The English Program at SAIS concentrates on developing communication and research skills at the Advanced level. English courses are offered for students whose native language is not English and who did not pass the English proficiency examinations at the beginning of their first semester at SAIS. In addition, the courses assist students in composing advanced academic prose and in managing advanced classroom listening and speaking challenges at SAIS.

In addition to English classes to develop competence for the proficiency exams, SAIS offers post-proficiency course work for those wishing to further develop listening, speaking, reading, writing and research skills. SAIS English teaching assistants offer editing aid for student writers, and Language Technology Center resources supplement aural/oral skills for the SAIS community.