ELI Accommodations and Facilities

Building - B.B. Comer Hall

The ELI is located in the heart of the campus in B.B. Comer Hall, which is situated just across the street from the Ferguson Student Center (containing the UA cafeteria and food court, bookstore, post office, and theater). Follow this link to see a campus map.

Classrooms

The classrooms at the ELI are equipped with technology and designed for classes with a small number of students.

Study Center

The Study Center has tutors, computers, printers, books, software and DVDs to help you improve your English skills.

Recreation Center

ELI students have full use of UA’s Student Recreation Center, which is complete with modern exercise equipment, a swimming pool, and basketball, racquetball, and volleyball courts. ELI students may also use the UA tennis courts, soccer fields, Aquatic Center, and golf course.

Housing

Students at the English Language Institute may choose to live in University residence halls on the University of Alabama campus or in off-campus housing, such as private apartments. Living on campus in University residence halls is convenient because it gives ELI students excellent opportunities to interact with American students and to participate in campus activities.

Meals

Students who would like to eat their meals on campus in University dining halls may purchase weekly meal plans or simply pay for each meal separately. Students who live in housing with kitchen facilities may, of course, choose to prepare their own meals at home.

Transportation

Free, continuous bus service makes it easy and convenient for students to get around the large UA campus.

Student Health Center

The Student Health Center is conveniently located on campus and provides medical care for all UA students, including ELI students. The University of Alabama requires all international students to have medical insurance while in the U.S. Upon arrival at the English Language Institute, students must show proof of adequate coverage or purchase medical insurance when registering for classes.

Libraries and Computer Centers

There are five libraries on the University of Alabama campus: main (serving the humanities, social sciences, and arts), business, science and engineering, education, and law. A number of student computer laboratories are also conveniently located on campus, some of which remain open 24 hours per day.

Location and Climate

The University of Alabama is located on a large, beautiful campus in Tuscaloosa, a friendly city of 100,000 people. Tuscaloosa is just one hour away by car, bus or train from Birmingham, the largest city in Alabama. Other nearby cities include Atlanta, Georgia (3 hours), Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee (4 hours), and New Orleans, Louisiana (4.5 hours). Gulf of Mexico beaches are also nearby (4.5 hours). Because of its location, Alabama enjoys a relatively warm climate most of the year. Summer is hot, winter is mild, and spring and fall are warm and filled with colorful flowers and trees.