Pre-sessional English language courses
English language programmes
We offer a range of online and on-campus pre-sessional English courses designed to help you achieve the required level of English to join one of our undergraduate or postgraduate degree programmes.
The minimum requirements for direct entry to our degree programmes are listed below and on the English Language requirements page.
If you have taken a recognised English test but are below the minimum requirement for direct entry, you may be invited to join a pre-sessional English course.
On-campus pre-sessional
Delivered at our Ealing site, the on-campus pre-sessional programme will provide you with the opportunity to arrive early, settle into your new life as a student in London and improve your English language skills to the necessary standard before joining the full degree programme in September.
If you would like to join our on-campus pre-sessional English programme, you must provide us with a Secure English Language Test, such as IELTS for UKVI. This is a different test to IELTS Academic, which can be used for entry to our online pre-sessional course or full degree programme.
If you choose to stay in UWL arranged accommodation for the on-campus pre-sessional and the first year of your degree, you will also be able to receive one month's free rent. Further information is below.
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Course dates and fees
PSE 12-week
- Start: 9 June 2025
- Finish: 28 August 2025
- Tuition: £2,700
PSE 8-week
- Start: 7 July 2025
- Finish: 28 August 2025
- Tuition: £1,800
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Entry requirements
We can only accept a Secure English Language Test to meet the minimum requirements* below.
12-week
- Undergraduate offer holders*: IELTS UKVI 5.0 overall (3 subscores at 5.0 and 1 subscore at 5.5)
- Postgraduate offer holders**: IELTS UKVI 5.5 overall (2 subscores at 5.0 / 2 subscores at 5.5)
8-week
- Undergraduate offer holders*: IELTS UKVI 5.5 overall (2 subscores at 5.0 / 2 subscores at 5.5)
- Postgraduate offer holders**: IELTS UKVI 6.0 overall (1 subscore at 5.0 / 3 subscores at 5.5)
* requirement for direct entry - IELTS 6 overall; no subscore below 5.5.
** requirement for direct entry - IELTS 6.5 overall; no subscore below 5.5.
Along with IELTS for UKVI (Academic), we accept PTE Academic UKVI for entry to our on-campus pre-sessional course:
- IELTS UKVI 5.0 = PTE Academic UKVI 41-45
- IELTS UKVI 5.5 = PTE Academic UKVI 46-51
- IELTS UKVI 6.0 = PTE Academic UKVI 51+
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How to apply
To apply for our on-campus pre-sessional course, please upload a copy of your Secure English Language Test when you are applying for one of our full degree programmes.
Please visit before you apply for guidance on how to apply to a degree programme.
If you are eligible to be offered a place, the Admissions team will include details of the suitable pre-sessional course in your offer letter for the programme you have applied to. Your level of English at the time of applying will determine which length of course you can be offered a place on.
If you already have an offer to study with us, please email your Secure English Language Test certificate to international@uwl.ac.uk and we will liaise with Admissions to update your offer letter.
Please note, if you are not a national of a country listed under the ‘differential evidence requirement’ on the UK Government website, please get in touch with us at international@uwl.ac.uk to confirm if we could sponsor your visa application for the onsite pre-sessional course.
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Application deadlines
You must have met all the conditions listed in your offer letter and provided us with a Secure English Language Test before the deadline below to be issued with a CAS for our on-campus course.
- 12-week course – 1 May 2025
- 8-week course – 1 June 2025
Please visit after you apply for guidance on the CAS request and visa application process.
We will issue you with an integrated CAS to cover the on-campus pre-sessional and degree programme.
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On-campus pre-sessional accommodation
We encourage students on our on-campus pre-sessional courses to stay in one of our University-arranged halls of residence.
If you choose to stay in UWL arranged accommodation for the pre-sessional course and the first year of your degree, you will receive one-month free rent, along with the following benefits:
- Free utility bills
- Free fast unlimited Wi-Fi
- Free contents insurance
- 24/7 staff and security
- Free maintenance support throughout your stay
- Dedicated accommodation team to support you
Please visit our accommodation page to view all available options or contact accommodation@uwl.ac.uk for more information.
