Pre-sessional English Course Overview
Learn more about our range of Pre-sessional English courses to help you prepare for admission onto your degree course at The University of Sheffield.
Applications open for 2024
Applications for our Summer 2024 Pre-sessional English courses and the Academic Literacy and University Culture programme are now open.
In-person pre-sessional courses
Our in-person pre-sessional English courses take place in face-to-face classroom based lessons in Sheffield.
- Full-time In-person year round
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Start Date: Various start dates throughout the year
End Date: Depends on course length
Entry Requirements: Approximately 1 to 2 IELTS bands away from the English requirements for your degree course (see Entry Requirements links for more details)
Hours: 15 hours of tutor-led classes, a 1 to 1 tutorial and at least 5 hours of guided independent study per week
Cost: Varies by course length and start date. £459 per week for courses starting between June 2024 and April 2025, and £459 per week for courses taking place in Summer 2024.
Term 4 Summer 2024 Entry Requirements
- Full-time In-person 10 weeks - July 2024
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Start Date: Monday 1 July 2024
End Date: Friday 6 September 2024
Application Deadline: Monday June 3 2024
Cost: £4,590 (£459 per week)
Entry requirements:
Your Overall IELTS score: No more than 1 IELTS band below the overall English language requirement for your degree course
Your Individual IELTS component scores (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening):
- No component below 5.0
- A maximum of two components at 5.0
- No component more than 1.5 bands below the overall IELTS requirements for your degree course
- No component more than 1.0 below the minimum requirements for that component
You must also hold a conditional or unconditional offer to study a degree course beginning in September or October 2024 at The University of Sheffield before applying for this course.
- Full-time In-person 6 weeks - July 2024
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Start Date: Monday 22 July 2024
End Date: Friday 30 August 2024
Application Deadline: Monday June 24 2024
Cost: £2,754 (£459 per week)
Entry requirements:
Your Overall IELTS score: No more than half (0.5) an IELTS band below the overall English language requirement for your degree course
Your Individual IELTS component scores (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening):
At least 5.5 in every component and no more than half (0.5) an IELTS band below the minimum IELTS component requirements for your degree course
You must also hold a conditional or unconditional offer to study a degree course beginning in September or October 2024 at The University of Sheffield before applying for this course
- Accepted English Tests - in-person pre-sessional courses
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We accept the following UK Visas & Immigration approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) results for entry onto our in-person pre-sessional courses:
- IELTS for UKVI
- Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) taken in the UK
- Pearson Test of English Academic UKVI (PTE Academic)
- LanguageCert International ESOL SELT
Entry requirements for each of our courses in IELTS (and LanguageCert International ESOL B2 & C1) can be found by clicking on the entry requirements link under the courses listed above. If you have a Pearson PTE result, you can convert it into an equivalent IELTS score to check your entry requirements using our test comparisons webpage:
English Language Test Comparisons
If you have a different test result, or are still unsure about the requirements for our pre-sessional courses, please send us an email containing your latest test result, and the IELTS requirements for your chosen University of Sheffield degree course and we can advise you on which courses you are eligible for.
- Visa Information - in-person pre-sessional courses
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If you are an International student, it is likely you will require a Student visa to study in the UK. To apply for a student visa, you will require a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). Further information about obtaining a CAS can be found on our Arriving in Sheffield webpages:
Early applicants to our Summer Pre-sessional courses may be eligible for a combined CAS. A combined CAS allows you to apply for a single Student Visa to remain in the UK for the duration of both of your courses (e.g. a Pre-sessional English course and a postgraduate MSc course).
A combined CAS saves you time and money as you only need to apply for a single visa before travelling to the UK and you will not need to make a new visa application between completing your pre-sessional course and starting your degree programme or Study Abroad course.
Further information about obtaining a combined CAS is available here:
- Accommodation Information - in-person pre-sessional courses
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Booking for University accommodation for the duration of our in-person Summer 2024 courses will open later in 2024. Further information about 2024 accommodation for ELTC students will be available here once the details have been confirmed.
