Term 4 entry requirements

The entry requirements for our Pre-sessional English courses are based on your most recent IELTS result (or equivalent) and the English requirements for the degree course you plan on studying.

The entry requirements, dates, fees and application deadlines for each of our Pre-sessional English courses in Term 4 can be viewed in the table below. 

Worked examples of entry requirements to each of our Term 4 Pre-sessional English courses can be viewed by scrolling down the page, or by clicking here:

Term 4 Example Pre-sessional Entry Requirements

You can find the entry requirements for your prospective degree course printed on your conditional offer letter, or in the University's online prospectus:

If you do not currently hold a conditional offer for a degree course, but plan to apply for one at a later date, you can still apply for one of our longer Pre-sessional English courses as long as it is at least 28 weeks in length.

For more information about applying for a degree course at the University of Sheffield, please read the University's webpages for prospective international students.

If you are not sure which course is suitable for you then please contact our admissions team for advice at eltc-admissions@sheffield.ac.uk

Term 4 Pre-sessional Course details

40 Week Pre-sessional Course - In-Person

Start date: Monday 30 June 2025

End date: To be confirmed

Application Deadline: To be confirmed

Cost: To be confirmed

Entry requirements

Your Overall IELTS score: No more than 2 IELTS bands below the overall English language requirement for your degree course

Your Individual IELTS component scores (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening): At least 4.0 in every component and no more than 2 IELTS bands below the minimum IELTS component requirements for your degree course


Example Entry Requirements

Example Pre-sessional English entry requirements for your own situation based on the IELTS requirements for your chosen degree course can be viewed below. Our Pre-sessional entry requirements are shown in both IELTS and LanguageCert result format. For other formats please use our English Language Test Comparisons chart to convert your test result into an equivalent IELTS score, or contact our Admissions Team for further advice at eltc-admissions@sheffield.ac.uk

Please note that in order for a LanguageCert result to be considered a SELT for visa application purposes, you must score a minimum of 33 in each individual component. If you have scored below 33 in a component on LanguageCert you can still use it to gain admission onto a Pre-sessional Course, providing it still meets the entry requirements for your chosen course (you will need to supply an additional English test result which meets the UKVI SELT requirements at CEFR B1 level if you require a single CAS for a Student Visa application in this scenario). 

My degree course requires:

IELTS 7.5 overall with a minimum of 7.5 in each component

Term 4 Pre-sessional IELTS Requirements

40 week course: IELTS 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component


21 week course: IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each component


10 week course(s): IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each component


6 week course(s): IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 7.0 in each component


4 Week Academic Literacy and University Culture Programme: IELTS 7.5 overall with a minimum of 7.5 in each component


Term 4 Pre-sessional LanguageCert Requirements

40 week course: LanguageCert B2 Communicator 100 Overall with a minimum of 25 in each component.


21 week course: LanguageCert B2 Communicator 156 Overall with a minimum of 38 in each component.


10 week course(s): LanguageCert B2 Communicator 156 Overall with a minimum of 38 in each component.


6 week course(s): LanguageCert C1 Expert 100 Overall with a minimum of 25 in each component.


4 Week Academic Literacy and University Culture Programme: LanguageCert C1 Expert 132 Overall with a minimum of 33 in each component.



IELTS 7.5 overall with a minimum of 7.0 in each component

Term 4 Pre-sessional IELTS Requirements

40 week course: IELTS 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.0 in each component


21 week course: IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component


10 week course(s): IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component


6 week course(s): IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each component


4 Week Academic Literacy and University Culture Programme: IELTS 7.5 overall with a minimum of 7.0 in each component


Term 4 Pre-sessional LanguageCert Requirements

40 week course: LanguageCert B2 Communicator 100 Overall with a minimum of 22 in each component.


21 week course: LanguageCert B2 Communicator 156 Overall with a minimum of 33 in each component.


10 week course(s): LanguageCert B2 Communicator 156 Overall with a minimum of 33 in each component.


6 week course(s): LanguageCert C1 Expert 100 Overall with a minimum of 22 in each component.


4 Week Academic Literacy and University Culture Programme: LanguageCert C1 Expert 132 Overall with a minimum of 25 in each component.



IELTS 7.5 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each component

Term 4 Pre-sessional IELTS Requirements

40 week course: IELTS 5.5 overall with a minimum of 4.5 in each component


21 week course: IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component


10 week course(s): IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component


6 week course(s): IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component


4 Week Academic Literacy and University Culture Programme: IELTS 7.5 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each component


Term 4 Pre-sessional LanguageCert Requirements

40 week course: LanguageCert B2 Communicator 100 Overall with a minimum of 22 in each component.


21 week course: LanguageCert B2 Communicator 156 Overall with a minimum of 25 in each component.


10 week course(s): LanguageCert B2 Communicator 156 Overall with a minimum of 33 in each component.


6 week course(s): LanguageCert C1 Expert 100 Overall with a minimum of 22 in each component.


