Pre-sessional English courses and academic skills
Pre-sessional courses
Our pre-sessional courses help you meet your English language entry requirements and prepare for success on your degree course.
Jump to
- Online pre-sessional courses
- On-campus pre-sessional courses
- Entry requirements
- Register interest form
Why take a pre-sessional course?
- Meet your language entry requirements
- Improve your English
- Develop academic skills
- Build confidence for university
- Prepare for success on your degree
What will I learn?
You will learn how to:
- give academic presentations
- write clear, well-structured essays
- participate confidently in academic discussions
- take effective notes from reading and lectures
- use academic sources appropriately and avoid plagiarism
How will I study?
You will practise the same kinds of tasks you will do on your degree course, including:
- listening to lectures
- reading academic texts
- writing essays and reports
- presenting and discussing ideas
- working in groups
Teaching and support
- Around 18 hours of teaching per week, Monday to Friday
- Regular one-to-one tutorials with a personal tutor
- Small class sizes
- Individual feedback on your progress
Study online
Build your confidence and English skills before coming to the UK by joining a pre-sessional course online. Online classes run Monday to Friday, 8:00–12:00 UK time, through Microsoft Teams.
Online pre-sessional courses
Our online pre-sessional courses include:
- live video classes
- regular one-to-one tutorials
- academic video, audio and reading tasks
- regular speaking practice
- 24/7 access to self-study and group work activities
Online classes run Monday to Friday, 8:00–12:00 UK time, through Microsoft Teams.
You will need a PC or laptop and a good internet connection.
Benefits of studying online
- Study from home
- Save on living costs
- Avoid early relocation
- Prepare gradually for university
- Build confidence before arrival
|
Online pre-sessional courses for degree programmes starting in September 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Course |
Course dates |
Course fees |
| 16-week online pre-sessional | 4 May to 21 August 2026 | £6,000 |
| 10-week online pre-sessional | 4 May to 10 July 2026 | £3,500 |
| 10-week online pre-sessional | 15 June to 21 August 2026 | |
| 6-week online pre-sessional | 16 March to 26 April 2026 | £2,100 |
| 6-week online pre-sessional | 1 June to 10 July 2026 | |
| 6-week online pre-sessional | 13 July to 21 August 2026 |
|
Study on-campus
Our on-campus pre-sessional courses take place on BCU's City Centre Campus.
You will have small-group classes and one-to-one tutorials with your teacher between 8:00 and 15:30, Monday to Friday.
Benefits of studying on campus
- Settle into university life early
- Practise English every day
- Meet classmates face to face
- Use campus facilities
- Adjust quickly to the UK
Accommodation
Accommodation is available for all 10-week and 6-week on-campus pre-sessional students at University Locks, a two-minute walk from our City Centre Campus.
- £176 per week
- Bedding and towels provided
- No need to book in advance
- Accommodation allocated on arrival
|
On-campus pre-sessional courses for degree programmes starting in September 2026 |
Start date |
End date |
Course fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-week on-campus pre-sessional | 22 June to 28 August 2026 | £3,500 | |
| 6-week on-campus pre-sessional | 20 July to 28 August 2026 | £2,100 |
|
Entry requirements
For on-campus pre-sessional courses, you must hold an approved SELT:
- IELTS for UKVI
- PTE Academic UKVI
- LanguageCert Academic SELT
- Skills for English UKVI
For online pre-sessional courses, we also accept the following English language qualifications:
- TOEFL iBT
- Cambridge C1 Advanced
- China: College English Test Band 4 or Band 6 (CET-4 or CET-6)
- Duolingo English Test
- Oxford ELLT
- LanguageCert (non-SELT)
- TOEFL iBT Home Edition
If you do not already have one of these language proficiency test qualifications, we can arrange a free Listening and Speaking test to determine the right pre-sessional course for you. Information about this will be sent to eligible applicants.
The tables below show entry requirements in IELTS scores.
If you have another accepted test, please check this page to see its IELTS equivalent.
IELTS requirements
Register for a pre-sessional course
Complete the form below to register your interest in one of our pre-sessional courses. A member of the team will then get back to you regarding your application and next steps.