staff, researchers and academic staff of the University.
How and when do I enrol?
When to Enroll
- ⚠ Enrollment suspension for the Christmas holidays: from December 17, 2025 to January 6, 2026 inclusive.
How to Enroll
For external users / entities affiliated with the University of Trento, before registering you must:
- register for the services of the University Language Centre by filling out the online application. You must have an Italian tax code;
- wait for an email from the CLA Office (within 5 working days of submission) with instructions on how to access U-GOV CLA, take the placement test, and/or register for courses.
In order to enrol online you have to click on U-Gov CLA and log on using your university username and password:
| U-Gov CLA |
Access to the courses
Within one week of enrollment, the CLA Secretary's Office will send you an email confirmation containing the procedure for accessing the course.
Access to self-study courses (both general language and specialist) is active for 9 months from the date of receiving the enrollment confirmation email.