PRE-SESSIONAL ENGLISH & STUDY SKILLS

About this course

Who is the course for?

This full-time programme is ideal if your academic qualifications meet the requirements for your chosen undergraduate or postgraduate course, but your English language level falls below the entry requirements of the academic course you wish to join.

What will I learn?

The programme will provide you with the language and other academic skills necessary for you to gain the maximum benefit from your future academic course. You will develop these skills in a content-based approach to learning involving critical thinking, questioning, discussion, reflection and analysis. You will also develop the ideas and concepts necessary to participate in the global academic community. By the end of the course you will feel confident to research your subject, deal with a range of academic texts, attend lectures, take part in seminars and tutorials, and produce extended written academic assignments.

How long should I expect to study on Pre-sessional English and Study Skills before I can enter my chosen degree programme?

You will usually expect to study for one, two or three semesters. Expected length of study will depend on your English language level when you apply and the English language level you need to enter your degree programme. The table below shows the length of time you should expect to study on Pre-sessional English and Study Skills before you can achieve the grades required to enter your chosen degree programme.

Please note that these are guidelines only. Progression onto your chosen degree programme is not guaranteed and the rate of progression may differ depending on the student.

How will I progress?

Progress to the next level or onto your chosen academic course depends on a mix of continuous assessment and end- of-semester examinations (not IELTS).

When will I start my studies?

Programme	Start date (Induction and enrolment week)	End date (Assessment week)
Semester 2 2021-22 (12 weeks)	Thursday 20th January 2022*	Friday 6th May 2022
Summer School 2021-22 (11 weeks)	Thursday 16th June 2022*	Friday 2nd September 2022
Summer School 2021-22 (6 weeks)	Thursday 21st July 2022*	Friday 2nd September 2022
Semester 1 2022-23 (12 weeks)	Thursday 22nd September 2022	Friday 16th December 2022
Semester 2 2022-23 (12 weeks)	No longer running	No longer running
Summer School 2022-23 (11 weeks)	Thursday 15th June 2023	Friday 1st September 2023
Summer School 2022-23 (6 weeks)	Thursday 20th July 2023	Friday 1st September 2023

*Programme induction timetable and dates to be confirmed. Induction information will be provided in advance of the start of the programme to applicants who have accepted their offer.

Please ensure you apply for visas in time to arrive at the University on the Saturday prior to the start date above at the latest.

The Summer Semester (Summer School)

In the summer we run an 11-week (10 weeks of study plus one week of assessment) or a 6-week (5 weeks of study plus one week of assessment) programme.

The 6-week course is only suitable for students who have already achieved, or are within 0.5 IELTS of achieving, the English language entry requirement for their chosen degree course. We strongly urge only such students to apply for this course. Please contact us for further information.

Course info

Level of Study Undergraduate

Mode of Study One, two or three semesters full-time

Department Social Sciences

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2023 or January 2024 or June 2024

Fee Information

Module Information

Pre-Sessional English and Study Skills

All information is accurate at the time of sharing.

Full time Courses starting in 2023 are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but may include elements of online learning. We continue to monitor government and local authority guidance in relation to Covid-19 and we are ready and able to flex accordingly to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff.

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with additional restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors, potentially to a full online offer, should further restrictions be deemed necessary in future. Our online activity will be delivered through Blackboard Ultra, enabling collaboration, connection and engagement with materials and people.

Current, Relevant and Inspiring

We continuously review and improve course content in consultation with our students and employers. To make sure we can inform you of any changes to your course register for updates on the course page.

Your Learning Experience

Find out about our distinctive approach at
www.northumbria.ac.uk/exp

Admissions Terms and Conditions
northumbria.ac.uk/terms

Fees and Funding
northumbria.ac.uk/fees

Admissions Policy
northumbria.ac.uk/adpolicy

Admissions Complaints Policy
northumbria.ac.uk/complaints

Entry Requirements Modules Overview Fees, Funding and Scholarships How to Apply Apply Now

Entry Requirements 2023/24

Standard Entry

Entry at UKVI IELTS 5.0 or equivalent - will usually mean one or two semesters of language study before joining an undergraduate course; two or more semesters for postgraduate courses.

Entry at UKVI IELTS 5.5 or equivalent - will usually mean one semester of language study before joining an undergraduate course; one or more semesters for postgraduate courses.

