Teaching English at the tertiary level presents its own challenges for English teachers. As one of the compulsory
courses, English is one of the courses in both English and non-English study programs, such as the one at the
University of Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU). Particularly for non-English study programs, learning
English is regulated based on the specificity of the English learners or students. Lecturers have the responsibility
to determine the material according to the needs of their students. English learning which is focused on the need
of the learners/students commonly known as English for Specific Purpose (ESP). By using a qualitative approach
and descriptive method, this study aims to describe lecturer’s perception on the students’ need of ESP at
non-English study program. Sources of data in this study were 7 (seven) English teachers from non-English study
programs at UMSU. By using a qualitative descriptive method, the data were collected by using questionnaires
and interview. The results showed that according to the lecturer’s perception, the students' needs have inequality
in learning English based on dif erences in their respective fields of knowledge. The students’ average ability in
English, the skills needed by the students, and the students’ learning objectives are factors used to describe the
students’ need of ESP course. Based on the students’ English ability, the average ability of students is at the
middle / lower level, speaking and listening skills are skills that need to be learned, and their learning objectives
are divided into two criteria, short-term goals related to current needs such as academic/educational needs and
long-term goals related to their world of work later.
