Pre-sessional English Course
Certificate
Key facts
Start dates
June 2025 / July 2025 / September 2025 / September 2026
Course length
Full time: 12 weeks or 6 weeks (the 6 week option is only available in the summer)
Department
Overview
An Oxford Brookes Pre-sessional English course will help you to meet the English language requirements of your chosen UK degree. Even if your English qualifications are high enough, you may choose to take this course to boost your confidence in English before starting your course.
You can either take the Pre-sessional English course on campus, or online through the distance learning version. You will need a SELT English test to apply for your student visa if you are studying on campus.
Depending on your current IELTS level and the IELTS level you need for your course, you can join our course in September, June or July. More information can be found on our Pre-sessional English page.
How to apply
Entry requirements
Academic entry requirements
For on campus study options, you will need a UKVI-approved SELT Certificate issued in the last two years.
For distance learning options, you can take any Oxford Brookes approved English qualifications.
If the course you would like to progress onto has the following English Language requirements:
- IELTS 6.0 overall, with: 6.0 Reading 6.0 Writing 5.5 Listening 5.5 Speaking.
You should study:
- If your current IELTS level is 4.5 (minimum in all skills) your course details are:
- Duration: 24 weeks Start date(s): September Study options: Pre-sessional English Level 1 on campus
- If your current IELTS level is 5.0 (minimum 4.5 in all skills) your course details are:
- Duration: 12 weeks Start date(s): September or June Study options: Pre-sessional English Level 2 on campus
- If your current IELTS level is 5.5 (minimum 5.0 in all skills) your course details are:
- Duration: 12 weeks Start date(s): September, or June Study options: Pre-sessional English Level 3 on campus or Distance Learning
- If your current IELTS level is 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in all skills) your course details are:
- Duration: 6 or 12 weeks Start date(s): September or June (6 week course only available in July) Study options: Pre-sessional English Level 3 on campus or Distance Learning
If the course you would like to progress onto has the following English Language requirements:
- IELTS 6.5 overall, with: 6.0 Reading 6.0 Writing 6.0 Listening 6.0 Speaking.
You should study:
- If your current IELTS level is 4.5 (minimum in all skills) your course details are:
- Duration: 36 weeks Start date(s): September Study options: Pre-sessional English Level 1 on campus
- If your current IELTS level is 5.0 (minimum 4.5 in all skills) your course details are:
- Duration: 24 weeks Start date(s): September or June Study options: Pre-sessional English Level 2 on campus
- If your current IELTS level is 5.5 (minimum 5.0 in all skills) your course details are:
- Duration: 12 weeks Start date(s): September or June Study options: Pre-sessional English Level 3 on campus or Distance Learning
- If your current IELTS level is 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in all skills) your course details are:
- Duration: 12 weeks Start date(s): September or June Study options: Pre-sessional English level 3 on campus or Distance Learning
- If your current IELTS level is 6.5 overall, with no more than two skills lower than 5.5 your course details are:
- Duration: 6 or 12 weeks Start date(s): September or June (6 week course only available in July) Study options: Pre-sessional English Level 3 on campus or Distance Learning
Submit your Application
You should submit your Pre-sessional English application on the university website, by clicking Apply Now.
When submitting your application, you need to choose the intake you wish to join and whether to join on campus or via distance learning. Your application will be assessed by the University Admissions team and your offer will state how long your course will take.
- Teaching period: 23 September to 13 December 2024
- Induction: 16 to 20 September 2024.
Minimum age
The normal minimum age for this course is 18. We will admit 17-year-olds on a case-by-case basis if they turn 18 during the academic year in which the course runs.
Under 18s are only admitted to the University if they live in student accommodation. Find out more about the university's policy on the safeguarding of children.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
Application process
For assistance with your application contact our admissions team on admissions@brookes.ac.uk
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
How and when to pay
Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.
- For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
- For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page
Financial support and scholarships
Additional costs
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.
Learning and assessment
The Pre-sessional English course helps you to improve your academic English for successful study at an English-speaking university. You will not need to retake a language test (like IELTS) to progress to your degree at Oxford Brookes.
Learning and teaching
On campus
Teaching takes place in small groups and is organised into modules covering the academic English skills of writing, reading, listening, speaking; language and vocabulary development; and study and research skills. You will have access to materials on our online learning environment, and be taught by highly qualified academic staff who are specialists in English for Academic Purposes. You will have an academic advisor available for pop-in hours and official meetings.
Distance Learning
Sessions are live and interactive, and are delivered in the morning (UK Time). Teaching is organised into modules covering the academic English skills of writing, reading, listening and speaking, and research. This includes language and vocabulary development and study skills. You will have access to an online academic advisor and to materials on our online learning environment. You will be taught by highly qualified academic staff who are specialists in English for Academic Purposes.
Assessment
Assessment methods used on this course
You will gain experience of the assessment techniques used in UK universities. Each module contains assessment tasks including research essays, in-class tests, presentations and discussions, group assignments and portfolio assignments. You will be allocated an academic advisor to help you with academic issues and guide you through the progression to your next course.
Student profiles
Progression
You can progress to further levels of Pre-sessional English, or onto Foundation, Undergraduate, Pre-Master’s or Postgraduate level courses in a wide range of academic subjectsYour offer letter and Academic Advisors will be able to indicate the grade you need to aim for.
Entry onto a Foundation, Undergraduate, Pre-Master’s or Postgraduate programme will also require appropriate academic qualifications. Please check the specific language and academic entry requirements of the course.
Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been
published on the website. For more information, please visit our
changes to programmes page.