Pre-sessional English courses

Pre-sessional courses are a way to develop your English for academic purposes before starting a degree. Passing one means that you will not need to take an English language test to enrol. 

They also give you the opportunity to: 

• develop your study skills 
• meet other students and staff at social and educational events 
• experience university life in the UK before you begin your degree course (if you enrol in an on-campus pre-sessional course)

Read more about what the courses cover and how they are assessed.

You can take any of the courses online or in person on our campus in Southampton. To study in person you’ll need a student visa, unless you are a UK resident.   

Applying for the right course

We offer pre-sessional courses of 16, 11 or 6 weeks. A longer course will give you more opportunities for learning and feedback.

The right course for you will depend on:

• your current English language level
• the language entry requirement for your degree course

Pre-sessional language requirement

To enrol in a pre-sessional course you must have an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score (or equivalent) that meets the minimum requirement.

To find out what IELTS score you need to take a pre-sessional course, you'll first need to know what overall score you need to enrol in your degree course. You can find this:

• in your conditional offer letter
• using the course finder (it's in the 'Entry requirements' section on your chosen course page, under 'International students')

You'll then use this to see which pre-sessional courses you are eligible to enrol in.

16-week course

To enrol, you must have an IELTS score that is:

• a minimum of 5.0 overall and in all components
• also no more than 1.5 bands below the IELTS score required for your degree course

For example, you need an overall 6.0 IELTS score to enrol in the Fashion Design (MA) degree course. To enrol in the 16-week pre-sessional course you still need an overall 5.0 IELTS.

11-week course

To enrol, you must have an IELTS score that is:

• a minimum of 5.0 overall
• also no more than 1 band below the IELTS score required for your degree course

For example, you need an overall IELTS score of 6.5 to enrol in the International Management (MSc) degree course. You need an overall 5.5 IELTS score to enrol in the 11-week pre-sessional course.

6-week course

To enrol, you must have an IELTS score that is:

• a minimum of 5.5 overall
• also no more than half a band (0.5) below the IELTS score required for your degree course

For example, you need an overall IELTS score of 6.5 to enrol in the Film Studies (MA) degree course. You need a 6.0 IELTS score to enrol in the 6-week pre-sessional course.

Course dates, deadlines and fees

Apply for a pre-sessional course

You will need to fill in an application form to apply for your chosen course.  

To secure your place, you will need to pay a £500 deposit. We will email you information on how to make the deposit after we get your application. The deposit is non-refundable and will go towards paying the total fee of your chosen course.  

Apply for a pre-sessional course

Changing or cancelling your course  

You may be able to change your course from online to on campus, or from campus to online, if you let us know before the application deadline.  

You may be able to change from a longer course to a shorter one after you have enrolled if you: 

• meet the language requirement for the shorter course
• let us know before the longer one starts

Choosing your accommodation    

If you are studying on campus, you are guaranteed a place in university accommodation throughout your pre-sessional course. You will be able to book accommodation in one of 7 halls of residence run by the University.    

Compare halls of residence  

If you do not want to live on campus you can look for private accommodation. 

Learn more about accommodation options for pre-sessional students. We also have a meet and greet option for students arriving at Heathrow. 

Contact the University 

If you would like advice or more information before applying, or if you want to change or cancel your course, contact our Admissions Team:  

• email: elaccess@southampton.ac.uk 

• telephone: +44 (0)23 8059 3344 

If you need help with visas or Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), contact our Visa and Immigration Student Advice Service (VISAS).