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International students

Pre-sessional English

Develop your English language skills before you start your academic programme.

English Test

If your English language skills are not at the required level, we have a range of courses for you before you start your academic programme. A pre-sessional English course will help you:

  • Improve your general and academic English skills
  • Improve your confidence in English
  • Get to know the University and experience British study styles before you start your programme
  • Make friends with other international students
  • Get opportunities to explore the local area

To take a pre-sessional English course for courses requiring IELTS 6.0 entry, your minimum band score must be UKVI IELTS 4.5 in each band for the 12 week and minimum 5.0 for the 6 week course. If you do not have UKVI IELTS 4.5, you will need to take English classes in your own country to improve your UKVI IELTS score.

What course do I need?

Degree entry in Pre-sessional English Course Entry point for courses requiring IELTS 5.5 or 6 Entry point for courses requiring IELTS 6.5 Entry point for courses requiring IELTS 7 Fees
January 2025 6 weeks online
Induction: 01/11/24
Course dates: 04/11/24 to 13/12/24
IELTS 5.5 overall with minimum band score 5.0 IELTS 6.0 overall with minimum band score 5.5 IELTS 6.5 overall with minimum band score 6.0 £1,995
September 2025 12 weeks online
Induction: 6/6/25
Course dates: 9/6/25 to 29/8/25
IELTS 5.0 overall with minimum band score 4.5 IELTS 5.5 overall with minimum band score 5.0 IELTS 6.0 overall with minimum band score 5.5 £3,995
September 2025 6 weeks online
Induction: 18/7/25
Course dates: 21/7/25 to 29/8/25
IELTS 5.5 overall with minimum band score 5.0 IELTS 6.0 overall with minimum band score 5.5 IELTS 6.5 overall with minimum band score 6.0 £1,995
September 2025 6 weeks on campus
Induction: 18/7/25
Course dates: 21/7/25 to 29/8/25
*IELTS 5.5 overall with minimum band score 5.0 *IELTS 6.0 overall with minimum band score 5.5 *IELTS 6.5 overall with minimum band score 6.0 £1,995

Note: 25 August 2025 is a bank holiday and there will be no teaching on this day

* UKVI APPROVED

Course content

What will you learn?

Depending on your current English language level, your course will last 12 or 6 weeks.

  • academic writing: sentence structure, essay and report writing, academic style and register, accuracy, punctuation and spelling, using secondary sources
  • listening to academic lectures and taking notes
  • speaking: presentation skills, pronunciation, discussion skills
  • reading and summarising academic texts
  • using online English learning resources
  • using the internet for research
  • producing PowerPoint presentations

Your progress is continually monitored through classwork, homework tasks and tests.

Orientation

Upon arrival in the UK all new international students will complete an orientation programme organised by our Student Services team. The programme is designed to provide you with essential and useful information to help you settle into university life. This is a great way to make new friends and meet the staff who will support you whilst you are studying at Teesside. Orientation will help you

  • familiarise yourself with the University campus and local area
  • enjoy social events and trips - there may be a small charge (£2.00-£5.00) for some trips

Induction

On the first day of the course, all new international students will attend an induction organised by the English Language Centre. Induction is designed to provide you with essential and useful information about the course. This is also an opportunity to meet your academic course tutor and other international students who will be studying with you.

Assessment

At the end of the course you must take 2 exams: a speaking and listening exam and a reading and writing exam.

Example timetable

Example timetable
Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
9.00am - 10.30am Intro to course assessments Academic skills workshop: Review GLT Academic skills workshop: Review GLT Peer review Individual tutorials
Break
11.00am - 12.00pm Set up Essay 1 Academic skills: Developing Reading Skills Seminar (discuss viva topic) Drop-in session (discuss academic text) Individual tutorials
Guided learning tasks (GLT) & Independent Study (2-3 hours daily) > Write essay outline
> Finding and evaluating sources: presentation and task
> Developing reading skills task
> Summary writing (seminar task)
> Write 1st draft
> Submit 1st draft before 2.00pm
> Submit essay
> Tutorial preparation questions
> Week 3 - review
> PDP
> Submit final draft before 2.00pm
Prepare for formative assessment
Exam tips

What does the fee include?

Online course

The course fee includes:

  • Full-time course with 20 hours of tuition per week including input, guided learning as well as individual tutorials with your academic tutor.
  • All course materials
  • Small class sizes of 6 to 12 students
  • University registration and use of all University facilities
  • Email address and Internet access
  • Award Certificate (20 credits level 4- UCCE)

On campus course

  • Full-time course with 20 hours of tuition per week including input, guided learning as well as individual tutorials with your academic tutor.
  • Access to English Language Cafe
  • All course materials
  • University registration and use of all University facilities
  • Email address and Internet access
  • Award UCCE Certificate (20 credits)

Both courses include 15 hours of self-directed learning/independent study per week.

Blended course

There is an opportunity for a blended course, a combination of online and on-campus study with the first part of the course being online and the second part on campus.

How to apply

You must be 18 years old or older at the start of the course to be eligible to apply for our Pre-Sessional English language courses.

If you want to apply for a pre-sessional English course, please email international.admissions@tees.ac.uk and you will be sent information on the next steps.

If you have your English test result when you apply for your main course
If you already have an IELTS test result and want to study a pre-sessional course, state this on your application for your main course. You will automatically be given an offer for the pre-sessional English course if you are in receipt of an offer for your main course.

If you don't have your English test results when you apply for your main course
If you take your IELTS test after you have received a conditional offer for your main course and you need to do a pre-sessional course, please contact International Admissions by email. Quote your student number and attach a copy of your test result. We will then send you an offer for the pre-sessional course given that you will already be in receipt of an offer for a main course of study.
Email: international.admissions@tees.ac.uk


The pre-sessional English programmes are accredited by the British Council which guarantees high standards in teaching, study facilities and accommodation

British Council


 
 
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