For general information about University accommodation please visit our accommodation webpages:
Fully online pre-sessional courses
Suitable for distance learners, our fully online pre-sessional courses can be studied from your home country and finish earlier in the Summer leaving enough time for you to make travel and visa arrangements before coming to Sheffield to start your degree course.
- Full-time online 10 Weeks - June 2024
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Start Date: Monday 24 June 2024
End Date: Friday 30 August 2024
Application Deadline: Monday June 3 2024
Cost: £4,590 (£459 per week)
Entry Requirements:
Your Overall IELTS score: No more than 1 IELTS band below the overall English language requirement for your degree course
Your Individual IELTS component scores (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening):
- No component below 5.0
- A maximum of two components at 5.0
- No component more than 1.5 bands below the overall IELTS requirements for your degree course
- No component more than 1.0 below the minimum requirement for that component
You must also hold a conditional or unconditional offer to study a degree course beginning in September or October 2024 at The University of Sheffield before applying for this course
- Full-time online 6 Weeks - July 2024
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Start Date: Monday 8 July 2024
End Date: Friday 16 August 2024
Application Deadline: Monday June 17 2024
Cost: £2,754 (£459 per week)
Entry requirements
Your Overall IELTS score: No more than half (0.5) an IELTS band below the overall English language requirement for your degree course
Your Individual IELTS component scores (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening):
At least 5.5 in every component and no more than half (0.5) an IELTS band below the minimum IELTS component requirements for your degree course
You must also hold a conditional or unconditional offer to study a degree course beginning in September or October 2024 at The University of Sheffield before applying for this course
- Accepted English tests - online pre-sessional courses
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We can accept the following English language tests for entry onto our online pre-sessional courses:
- IELTS for UKVI
- Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) taken in the UK
- Pearson Test of English Academic UKVI (PTE Academic)*
- LanguageCert International ESOL SELT
- IELTS (Academic)
- IELTS Indicator (taken after July 2020)
- LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator or C1 Expert (online version)
- Pearson PTE Academic (non UKVI)*
- Cambridge English C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency
- TOEFL iBT and Special Home Edition
- NCUK English Language Test
* The online version of Pearson PTE Academic is not accepted.
We do not accept any other English language tests (such as Duolingo) for admission onto our online pre-sessional courses.
Entry requirements for each of our courses in IELTS (and LanguageCert International ESOL B2 & C1) can be found by clicking on the entry requirements link under the courses listed above. If you have a TOEFL iBT or Pearson PTE result, you can convert it into an equivalent IELTS score to check your entry requirements using our test comparisons webpage:
English Language Test comparisons
If you have a different test result, or are still unsure about the requirements for our pre-sessional courses, please send us an email containing your latest test result, and the IELTS requirements for your chosen University of Sheffield degree course and we can advise you on which courses you are eligible for.
Academic Literacy and University Culture programme
A 4 week full-time introduction to life as a student at the University of Sheffield, purposefully designed to familiarise you with academic methodology and British university culture, providing a head-start before you begin your degree programme in September 2024.
- Full-time In-Person 4 Weeks - August 2024
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Start Date: Monday 19 August 2024
End Date: Friday 13 September 2024
Application Deadline: Monday 22 July 2024
Cost: £1,836 (£459 per week)
Entry requirements
This programme is for students who have already met the English requirements for their degree course.
You must hold a conditional or unconditional offer to study a degree course beginning in September or October 2024 at The University of Sheffield which you have already met the English language requirements for in full before applying for this course.
ELTC Spring Orientation
Learn about the language, cultural and social aspects of living in the UK with our free 7 week programme of English language and culture lectures - open to all University applicants.
ELTC Spring Orientation: English language and culture lectures
Students who have accepted an offer for a Pre-sessional English course or the Academic Literacy and University Culture programme can also attend two additional interactive workshops each week from Monday 22 April.
These workshops cover topics such as English grammar, vocabulary and idioms. You will also be able to practise your speaking and communication skills throughout each workshop.
ELTC Spring Orientation: English language and culture workshops
Still need help?
If you're not sure which Pre-sessional Course is best for you then please get in touch and our Admissions Team will be happy to help:
eltc-admissions@sheffield.ac.uk
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.