Online Pre-sessional FAQs for Summer 2022

Applications should be received by : 

11 Week June Pre sessional – 27 May 2022

6 Week July Pre Sessional –  01 July 2022 

The online Pre-sessional English and Study Skills for Summer entry are as follows: 

     11 Week June Pre sessional:  You must be a maximum of one overall IELTS (or equivalent) under your degree programme entry requirements 

      6 Week July Pre Sessional:  You must be a maximum of 0.5 overall IELTS (or equivalent) under your degree programme entry requirements

The university accepts a large number of English Language tests and exemptions, which can be used for entry onto our online Pre- Sessional Course

Yes, there will be an online induction programme, which will introduce you to the course and to the academic team. This will also cover how the course will be delivered and how you will access learning materials. It is important that you attend these inductions to really ensure you are prepared before the teaching begins.  

Induction information will be provided in advance of the start of the programme to applicants who have accepted their offer.  

To get the best out of this programme we recommend that you have access to a laptop or PC and also a good stable internet connection. In addition, headphones/earphones are advised. 

You will receive a brief training session during your programme induction and your tutors will continually tutor you in navigating the digital learning platform. The University has technical staff in place in the event further help is needed.

The classes will be live online group sessions with a tutor for the duration of the course, with some pre-recorded lectures/listening tasks. You will also receive a short weekly one-to-one meeting with a tutor to discuss your progress.

The programme is full-time and sessions are timetabled between 9am-1pm (UK time), Mon-Fri with breaks. During this time, you will receive a total of 14-16 in-class contact hours per week, and a weekly one-to-one meeting with a tutor to discuss your progress. You will be expected to study an equal number of hours self-study. The sessions are scheduled between 9am-1pm to best accommodate international time differences for our students. You will also be expected to complete work outside of class. 

The final timetable will be shared with you during the programme induction and access to the teaching sessions will be available via our online platform, Microsoft Teams. More information about the online platform and how to access online session will be shared on during the programme induction.

You will learn through core modules, each designed to develop key academic skills through a variety of lectures, workshops and small group activities, using current affairs topics related to global issues. The learning and teaching philosophy are research-led and underpinned by a range of key approaches and methods used within English language teaching and Higher Education. Your learning will be supported by e-learning via MS Teams, where module guides and access to learning resources will be provided. You will participate with the programme by completing any required preparation for classes and lectures, and contribute to discussions to build confidence and improve your communication skills. It is essential that you attend all classes and that you ensure completion of any work set, including library research through extensive reading. You will learn through engagement with the assignments and presentations set.

You will be assessed in listening and reading using end-of-semester online examinations. Writing will be assessed using an online writing exam, as well as submission of an essay with which your tutors will provide ongoing support and feedback. Speaking will be monitored and assessment throughout the programme. The final examinations will take place in weeks 10 and 11 of the programme (11-week course) and weeks 5 and 6 of the programme (6-week course).

Results will be communicated by email and on your Student Portal by Friday 9th September. Northumbria University’s degree programme induction week is due to begin Monday 18th September. If your application to your degree programme is conditional on you achieving minimum entry requirements on the pre-sessional Summer School, it is advised that you do not book travel/accommodation until you know the outcome of your results, or that you make suitable arrangements with a travel provider to insure you in the event that you do not achieve your target results. 

Applicant services will contact you when your results are available to discuss your next steps. If, however, you have any queries about your application you can contact the team via your applicant portal using the Contact Us button.