You do not need to apply directly for the Pre-sessional English Programme. When you apply to study at UEL, we will automatically assess your eligibility for the programme if you do not meet the English language requirements for your chosen degree. Please visit our website to apply for a course at UEL: uel.ac.uk/subjects

Undergraduate Programmes

5 week Pre-sessional

Start dates: 26 July 2021
Fee: £1,575
For programmes with IELTS 5.5 requirement:  
Entry requirements: IELTS 5.0 (with no less than 5.0 in any component) or equivalent
For programmes with IELTS 6.0 requirement:  
Entry Criteria: IELTS 5.5 (with no less than 5.5 in any component) or equivalent 

11 week Pre-sessional

Start dates: 14 June 2021
Fee: £3,400
For programmes with IELTS 5.5 requirement:
Entry requirements: IELTS 4.5 (with no less than 4.5 in any component) or equivalent
For programmes with IELTS 6.0 requirement:
Entry Criteria: IELTS 5.0 (with no less than 5.0 in any component) or equivalent  

Postgraduate Programmes

5 week Pre-sessional

Start dates: 26 July 2021
Fee: £1,575
For programmes with IELTS 6.0 requirement:  
Entry Criteria: IELTS 5.5 (with no less than 5.5 in any component) or equivalent 
For programmes with IELTS 6.5 requirement: 
Entry Criteria: IELTS 6.0 (with no less than 5.5 in any component) or equivalent 



11 week Pre-sessional

Start dates: 14 June 2021
Fee: £3,400
For programmes with IELTS 6.0 requirement:  
Entry Criteria: IELTS 5.0 (with no less than 5.0 in any component) or equivalent 
For programmes with IELTS 6.5 requirement: 
Entry Criteria: IELTS 5.5 (with no less than 5.0 in any component) or equivalent 

Due to Covid-19 and the closure of test centres, we are currently considering a range of alternative tests including Duolingo and IELTS indicator and TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition.  

If you do not meet the academic English language requirements for your course, you may be eligible to enrol onto a pre-sessional English programme. The length of the course will depend on your current level of English and the requirements for your degree programme. We offer a 5-week and an 11-week pre-sessional course.

Course Content

The Pre-sessional course mirrors what you will need to do on your main course and will include a mixture of presentations, interactive group meetings, private tutorials with the tutor and independent study. The exact content depends on your strengths and weaknesses because the teacher will tailor the course to the students' individual needs, but will cover the following areas:

• Developing referencing and study skills 
• Planning and structuring your writing 
• Expanding grammar and vocabulary to academic standards 
• Cultivating your independent voice through forming effective arguments, critical thinking and drawing conclusions from information 
• Developing your listening skills through regular presentations, meetings and note taking 
• Develop your ability to extract information by using content from lectures, group meetings and readings in your writing 
• Presentation skills 

A typical week

The course is made up of 20 hours of contact time a week with classes running Monday to Friday with two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon each day. An important part of the course is a one-to-one weekly online meeting between yourself and your personal tutor. This is a time when you can talk through individual concerns, assess the progress you are making and get individual help on any particular areas of difficulty. You will be given additional tasks to complete outside of class to supplement what you do in class with the teacher. 

11 week pre-sessional deadlines

Deadline to meet conditions – 11th June 2020  
Deposit deadline – 11th June 2020 
Course start date – 15th June 2020 
Course end date 28th August 2020 

5-week online pre-sessional deadlines  

Deadline to meet conditions – 23rd July 2020 
Deposit deadline – 23rd July 2020 
Course start date – 27th July 2020  
Course end date 28th August 2020