Our Online Pre-sessional English Course is designed for International applicants who have been offered a place on a higher education course for the upcoming academic year, but need to improve their existing English skills in preparation for studying at a UK university.
We offer three options depending on your incoming English language score.
Delivered as a twelve-week programme, eight-week or six-week programme, our course will enable you to boost your understanding of English language while also learning key academic skills for higher education study. Throughout the course, you will receive frequent feedback and support to help you progress.
Each online course is predominantly self-study, but you will have some live teaching each week. You will be taught by highly qualified and experienced EAP lecturers and will not only learn the language but also the study skills to help you succeed in the course you have applied for. In addition to the language sessions, you will also be offered personal, pastoral tutorials. The course includes a blend of videos, personal tutorials and independent study tasks, as well as working collaboratively with lecturers and other students around the world through video conferencing.
University College Birmingham will accept the Online Pre-Sessional English course certificates as proof of your level of English. If you wish to study elsewhere after this course, it is recommended that you check whether your chosen institution will accept this certificate.
Note: this course is intended to help you improve your academic English skills in preparation for studying on a UK university course – it is not intended for people who simply wish to improve their general English Language skills.
If you do not pass the pre-sessional English course then you will not be able to progress onto your main course for that intake - you will need to work on your English skills and reapply for a later intake. Third-party English examinations will not be accepted in place of not progressing in your pre-sessional English course.
Why should I choose this course?
- BOOST YOUR SKILLS – Develop your English language skills and key academic skills, from essay writing and referencing to presentations, time management and reading strategies
- EXPERT TUITION – You will have the opportunity to work collaboratively online with experienced English language lecturers through video conferencing
- FLEXIBLE ONLINE LEARNING – Work through tasks online at your own pace, and at a time to suit you
Course breakdown
Your course will be split into four blocks made up of different modules as shown below:
- Pre-Sessional English Course
Modules
Block One: Getting Started
Unit 1: Differences in academic culture Study tips; modes of lesson delivery (lecture, seminar, etc. and their key differences) Unit 2 - Time management skills Prioritising tasks; using planners to manage time Unit 3: Understanding assignment briefs and tasks Analysing assignment briefs; understanding key words; developing ideas Unit 4: Reflection Individual SWOT analysis; peer review techniques; feedback and feedforward – reflecting on portfolio tasks End of block task (unlocks Block Two)
Block Two: Recording Information
Unit 5: Academic grammar and style Verb tenses, passive voice, noun phrases and relative clauses Unit 6: Listening to Lectures Note structures; symbols and abbreviations; recognising signposting in lectures; using introductions to structure notes; recognising supporting arguments and different positions Unit 7: Reading strategies The SQ3R reading model; predicting content; skimming, scanning and reading for detail; using topic sentences to identify ideas; making critical choices when reading; evaluating sources End of block task (unlocks Block Three)
Block Three: Using Information
Unit 8: Referencing at University College Birmingham Harvard referencing conventions; identifying plagiarism Unit 9: Presentation skills Preparing for presentations; signposting in presentations Unit 10: Paraphrasing and summarising Paraphrasing techniques – sentence and paragraph level; identifying key information and summarising texts Unit 11: Essay writing Different essay structures; essays vs. reports; University College Birmingham format conventions Unit 12: Introductions Structuring effective introductions; useful expressions/signposting Unit 13: Paragraphs Paragraph structure; writing effective topic sentences; cohesive devices in writing Unit 14: Conclusions Structuring effective conclusions; useful expressions/signposting Unit 15: Discussions Participating in a seminar discussion; language for agreeing and disagreeing; language for giving explanations and rephrasing; referring to sources when speaking End of block task (unlocks Block Four)
Block Four: Looking Forward
Unit 16: Using Grammarly Setting up and getting the most out of Grammarly; proofreading checklist Unit 17: Course review and final practice activities Review of key skills; additional listening and reading practice Unit 18: Support at University College Birmingham Details of wider support at University College Birmingham; useful links
The intensive learning prepared me well for better learning on my course. Besides learning advanced English, I was introduced to the patterns involved in assignments in semester one – for example, understanding literature review, matrix and citations.
Entry requirements
Online Pre-sessional (12 weeks)
IELTS and IELTS Indicator
Overall score of 4.5 with no less than 4.0
UCB English Proficiency Test
Overall score of B1 with no less than B1
TOEFL iBT & TOEFL iBT Home
Overall 54 (R4, L9, S16, W15)
Language Cert SELT
Language Cert SELT B1, Overall 39, with no less than 33
Language Cert International ESOL
Language Cert International ESOL B1, Overall Pass, with no less than 25.
