English for Academic Purposes Pre-Sessional Programmes

To find out more about our halls of residence please visit our website.

All Pre-sessional students are guaranteed accommodation in University Halls of Residence for the duration of their Pre-sessional Programme.

We offer Pre-sessional students a Meet and Greet collection service from London Heathrow Airport. 

Typical entry requirements

39 Weeks General English for Academic Purposes Pre-Sessional Programmes

Dates: 30 September 2021 to 9 September 2022

Entry Requirements:

Minimum IELTS 4.5 Overall, with a minimum score of 4.5 or higher in Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.

This programme is suitable for students hoping to join a degree programme at the University of Southampton who need to improve their English language level from a minimum of IELTS 4.5 to IELTS 6.5.

It is not recommended for students who have to improve their English by more than 2 IELTS bands.

Please note all IELTS scores must be 4.5 or higher, regardless of any degree offer condition you have been given.

Please contact us for advice on your entry requirements.

25 Weeks General English for Academic Purposes Pre-Sessional Programmes

Dates: 27 January 2022 to 9 September 2022

Entry Requirements:

Minimum IELTS 5.0 Overall, with a minimum score of 5.0 or higher in Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.

This programme is suitable for students hoping to join a degree programme at the University of Southampton who need to improve their English language level from a minimum of IELTS 5.0 to IELTS 6.5.

It is not recommended for students who have to improve their English by more than 1.5 IELTS bands.

Please note all IELTS scores must be 5.0 or higher, regardless of any degree offer condition you have been given.

Please contact us for advice on your entry requirements.

To apply

To apply for a Pre-sessional course, please complete the online online application form.

Application deadlines

The number of places on the Pre-sessional course is not limited.

All applicants are encouraged to apply and complete the application process as soon as possible.

Additionally, applicants who require a visa to study in the UK should allow sufficient time for the processing of a visa application. 

The application deadlines are as follows:

Further information on visas and immigration is available on our International website.

The application will be assessed after the IELTS or other English language test results have been provided. If an offer is issued to the applicant they will be required to accept the offer within 15 days.  Additionally, an offer will be conditional on the payment of a non-refundable pre-payment of GBP 500.

If you have a question or would like further information, please contact our Admissions Team:

By telephone: +44 23 8059 3344

By email: elaccess@southampton.ac.uk

The 39 and 25 Week Pre-sessional programmes consist of five core modules: academic reading, academic writing, academic listening, academic speaking and independent learning. You will attend lectures, which are either subject specific or of general academic interest, and have tutorials with your tutors in which you receive feedback on your learning to help you further develop your language and academic skills. You have 20 University contact hours per week (excluding the August/September assessment period). You will also be expected to carry out further independent study and complete assignments outside the classroom.

The 39 Week Programme

This programme starts in September each year.  In the first semester you will consolidate your general language skills. In the second semester you will continue to enhance your general English alongside developing your academic skills.  In the third 'semester' (summer) you will focus primarily on improving and enhancing your academic skills in preparation for University study.

The 25 Week programme

In the first semester you will consolidate your general language skills and also develop your academic skills.  In the second 'semester' (summer) you will focus primarily on improving and enhancing your academic skills in preparation for University study.

Academic Reading and Writing

You will have a reading and writing tutor who teaches you academic skills such as:

• planning and structuring your writing effectively
• paraphrasing, summarising, synthesising and using quotations to reference correctly from your sources
• extending your use of academic language
• writing researched essays
• employing suitable research skills and reading strategies to navigate and critically evaluate relevant and reliable sources of information and ideas
• developing a range of comprehension and note-taking strategies to make effective linguistic use of written sources.

Academic Listening and Speaking

You will have a listening and speaking tutor who teaches you academic skills such as:

• participating in small group and class discussions
• improving your pronunciation
• planning and delivering academic presentations
• designing effective and correctly referenced Powerpoint slides to support an academic presentation
• listening to others
• recognising ways in which information is organised in a lecture
• identifying and noting key points and supporting points in a lecture
• using your notes to aid exam revision

You will have regular tutorials with your tutor to discuss your progress and will learn how to use the University libraries.

Independent Learning

You will also have an Independent Learning tutor who gives workshop classes on topics including :

• recognising your learning styles
• developing language learning strategies
• identifying learning resources (physical and electronic)
• learning how to use University systems, including the BlackBoard Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), and e-Assignments (used for submitting assignments)

To apply

To apply for a Pre-sessional programme, please complete the online application form.

Further information on visas and immigration is available on our International website.

If you have a question or would like further information, please contact our Admissions Team:

By telephone: +44 (0) 23 8059 3344

By email: elaccess@southampton.ac.uk

By post:

English Language Admissions
Recruitment and Admissions Team
Humanities
University of Southampton
Highfield
Southampton
SO17 1BJ

How will you learn?

• The 39 and 25 Week Pre-sessional programmes are taught by our qualified and experienced teaching staff from the University’s Academic Centre for International Students (ACIS), who follow the University of Southampton's Pre-sessional Programme syllabus for the 39 and 24 week Pre-sessional programmes.
• Your studies will involve taught sessions in reading, writing, listening and speaking, and the emphasis is on how to communicate effectively in English at a a British university.
• You will also attend weekly independent learning workshops, in which you are taught the study skills necessary to succeed in your studies.
• You will also have regular tutorials.

Assessment

• You will complete a number of assessments which are designed to prepare you for study on your degree programme.
• Examples of assessments include researched reading, writing and reflective tasks, listening tests, discussions and presentations.

Please note that there is not a maximum number of successful students who can progress from the Pre-sessional programmes onto degree programmes. If you complete your Pre-sessional programme with the required grade, you will have met the English language requirements of your conditional offer to study at the University of Southampton.

To apply

To apply for a Pre-sessional programme, please complete the online application form.

Further information on visas and immigration is available on our International website.

If you have a question or would like further information, please contact our Admissions Team:

By telephone: +44 (0) 23 8059 3344

By email: elaccess@southampton.ac.uk

By post:
English Language Admissions
Recruitment and Admissions Team
Humanities
University of Southampton
Highfield
Southampton
SO17 1BJ