Pre-sessional English courses
- Undergraduate
- Short course
- Postgraduate
If you are an international or European Union student, and would like to improve your English language skills before you start your degree at Kingston University, or any other university, this course is for you.
Improve your English language skills
Find the right course for you.
We run a variety of pre-sessional English courses designed to help international students improve their language skills.
On this page, we describe all the courses on offer. You can find out what course is right for you and how to apply. There is also information on payments, refunds and cancellations. We provide contact details too, so you know who to contact if you have any questions.
The course is great! It helped me obtain the English scores I needed to study on a postgraduate degree at Kingston.
Why choose our pre-sessional English course
Our pre-sessional English courses are designed for international students preparing to study in the UK for the first time. Students whose first language is not English will find our pre-sessional courses useful too.
Your pre-sessional results can also serve as an alternative to IELTS or other English test scores. This means you can meet the English language entry requirements of your chosen degree at Kingston University by undertaking one of our pre-sessional courses.
Our pre-sessional English courses will:
- Develop your English language skills to make you a more confident English speaker
- Ensure you can participate more fully on your chosen university programme
- Build the study skills and independence you need as a learner at a UK university
- Introduce you to the university systems so you know what to expect when you arrive
- Help you make friends with other students in class and on our Social Programme
The benefits of studying pre-sessional English online
Our pre-sessional English courses are all online. Courses that take place online are usually cheaper and more convenient than face-to-face lessons.
Post-course data shows students studying pre-sessional English online with us are happy and successful.
In 2025:
- 98% of students who completed the online course progressed to their main Kingston University degree
- 100% of students reported they were satisfied with the online course
What to expect from our online classes
Teaching is through online interactive classes and individual tutorials. You will use Canvas, our online learning management system.
Course sessions are held every weekday, between 8am and 2pm UK time with breaks. You will also undertake at least 30 hours of independent study per week outside class times.
We keep classes small with a maximum of 16 students where possible.
This course is rich, has exercised my listening and speaking skills, and improved my reading and writing skills. I really like the teacher. She is very conscientious and responsible, and very patient in correcting our pronunciation and listening to our expressions.
I'm very grateful to my teacher for taking care of me, which made me feel warmth of the school and reduce my nervousness about studying in other country.
Application process
Before completing your online application, read the guidance below carefully. If you expect to have other commitments during the course, let us know before you apply. Other commitments could be work, university or family obligations. Once you’ve told us, we can advise you on your next steps.
I really enjoyed the Pre-sessional course. It helped me improve my academic English skills, especially in writing and presentations. The teachers were kind and supportive. Thank you!
Apply for a pre-sessional English course
We offer four lengths of Pre-sessional English courses. Your International English Language Test score (IELTS) will determine which length you should apply for. The information below will help you decide what course to apply for. We also provide upcoming course dates, prices and apply links.
What you will study on a pre-sessional English course
The content of our pre-sessional English courses varies depending on the length of the block. Our extended and long pre-sessional blocks focus on integrating skills and language. Whereas our medium and short blocks look in more depth at academic skills and language. Discover more about the course content below. You will also be able to find out what tutorials, projects and assessments to expect.
Helps a lot for me to adapt to the academic environment and let me know about university. I can find a lot of practical advice for my further study.
Attending and completing your pre-sessional course
Attendance on pre-sessional English courses
If you are studying on one of our online pre-sessional courses, you can complete the course in your home country. Visas are not required to enrol.
To complete the online course, you will need:
- a laptop or PC with at least 8GB of RAM
- a webcam
- a stable and reliable internet connection (internet speeds with a minimum bandwidth of 600kbps (up/down), with a recommended speed of 1.5 Mbps (up/down))
- a suitable quiet place to study alone
- a detachable webcam for assessments
If you choose to travel to or within the UK during your pre-sessional course, you should check the national government guidance before you start your journey.
If you wish to come to the UK and/or stay in Kingston University halls accommodation, contact the course administrator.
How to successfully complete your pre-sessional English course
With hard work and regular attendance all students can successfully complete their pre-sessional English course.
To successfully complete a pre-sessional English course, you must:
- Attend a minimum of 80% of all timetabled sessions from day one of your pre-sessional English course
- Complete a minimum of 80% of organised and independent study tasks
- Attain an average minimum score of 80% in the organised and independent study tasks where relevant and review and redo tasks to achieve this score
- Pass the end-of-course assessments at the level required for entry onto your main course
How we support students taking pre-sessional English
We provide a range of support services to students taking pre-sessional English. These services will be available before you arrive in the UK and while you are studying with us.
What our students say
I learnt Harvard-style referencing before the rest of my class on my main degree. This gave me an advantage when it came to essay writing.
The pre-sessional course allowed me to gain an early understanding of future studies, such as presentation skills and Harvard citations. It is an excellent course.
The pre-sessional course has enabled me to adapt well to the English teaching style. It has also boosted my confidence in English expression.
I'm extremely happy that I could take this course. During this month, I have acquired a lot of knowledge that I had never encountered before. This teaching model is different from IELTS, and I think it is similar with our graduate teaching model. What impressed me the most was writing and speaking course, in these classes, I learned how to write an essay and deliver a presentation, these courses was extremely effective to me, and I believe that it can help me a lot in my future study.
I would like to express my gratitude to Kingston University for giving me the opportunity to learn English, and I also want to thank my teacher for the help he provided me during this month. Thanks to everyone!
Cancellation and refund policy
If you want to withdraw from your pre-sessional English course, let us know as soon as possible. Contact us stating your reasons for withdrawing via email.
Got a question?
If you would like to contact the pre-sessional English team, send us an email and we will be back in touch.