PTE Academic / UKVI (including Online)
Overall 43, with no less than 43
Password English Test (including Password Skills Plus Test)
Overall 4.5, with no less than 4.0
To apply for the Online Pre-Sessional English Course, you are also required to have applied for an undergraduate or postgraduate course for the upcoming intake.
Online Pre-sessional (8 weeks)
IELTS and IELTS Indicator
Overall score of 5.0 with no less than 4.5
UCB English Proficiency Test
Overall score of B1+ with no less than B1
TOEFL iBT & TOEFL iBT Home
Overall 64 (R14, L15, S19, W16)
Language Cert SELT
Language Cert SELT B1, Overall 45, with no less than 40
Language Cert International ESOL
Language Cert International ESOL B1, Overall High Pass, with no less than 25
PTE Academic / UKVI (including Online)
Overall 53, with no less than 50
Password English Test (including Password Skills Plus Test)
Overall 5.0, with no less than 4.5
To apply for the Online Pre-Sessional English Course, you are also required to have applied for an undergraduate or postgraduate course for the upcoming intake.
Online Pre-Sessional (6 weeks)
IELTS and IELTS Indicator
Overall score of 5.5 with no less than 5.0
UCB English Proficiency Test
Overall score of B2- with no less than B1+
TOEFL iBT & TOEFL iBT Home
Overall 68 (R14, L15, S19, W16)
Language Cert SELT
Language Cert SELT B2; Overall 33, no less than 33
Language Cert International ESOL
Language Cert International ESOL B2; Overall Pass, with no less than 25
PTE Academic / UKVI (including Online)
Overall 55, with no less than 50
Password English Test (including Password Skills Plus Test)
Overall 5.5, with no less than 5.0
To apply for the Online Pre-Sessional English Course, you are also required to have applied for an undergraduate or postgraduate course for the upcoming intake.
For any queries, please get in touch with us:
International applicants
- By phone: +44 121 232 4458
- By fax: +44 121 604 1166
EU applicants
- By phone: +44 121 604 1040
Key information
Teaching and assessment
Online Pre-sessional (12 weeks)
Teaching
The course is predominantly self-study, but you will also need to attend weekly sessions with lecturers. Teaching is task-based and communicative in approach. It is delivered wholly online via Canvas, University College Birmingham’s online learning platform. Students will be expected to attend 96 hours of live online sessions across the course. Sessions will be made up of a variety of tasks, including:
- Lecture listening tasks
- Seminar and presentation tasks
- Groupwork
- Research tasks
- Academic reading tasks
- Academic writing tasks
- Pastoral tutorials
Assessment
You will be assessed in each language skill: listening, reading, writing and speaking. The assessments will be broken down into the following areas:
- Listening – an exam including comprehension tasks, a PowerPoint note-taking task and a lecture note-taking task with a summary,
- Reading – an exam including reading comprehension tasks, abstracts and critical reading tasks, and a note-taking and summary task,
- Writing – a 1000-word discursive essay based on written and audio materials (80%), with the final 20% coming from the summary produced in the reading exam
- Speaking – an online group seminar (80%) plus a narrated PowerPoint presentation (20%)
Online Pre-sessional (8 weeks)
Teaching
The course is predominantly self-study, but you will also need to attend weekly sessions with lecturers. Teaching is task-based and communicative in approach. It is delivered wholly online via Canvas, University College Birmingham’s online learning platform. Students will be expected to attend 64 hours of live online sessions across the course. Sessions will be made up of a variety of tasks, including:
- Lecture listening tasks
- Seminar and presentation tasks
- Groupwork
- Research tasks
- Academic reading tasks
- Academic writing tasks
- Pastoral tutorials
Assessment
You will be assessed in each language skill: listening, reading, writing and speaking. The assessments will be broken down into the following areas:
- Listening – an exam including comprehension tasks, a PowerPoint note-taking task and a lecture note-taking task with a summary
- Reading – an exam including reading comprehension tasks, abstracts and critical reading tasks, and a note-taking and summary task,
- Writing – a 1000-word discursive essay based on written and audio materials (80%), with the final 20% coming from the summary produced in the reading exam
- Speaking – an online group seminar
Online Pre-sessional (6 weeks)
Teaching
The course is predominantly self-study, but you will also need to attend weekly sessions with lecturers. Teaching is task-based and communicative in approach. It is delivered wholly online via Canvas, University College Birmingham’s online learning platform. Students will be expected to attend 48 hours of live online sessions across the course. Sessions will be made up of a variety of tasks, including:
- Lecture listening tasks
- Seminar and presentation tasks
- Groupwork
- Research tasks
- Academic reading tasks
- Academic writing tasks
- Pastoral tutorials
Assessment
You will be assessed in each language skill: listening, reading, writing and speaking. The assessments will be broken down into the following areas:
- Listening – an exam including comprehension tasks, a PowerPoint note-taking task and a lecture note-taking task with a summary
- Reading – an exam including reading comprehension tasks, abstracts and critical reading tasks, and a note-taking and summary task,
- Writing – a 1000-word discursive essay based on written and audio materials (80%), with the final 20% coming from the summary produced in the reading exam
- Speaking – an online group seminar
Our teaching and assessment is underpinned by our Teaching, Learning and Assessment Strategy 2021-2024.
