Pre-sessional (General)
Our year-round Pre-sessional (General) programme is designed to help you to develop and improve your language and study skills before your degree programme.
To join a PSG course, your English language level must be at least IELTS 5.0 or equivalent. The specific entry requirements will depend on which future degree programme you want to join.
Special features
You will undertake a guided research project to develop your understanding of critical reading skills, the process of academic writing, and how to give a presentation on your research. As part of this process, you will have a number of individual tutorials.
If you decide you want to study Business or Management, you may transfer to the Pre-sessional (Management) programme.
Assessment
Your progress is assessed by a reading test, listening test, final presentation, a timed essay, and an extended essay in your subject area. Your teachers also take all your course work and homework into account when deciding your final grade.
You will not need to take another IELTS test as your department will accept your pre-sessional report as proof of your level.
Pre-sessional (General) 1-3
These are ten or eleven-week courses running from October to June. You will study an average of 20 hours per week from Monday to Friday, and you should expect to attend all classes.
This example timetable will give you an idea of your study week:
| 9.15-11.05 | 11.15-13.05 | 13.15-15.05 | 15.15-17.05 | |
| Monday | Academic Skills (Reading & Writing) | Independent study & lunch | Reading and Vocabulary | Independent study |
| Tuesday | Academic Skills (Listening & Speaking) | Independent study & lunch | English in a Cultural Context | Independent study |
| Wednesday | Academic Skills (Reading & Writing) | Independent study & lunch | Language Skills Development | Independent study |
| Thursday | Academic Skills (Listening & Speaking) | Independent study & lunch | Live lectures and visits | Independent study |
| Friday | Language Development Skills or Exam Skills | Independent study & lunch | News and Discussion | Independent study |
Pre-sessional (General) 4 & 5
Our summer Pre-sessional (General) courses (PSG4 and PSG5) are intensive preparation for joining your degree programme. Please check the entry requirements before applying for these courses. You may be eligible for a combined offer if you are applying for PSG5.
This example timetable will give you an idea of your study week:
| 9.30-11.00 | 11.30- 13.00 | 14.00-16.00 | |
| Monday | Social English & Seminar Skills | Essay Structure: Intra- and Inter- paragraph cohesion | Tutorials |
| Tuesday | Listening & Note-taking (preparation for lecture) | Essay Writing: Language work | Tutorials |
| Wednesday | Lecture programme | Lecture Programme: feedback and follow-up | Independent study |
| Thursday | Presentation Practice | Academic Style & Further Referencing Skills | Incorporating Source Materials: Avoiding plagiarism and summarising long texts |
| Friday | News & Discussion | Timed Essay (practice) | Seminar Skills Practice |
