Term 1 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.

To find out the example Pre-sessional English entry requirements for your situation, please select the IELTS entry requirement for your prospective degree course.

My degree course requires:

IELTS 7.5 overall with a minimum of 7.5 in each component

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

30 week course - IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component

11 week course - IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 7.0 in each component

IELTS 7.5 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each component

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

30 week course - IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.0 in each component

11 week course - IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component

IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 7.0 in each component

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

30 week course - IELTS 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component

11 week course - IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each component

IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each component

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

30 week course - IELTS 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.0 in each component

11 week course - IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component

IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component

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

30 week course - IELTS 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.0 in each component

11 week course - IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component

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

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

30 week course - IELTS 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.0 in Writing and 4.5 in all other components

11 week course - IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component

IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component

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

30 week course - IELTS 5.0 overall with a minimum of 4.5 in each component

11 week course - IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component

IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component

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

30 week course - IELTS 5.0 overall with a minimum of 4.0 in each component

11 week course - IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.0 in each component

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

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

30 week course - IELTS 5.0 overall with a minimum of 5.0 in listening and 4.5 in all other components

11 week course - IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in listening and 5.5 in all other components

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

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

30 week course - IELTS 5.0 overall with a minimum of 5.0 in writing and 4.0 in all other components

11 week course - IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in writing and 5.0 in all other components

IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component

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

30 week course - IELTS 4.5 overall with a minimum of 4.0 in each components

11 week course - IELTS 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.0 in each component

Other entry requirements

Please e-mail 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.

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 we recommend that you apply for your preferred course. We can then make a recommendation based on your application.


Course details

11 Week Pre-sessional Course

Start date: Monday 2 October 2023

End date: Friday 15 December 2023

Application Deadline: Sunday 3 September 2023

Cost: £4,675

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 4.0 in every component and no more than half (0.5) an IELTS band below the minimum IELTS component requirements for your degree course

The application deadline for this course has now passed and it is closed for new applicants. 

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.

Information last updated:


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International Merit Scholarships

We offer a generous package of financial support for international students including 75 undergraduate scholarships worth £10,000 towards the annual tuition fee and 125 postgraduate taught scholarships worth £5,000 towards the tuition fee. Applications are now open for existing offer holders.