Accommodation
You will be allocated a single room in our halls of residence while attending this course. Please visit our Accommodation pages for more detailed information.
Course dates
|
Course |
IELTS improvement |
Sept 2024 dates |
Summer 2025 dates |
Sept 2025 dates |
|
12 week |
1.5 |
30/09/2024 – 17/01/2024 Exams w/c 13/01/2025 Resits w/c 20/01/2025 Application deadline 23/09/2024 |
02/06/2025 – 22/08/2025 Exams w/c 18/08/2025 Resits w/c 25/08/2025 Application deadline 25/05/2024 |
29/09/2025 – 16/01/2025 Exams w/c 12/01/2026 Resits w/c 19/01/2026 Application deadline 22/09/2025 |
|
8 week |
1.0 |
14/10/2024 – 06/12/2024 Exams w/c 09/12/2024 Resits w/c 06/01/2025 Application deadline 07/10/2024 |
23/06/2025 – 22/08/2025 Exams w/c 18/08/2025 Resits w/c 25/08/2025 Application deadline 16/06/2025 |
13/10/2025 – 05/12/2025 Exams w/c 09/12/2024 Resits w/c 06/01/2025 Application deadline 06/10/2025 |
|
6 week |
0.5 |
28/10/2024 – 06/12/2024 Exams w/c 09/12/2024 Resits w/c 06/01/2025 Application deadline 21/10/2024 |
07/07/2025 – 22/08/2025 Exams w/c 18/08/2025 Resits w/c 25/08/2025 Application deadline 30/06/2025 |
27/10/2025 – 05/12/2025 Exams w/c 08/12/2025 Resits w/c 05/01/2026 Application deadline 20/10/2025 |
Tuition fees and finance
|
Course |
Fees (excluding accommodation) |
Application and fee payment deadline |
|
Online Summer Pre-sessional English Course (12 weeks) |
|
|
|
30/09/2024 |
£4,500 |
27/09/2024 |
|
02/06/2025 |
TBC |
25/05/2025 |
|
29/09/2025 |
TBC |
22/09/2025 |
|
Online Summer Pre-sessional English Course (8 weeks) |
|
|
|
14/10/2024 |
£3,300 |
07/10/2024 |
|
23/06/2025 |
TBC |
16/06/2025 |
|
13/10/2025 |
TBC |
06/10/2025 |
|
Online Summer Pre-sessional English Course (6 weeks) |
|
|
|
28/10/2024 |
£1,980 |
21/10/2024 |
|
07/07/2025 |
TBC |
30/06/2025 |
|
27/10/2025 |
TBC |
21/10/2025 |
International pre-payment policy
Please note there is a pre-payment of tuition fees policy for International students who apply for a course at University College Birmingham.
Can I still get Student Finance for the Pre-sessional English Course?
You will NOT receive any Student Finance while you are studying this course. The Pre-sessional English Course will teach you the English skills needed to progress onto an academic course at University College Birmingham. You will therefore need to be prepared to support yourself for living costs for the period of time you are studying these courses and you will need to be able to pay the fees yourself.
Studying this course encouraged my career plans, from the teaching to the support I received from tutors to be more reliable and confident in my future. Studying and living in Birmingham is quite easy for me because I am already used to the city, and eager to study and achieve my goals here.
Meet your lecturers