One month's free rent will be applied to the final month of your first-year accommodation agreement, provided that all prior accommodation payments have been fully settled.
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After you complete the on-campus course
Once you have finished the pre-sessional course you will be ready to progress to completing enrolment on the full degree programme in September.
Online pre-sessional
Our online pre-sessional courses are open to undergraduate and postgraduate offer holders who meet the minimum English language requirement and can attend classes held between 9am and 1pm (UK time GMT) Monday to Friday. Sessions will not be available as recordings - live participation is essential.
Once you have successfully completed the online course and met all other conditions in your offer letter, we will issue you with a CAS to support your Student Visa application. The online course has an earlier end date to allow you time to apply for your visa and make practical arrangements for your arrival in London.
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Course dates and fees
PSE 15-week online
- Start: 6 May 2025
- Finish: 15 August 2025
- Tuition: £4,780 (£4,500*)
PSE 10-week online
- Start: 9 June 2025
- Finish: 15 August 2025
- Tuition: £3,180 (£3,000*)
PSE 6-week online
- Start: 7 July 2025
- Finish: 15 August 2025
- Tuition: £1,905 (£1,800*)
* early bird discount. Deadlines:
- PSE 15-week: 5 April 2025
- PSE 10-week: 9 May 2025
- PSE 6-week: 7 June 2025
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Entry requirements
15-week
- Undergraduate offer holders*: IELTS 4.5 overall (no lower than 4.5 in all subscores)
- Postgraduate offer holders**: IELTS 5 overall (no lower than 4.5 in all subscores)
10-week
- Undergraduate offer holders*: IELTS 5 overall (no lower than 4.5 in all subscores)
- Postgraduate offer holders**: IELTS 5.5 overall (no lower than 5 in all subscores)
6-week
- Undergraduate offer holders*: IELTS 5.5 overall (no lower than 5 in all subscores)
- Postgraduate offer holders**: IELTS 6 overall (no lower than 5.5 in all subscores)
* requirement for direct entry - IELTS 6 overall; no subscore below 5.5.
** requirement for direct entry - IELTS 6.5 overall; no subscore below 5.5.
Along with IELTS Academic, we accept the tests below for entry to our online pre-sessional course:
PTE Academic
- IELTS 4.5 = PTE Academic 36-40
- IELTS 5.0 = PTE Acadeic 41-45
- IELTS 5.5 = PTE Academic 46-51
- IELTS 6.0 = PTE Academic 51+
TOEFL iBT*
- IELTS 4.5 = TOEFL iBT 32-34
- IELTS 5.0 = TOEFL iBT 35-45
- IELTS 5.5 = TOEFL iBT 46-59
- IELTS 6.0 = TOEFL iBT 60+
Duolingo**
- IELTS 4.5 = Duolingo 65-75
- IELTS 5.0 = Duolingo 80-90
- IELTS 5.5 = Duolingo 95-100
- IELTS 6.0 = Duolingo 105+
* TOEFL iBT must be taken at a test centre. Home Edition is not an accepted test for entry to our online pre-sessional or degree programmes.
** If you apply with a Duolingo test our English Language Assessor will arrange an interview to confirm your results before offering a place on the course.
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How to apply
To apply for our online pre-sessional course, please upload a copy of your English test when you are applying for one of our full degree programmes.
Please visit before you apply for guidance on how to apply to our degree programmes.
If you are eligible to be offered a place, the Admissions team will include details of the suitable pre-sessional course in your offer letter for the programme you have applied to. Your level of English at the time of applying will determine which length of course you can be offered a place on.
If you already have an offer to study with us, please email your English test results to international@uwl.ac.uk and we will liaise with Admissions to update your offer letter.
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Application deadlines
You should have an offer to study on one of our degree programmes in September 2025, and have provided us with an accepted English test, before the deadlines below to be offered a place on the online programme.
- 15-week course – 28 April 2025
- 10-week course – 2 June 2025
- 6-week course – 30 June 2025
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After you complete the online course
Once you have successfully completed our online course and met all other conditions in your offer letter, we will issue you with a CAS to support your Student Visa application.
The online course has an earlier end date to allow you time to apply for your visa and make practical arrangements for your arrival in London.