Entry at UKVI IELTS 6.0 or equivalent - will usually mean one semester of language study before joining a postgraduate course.

Plus all relevant target degree admissions requirements.

Normal minimum age is 17 if the applicants birthday falls in first year of study.

Fees and Funding 2023/24 Entry

UK Fee in Year 1: TBC

* The maximum tuition fee that we are permitted to charge for UK students is set by government. Tuition fees may increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, these are subject to government regulations and in line with inflation.

EU Fee in Year 1: £3,250

International Fee in Year 1: £3,250

Scholarships for 23/24 are currently being announced. Please see the main Funding Pages for more information

ADDITIONAL COSTS

There are no Additional Costs

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How to Apply

Please use the Apply Now button at the top of this page to submit your application.

Certain applications may need to be submitted via an external application system, such as UCAS, Lawcabs or DfE Apply.

The Apply Now button will redirect you to the relevant website if this is the case.

You can find further application advice, such as what to include in your application and what happens after you apply, on our Admissions Hub Admissions | Northumbria University

Modules Overview 2023/24

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

Year one

EF0300 -

Reading Skills (ESF) (Core,0 Credits)

This module will focus on developing your academic reading skills using a range of texts, in addition to a deeper understanding of the elements that make up English academic texts including, but not exclusive to, structure and cohesion, and vocabulary and grammar.

Reading skills are taught using the context of ‘Global Issues’, with the focus on a different topic every one/two weeks.

More information

EF0301 -

Listening Skills (ESF) (Core,0 Credits)

This module will focus on developing your listening skills through exposure to live lectures similar to those you will experience on your target academic degree programme in the UK. The listening content will be based on various global issues, and will help you to identify structure and language so you can understand meaning through context. The classes will help you develop the tools that you will need to function on your chosen degree programme, such as note-taking, use of the eLearning Portal to develop your listening skills independently, and using peer-to-peer strategies to check your understanding both prior to and following live lectures.

More information

EF0302 -

Writing Skills (ESF) (Core,0 Credits)

In this module, you will learn the elements involved in the construction of English academic texts, in particular academic essays. These elements include, but are not exclusive to, organising your arguments, writing introductions and conclusions, paragraph composition, linking language, and a focus on sentence level grammar.

More information

EF0308 -

Speaking Skills (ESF) (Core,0 Credits)

This module will focus on developing your speaking skills through seminar discussion, similar to what you will experience on your target academic degree programme in the UK. During these seminars, your tutors will help you to gain confidence in discussing your thoughts and opinions in class, develop your communicative competence in the English language, as well as learning strategies for communicating interculturally.

More information

Modules Overview 2024/25

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

Year one

EF0300 -

Reading Skills (ESF) (Core,0 Credits)

This module will focus on developing your academic reading skills using a range of texts, in addition to a deeper understanding of the elements that make up English academic texts including, but not exclusive to, structure and cohesion, and vocabulary and grammar.

Reading skills are taught using the context of ‘Global Issues’, with the focus on a different topic every one/two weeks.

More information

EF0301 -

Listening Skills (ESF) (Core,0 Credits)

This module will focus on developing your listening skills through exposure to live lectures similar to those you will experience on your target academic degree programme in the UK. The listening content will be based on various global issues, and will help you to identify structure and language so you can understand meaning through context. The classes will help you develop the tools that you will need to function on your chosen degree programme, such as note-taking, use of the eLearning Portal to develop your listening skills independently, and using peer-to-peer strategies to check your understanding both prior to and following live lectures.

More information

EF0302 -

Writing Skills (ESF) (Core,0 Credits)

In this module, you will learn the elements involved in the construction of English academic texts, in particular academic essays. These elements include, but are not exclusive to, organising your arguments, writing introductions and conclusions, paragraph composition, linking language, and a focus on sentence level grammar.

More information

EF0308 -

Speaking Skills (ESF) (Core,0 Credits)

This module will focus on developing your speaking skills through seminar discussion, similar to what you will experience on your target academic degree programme in the UK. During these seminars, your tutors will help you to gain confidence in discussing your thoughts and opinions in class, develop your communicative competence in the English language, as well as learning strategies for communicating interculturally.

More information

To start your application, simply select the month you would like to start your course.