Applications open 14 April 2026
We offer a range of Pre-sessional English (PSE) courses, with the option of studying in-person or online.
The courses are delivered by our trusted partner, Study Group.
For degree courses starting in September 2026
In-person courses
- 10-week in-person course - 6 July 2026
- 5-week in-person course - 6 August 2026
Online courses
- 12-week online course - 27 April 2026
- 10-week online course - 11 May 2026
- 6-week online course - 8 June 2026
For degree courses starting in January 2027
- 6-week online course - 5 October 2026
You need to hold an offer for your main degree course before you apply for a PSE course.
Which PSE course you apply for depends on the English language requirement for your degree programme and your current level of English.
If you are attending an in-person PSE course, you may be eligible for either:
a combined offer*, or
a standalone offer.
*It is not possible to obtain a combined offer if you are attending an online PSE course.
Combined offer
A combined offer means your in-person PSE course is combined with your degree programme. A benefit is that you only need to apply for one visa for both your PSE course and Master's course.
You may be able to receive a combined offer if your English language test score is very close to the English language requirement for your degree course and you meet all the other conditions of your offer.
You will need to show proof of undergraduate graduation before the PSE course start date in order to receive a combined offer. If your IELTS English language test result (or IELTS equivalent) has any components at 5.0 you can only apply for a PSE course via the standalone route.
To apply for a combined offer, please email a scanned copy of your IELTS certificate (or IELTS equivalent) to the relevant admissions team:
Central Postgraduate Taught Admissions Team for Master’s courses in the Faculty of Engineering and Design, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Science, undergraduate courses or PhD programmes
School of Management Admissions Team for Master's courses in the School of Management
MBA Admissions Team for the Bath MBA
The admissions team will then decide if you are eligible for a combined offer.
It is not possible to obtain a combined offer if you are attending an online PSE course.
Standalone offer
A standalone offer means that your PSE course is separate from your degree course.
If you are applying for a Master's course and are unable to provide proof of undergraduate graduation before the start of the PSE course, you will need to apply for a PSE course via the standalone route.
If your IELTS SELT English language test result (or IELTS equivalent) has any components at 5.0 you can only apply for a PSE course via the standalone route.
If you are applying for an undergraduate course or PhD programme, you can only apply for a standalone offer. The combined offer is not available for these courses.
Secure English Language Test (SELT)
All applicants for an in-person standalone PSE course must provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT). Your certificate must be dated within two years of the PSE course start date.
Please check this information about acceptable tests.
Check which PSE course you need and how to apply
English language requirement
Your offer letter tells you the English language requirements for your degree course. You can also check the English language requirements on individual degree course pages.
| PSE course | Entry requirements for degree courses requiring IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in each component | Entry requirements for degree courses requiring IELTS 7.0 with no less than 6.5 in each component |
|---|---|---|
| In-person | ||
| 10-week | IELTS 5.5 with no less than 5.0 in each component | IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in each component |
| 5-week | IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in each component | IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in each component |
| Online | ||
| 12-week | IELTS 5.5 with no less than 5.0 in each component | IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in each component |
| 10-week | IELTS 5.5 with no less than 5.5 in each component | IELTS 6.0 with no less than 6.0 in each component |
| 6-week | IELTS 6.0 with no less than 6.0 in each component | IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.5 in each component |
To apply, please email the relevant admissions team, confirming which course you would like attend and providing a copy of your IELTS certificate (or IELTS equivalent):
Central Postgraduate Taught Admissions Team for Master’s courses in the Faculty of Engineering and Design, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Science, undergraduate courses or PhD programmes
School of Management Admissions Team for Master’s courses in the School of Management
MBA Admissions Team for the Bath MBA
Dates and costs
For degree courses starting in September 2026
| PSE course | Application deadline | Induction period | Course dates | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-person | ||||
| 10-week | 1 June 2026 | n/a | 6 July 2026 - 11 September 2026 | £5,500 |
| 5-week | 2 July 2026 | n/a | 6 August 2026 - 11 September 2026 | £3,200 |
| Online | ||||
| 12-week | 17 April 2026 | 22 April 2026 - 24 April 2026 | 27 April 2026 - 17 July 2026 | £4,200 |
| 10-week | 1 May 2026 | 6 May 2026 - 8 May 2026 | 11 May 2026 - 17 July 2026 | £3,500 |
| 6-week | 29 May 2026 | 3 June 2026 - 5 June 2026 | 8 June 2026 - 17 July 2026 | £2,100 |
For degree courses starting in January 2027
| Online PSE course | Application deadline | Induction period | Course dates | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6-week | 25 September 2026 | 30 September 2026 - 2 October 2026 | 5 October 2026 - 13 November 2026 | £2,100 |
Course content
If you would like more information about the PSE course content, please contact the Study Group's Digital Learning team.