4 Week Academic Literacy and University Culture Programme: LanguageCert C1 Expert 132 Overall with a minimum of 25 in each component.



IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 7.0 in each component

Term 4 Pre-sessional IELTS Requirements

40 week course: IELTS 5.0 overall with a minimum of 5.0 in each component


21 week course: IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component


10 week course(s): IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component


6 week course(s): IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each component


4 Week Academic Literacy and University Culture Programme: IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 7.0 in each component


Term 4 Pre-sessional LanguageCert Requirements

40 week course: LanguageCert B1 Achiever 156 Overall with a minimum of 38 in each component.


21 week course: LanguageCert B2 Communicator 132 Overall with a minimum of 33 in each component.


10 week course(s): LanguageCert B2 Communicator 132 Overall with a minimum of 33 in each component.


6 week course(s): LanguageCert B2 Communicator 156 Overall with a minimum of 38 in each component.


4 Week Academic Literacy and University Culture Programme: LanguageCert C1 Expert 100 Overall with a minimum of 25 in each component.



IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each component

Term 4 Pre-sessional IELTS Requirements

40 week course: IELTS 5.0 overall with a minimum of 4.5 in each component


21 week course: IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component


10 week course(s): IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component


6 week course(s): IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component


4 Week Academic Literacy and University Culture Programme: IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each component


Term 4 Pre-sessional LanguageCert Requirements

40 week course: LanguageCert B1 Achiever 156 Overall with a minimum of 33 in each component.


21 week course: LanguageCert B2 Communicator 132 Overall with a minimum of 25 in each component.


10 week course(s): LanguageCert B2 Communicator 132 Overall with a minimum of 25 in each component.


6 week course(s): LanguageCert B2 Communicator 156 Overall with a minimum of 33 in each component.


4 Week Academic Literacy and University Culture Programme: LanguageCert C1 Expert 100 Overall with a minimum of 22 in each component.



IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component

Term 4 Pre-sessional IELTS Requirements

40 week course: IELTS 5.0 overall with a minimum of 4.0 in each component


21 week course: IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.0 in each component


10 week course(s): IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component


6 week course(s): IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component


4 Week Academic Literacy and University Culture Programme: IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component


Term 4 Pre-sessional LanguageCert Requirements

40 week course: LanguageCert B1 Achiever 156 Overall with a minimum of 25 in each component.


21 week course: LanguageCert B2 Communicator 132 Overall with a minimum of 22 in each component.


10 week course(s): LanguageCert B2 Communicator 132 Overall with a minimum of 25 in each component.


6 week course(s): LanguageCert B2 Communicator 156 Overall with a minimum of 25 in each component.


4 Week Academic Literacy and University Culture Programme: LanguageCert C1 Expert 100 Overall with a minimum of 22 in each component.



IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in writing and 6.0 in all other components

Term 4 Pre-sessional IELTS Requirements

40 week course: IELTS 5.0 overall with a minimum of 4.5 in Writing and 4.0 in all other components


21 week course: IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.0 in each component


10 week course(s): IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component


6 week course(s): IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in Writing and 5.5 in all other components


4 Week Academic Literacy and University Culture Programme: IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in writing and 6.0 in all other components


Term 4 Pre-sessional LanguageCert Requirements

40 week course: LanguageCert B1 Achiever 156 Overall with a minimum of 33 in Writing and 25 in all other components.


21 week course: LanguageCert B2 Communicator 132 Overall with a minimum of 22 in each component.


10 week course(s): LanguageCert B2 Communicator 132 Overall with a minimum of 25 in each component.


6 week course(s): LanguageCert B2 Communicator 156 Overall with a minimum of 33 in Writing and 25 in all other components.


4 Week Academic Literacy and University Culture Programme: LanguageCert C1 Expert 100 Overall with a minimum of 22 in each component.



IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component

Term 4 Pre-sessional IELTS Requirements

40 week course: IELTS 4.5 overall with a minimum of 4.0 in each component


21 week course: IELTS 5.5 overall with a minimum of 4.5 in each component


10 week course(s): IELTS 5.5 overall with at least 5.0 in all component scores and no more than two components at 5.0


6 week course(s): IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component


4 Week Academic Literacy and University Culture Programme: IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component


Term 4 Pre-sessional LanguageCert Requirements

40 week course: LanguageCert B1 Achiever 132 Overall with a minimum of 25 in each component.


21 week course: LanguageCert B2 Communicator 100 Overall with a minimum of 22 in each component.


10 week course(s): LanguageCert B2 Communicator 100 Overall with a minimum of 22 in each component and no more than two components at or below 22.


6 week course(s): LanguageCert B2 Communicator 132 Overall with a minimum of 25 in each component.


4 Week Academic Literacy and University Culture Programme: LanguageCert B2 Communicator 156 Overall with a minimum of 33 in each component.



IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component

Term 4 Pre-sessional IELTS Requirements

40 week course: IELTS 4.5 overall with a minimum of 4.0 in each component


21 week course: IELTS 5.5 overall with a minimum of 4.5 in each component


10 week course(s): IELTS 5.5 overall with at least 5.0 in all component scores and no more than two components at 5.0


6 week course(s): IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component


4 Week Academic Literacy and University Culture Programme: IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component


Term 4 Pre-sessional LanguageCert Requirements

40 week course: LanguageCert B1 Achiever 132 Overall with a minimum of 25 in each component.


21 week course: LanguageCert B2 Communicator 100 Overall with a minimum of 22 in each component.


10 week course(s): LanguageCert B2 Communicator 100 Overall with a minimum of 22 in each component and no more than two components at or below 22.


6 week course(s): LanguageCert B2 Communicator 132 Overall with a minimum of 25 in each component.


4 Week Academic Literacy and University Culture Programme: LanguageCert B2 Communicator 156 Overall with a minimum of 25 in each component.



IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in listening and 6.0 in all other components

Term 4 Pre-sessional IELTS Requirements

40 week course: IELTS 4.5 overall with a minimum of 4.5 in listening and 4.0 in all other components


21 week course: IELTS 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.0 in listening and 4.5 in all other components


10 week course(s): IELTS 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in listening and at least 5.0 in all other component scores with no more than two components at 5.0


6 week course(s): IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in listening and 5.5 in all other components


4 Week Academic Literacy and University Culture Programme: IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in listening and 6.0 in all other components


Term 4 Pre-sessional LanguageCert Requirements

40 week course: LanguageCert B1 Achiever 132 Overall with a minimum of 33 in Listening and 25 in all other components.


21 week course: LanguageCert B2 Communicator 100 Overall with a minimum of 22 in each component.


10 week course(s): LanguageCert B2 Communicator 100 Overall with a minimum 25 in Listening and 22 all other components, and no more than two components at or below 22.


6 week course(s): LanguageCert B2 Communicator 132 Overall with a minimum of 33 in Listening and 25 in all other components.


4 Week Academic Literacy and University Culture Programme: LanguageCert B2 Communicator 156 Overall with a minimum of 38 in Listening and 33 in all other components.



IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in writing and 5.5 in all other components

Term 4 Pre-sessional IELTS Requirements

40 week course: IELTS 4.5 overall with a minimum of 4.5 in writing and 4.0 in all other components


21 week course: IELTS 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.0 in writing and 4.5 in all other components


10 week course(s): IELTS 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in writing and at least 5.0 in all other component scores with no more than two components at 5.0


6 week course(s): IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in all other components


4 Week Academic Literacy and University Culture Programme: IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in writing and 5.5 in all other components


Term 4 Pre-sessional LanguageCert Requirements

40 week course: LanguageCert B1 Achiever 132 Overall with a minimum of 33 in Writing and 25 in all other components.


21 week course: LanguageCert B2 Communicator 100 Overall with a minimum of 22 in each component.


10 week course(s): LanguageCert B2 Communicator 100 Overall with a minimum 25 in Writing and 22 all other components, and no more than two components at or below 22.


6 week course(s): LanguageCert B2 Communicator 132 Overall with a minimum of 33 in Writing and 25 in all other components.


4 Week Academic Literacy and University Culture Programme: LanguageCert B2 Communicator 156 Overall with a minimum of 38 in Writing and 25 in all other components.



IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component

Term 4 Pre-sessional IELTS Requirements

40 week course: IELTS 4.0 overall with a minimum of 4.0 in each component


21 week course: IELTS 5.0 overall with a minimum of 4.0 in each component


10 week course(s): IELTS 5.0 overall with at least 5.0 in all component scores and no more than two components at 5.0


6 week course(s): IELTS 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component


4 Week Academic Literacy and University Culture Programme: IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component


Term 4 Pre-sessional LanguageCert Requirements

40 week course: LanguageCert B1 Achiever 100 Overall with a minimum of 25 in each component.


21 week course: LanguageCert B1 Achiever 156 Overall with a minimum of 25 in each component.


10 week course(s): LanguageCert B1 Achiever 156 Overall with at least 38 in each component and no more than two components at 38.


6 week course(s): LanguageCert B2 Communicator 100 Overall with a minimum of 25 in each component.


4 Week Academic Literacy and University Culture Programme: LanguageCert B2 Communicator 132 Overall with a minimum of 25 in each component.



Other entry requirements

Please contact eltc-admissions@sheffield.ac.uk for further advice. If you are not sure which course is suitable for you we recommend that you apply for your preferred course. We can then make a recommendation based on your application.

This is much quicker than e-mailing us to ask before applying, and you are not committed to a course until you accept an offer from us.


For more information on how we hold and process your personal data, please see the University's Privacy Notice for prospective, current and former students.

The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it is up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research, funding changes, professional accreditation requirements, student or employer feedback, outcomes of reviews, and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.

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