This study investigated how the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) skills students learnt at an English language centre enhanced their further academic study at an English-medium institution (EMI) university in China and a university in the U.K. Participants included students and teachers from a variety of academic departments at the two universities. Research methods consisted of questionnaires and interviews. The results revealed respondents’ perceptions of students’ strengths and weaknesses in EAP skills in their academic study. The findings suggested that the majority of students perceived that EAP skills are transferable to other modules and helpful to their academic study. However, there are also some differences between the EMI context in China and the university in the U.K., including class pace, communication skills, and use of L1. Areas for further improvement include accent recognition and encouraging students’ western way of thinking in order for better transition to their further academic study.