Welcome to the Intensive English Institute
A Message From Our Director
The University of Maine values the presence of international students and recognizes the important role they play in the life of the university.
The Intensive English Institute (IEI) staff is familiar with the challenges of living, studying and working in a different culture or country and is committed to supporting each student with their English language learning and academic goals as well as providing enriching cultural experiences.
For over thirty years, the teachers and staff of the IEI have empowered hundreds of students of all ages and academic backgrounds with English instruction, opening doors to a US degree through our Maine Bridge Program, creating unique experiences for school groups and other organizations through our Custom Short Programs, fostering cross-cultural communication through our Conversation/Culture Partners Program, and exploring Maine through activities.
The UMaine Intensive English Institute offers an updated curriculum, assessment practices, and teaching methodologies inline with modern advances in the field of English Language acquisition and with the principles of research, innovation, and collaboration.
UMaine is one of New England’s premier universities. We help students create success stories — with a wide variety of programs and opportunities — and we do so with world-class faculty members, internationally recognized research, first-rate facilities, and a friendly, safe atmosphere located near some of the best year-round recreation sites in the nation.
I hope you will join us in scenic Orono, Maine soon to improve your English and make your academic dreams come true.
Christopher Richards
Interim Vice President for Enrollment Management
Our Mission
The University of Maine Intensive English Institute’s mission is to prepare students for success in academic study and offer opportunities for positive cross-cultural experiences in Maine and the United States. The IEI bridges students for whom English is not a first language into UMaine or prepares them for admission to other Institutes of higher learning. For students not wishing to matriculate into degree programs, the IEI provides the language support and cultural knowledge to achieve student’s educational or professional goals.
Core Intensive English Program Dates and Rates
| YEAR | 2020-2021 | ||||
| SESSION | Fall A | Fall B | Spring A | Spring B | Summer |
| Arrival Day | August 27 | October 22 | January 14 | March 18 | June 3 |
| Testing Day | August 28 | October 23 | January 15 | March 19 | June 4 |
| Orientation | August 28 | October 23 | January 15 | March 20 | June 4 |
| Class Start Date | August 31 | October 26 | January 19 | March 22 | June 7 |
| Class End Date | October 23 | December 18 | March 12 | May 7 | July 30 |
| Weeks of Instruction | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| IEI Tuition | $2,640 | $2,640 | $2,640 | $2,640 | $2,640 |
| UMaine Fees | $229 | $423 | $229 | $423 | $229 |