Please visit after you apply for guidance on the CAS request and visa application process.
Online and on-campus course information
The University of West London’s Pre-Sessional English courses are not just exam preparation courses. Their purpose is to give you the tools required to succeed on your university courses.
You will gain vital academic skills through self-study lectures delivered by our experienced Study Support team. You will spend live sessions practising these skills, as well as improving your English language proficiency with our Academic English teachers who will use academic teaching methodologies.
We work together with different Schools within the University so that you will receive subject-specific content that will help you learn important knowledge for your future course.
You will learn how to write different types of academic texts and conduct your own research into your subject. In doing so, you will develop critical thinking skills and prepare yourself for future course assignments. There will be a focus on developing speaking skills including delivering academic presentations and taking part in discussions.
Finally, you will gain authentic study experience as a student at a modern UK university and the expectations that come with this, which includes understanding the responsible uses of AI.
The course is a full-time commitment. It involves over 17 hours of weekly live group sessions and regular tutorials with your Academic English teacher. You will also be expected to do daily independent work to prepare for classes, which will be monitored.
Course content and modules
Your course will be split into two areas that integrate the four skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking). These modules will be:
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Academic research
This module will develop and assess your academic reading and writing skills, which are vital to do research. You will get specialised knowledge to develop these skills such as:
- Finding, reading and evaluating academic texts
- Improving reading skills
- Reading-to-write
- Planning and structuring essays
- Paraphrasing, citing and writing in an academic style
In live sessions, you will practise these skills as well as developing your academic language, including grammar and vocabulary. You will engage in critical thinking discussions about texts that you have read and written. You will learn how to write a portfolio of different academic text types and analyse their style. You will conduct a subject-relevant research project to write an academic research essay, which you will discuss in a viva-style discussion.
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Lecture and seminar skills
This module will develop and assess your academic speaking and listening skills, which are vital to actively take part in your academic life. You will develop skills such as:
- Preparing for lectures
- Listening to lectures – both general and subject-specific
- Making useful notes
- Contributing to seminar discussions
- Giving academic presentations
You will be expected to do independent listening outside of class time. You will have the chance to listen to lectures on a variety of topics, including short talks delivered by your future subject lecturers. In the live sessions with your teacher, you will focus on developing your speaking confidence, improving your discussion skills and increasing your academic vocabulary.
Example weekly timetable:
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Monday
Independent study:
- Read lecture preperation article
- Watch Study Skills lecture 1
Live session 1:
- Practice work with Study Skills lecture 1
Live session 2:
- Discuss lecture article and develop vocabulary
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Tuesday
Independent study:
- Watch weekly topic lecture and take notes
- Academic language practice
Live session 1:
- Develop your academic language
Live session 2:
- Check notes and lecture comprehension
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Wednesday
Independent study:
- Prepare for seminar discussion
- Watch Study Skills lecture 2
Live session 1:
- Practice work with Study Skills lecture 2
Live session 2:
- Practice seminar discussion
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Thursday
Independent study:
- Academic reading
- Watch Study Skills lecture 3
Live session 1:
- Practice reading-to-write
Live session 2:
- Feedback and improving speaking skills
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Friday
Independent study:
- Weekly writing task
- Tutorial preparation
One-to-one tutorials for:
- Feedback
- Research help
- Language help
Assessment methods
You will be assessed throughout the course through different assignments, group discussions and individual tasks. You will be expected to submit daily and weekly reading and writing assignments. You will record individual presentations as well as group discussions.
All the different tasks will be put together to create a portfolio of your work, which will count towards your final grade.
Some examples of the types of tasks are outlined below:
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Reading
- Creating an annotated bibliography
- Analysing different academic texts
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Writing
- Writing different types of texts (i.e. reports, reflections, statements)
- Producing an academic essay
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Listening
- Submitting regular recorded lecture notes
- Listening to a live lecture and showing understanding
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Speaking
- Having group discussions about lectures
- Giving reflective presentations
Get in touch
Our International Office is available for enquiries from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm:
Ask our International Recruitment Team a question or call us on +44 (0) 20 8231 2440
Prospective students can join us in person for a West London Campus tour.