Course overview
The Pre-sessional Plus programme is designed for students who have a conditional offer to study with Ulster University but have not yet met the English language requirements of your chosen course.
This full-time programme will develop your English language skills, improve your academic study skills; reading, writing, listening and speaking skills, introduce yourself to British culture and developing your understanding of university systems, services and facilities.
This course is suitable for international students only
The course information displayed on this page is correct for the academic year 2020/21. We aim to run the course as advertised however, changes may be necessary due to updates to the curriculum (due to academic or industry developments), student demand or UK compliance reasons
Response to Covid-19 – Updates for September 2021 intake: In the London and Birmingham branch campuses this Autumn, we plan to offer the opportunity to engage in some small group face-to-face teaching and other activities in London and Birmingham campuses, continuing to follow social distancing measures as required. This will be in addition to live online learning activities. Our plans are based on public health advice and robust risk assessments and will be regularly reviewed and updated in that context. For the most up to date information regarding intakes and delivery, please contact us.
Campus locations
What you'll learn
You will gain essential academic skills:
- Academic writing
- Referencing and citation
- Reading techniques
- Listening and note-taking
- Grammar and vocabulary
- Communication and discussion
- Using the internet for study
- Using the University library
- Adapt to British culture
Study method
- In-class
- Blended
- Online
Locations
- England
- London

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Duration study load
- 11 weeks
- Full time
Entry requirements
- The academic entry requirement of your target course applies
English language requirements:
- IELTS 5.0 with only one band below this (minimum 4.5)
Assessment
You will be assessed through a mixture of coursework and examinations. The pass mark for all summative assessments is 50%, and all are expected to be passed. The overall pass mark for Pre-sessional is 50%.
Delivery
Rather than having specific modules, our teaching methods are designed to boost your academic writing, reading techniques, grammar and vocabulary, using the internet and library for study.
You will attend 21 hours of classes a week which will be taught via a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials, directed study, guest lectures, project work and group work.
In addition to your time in class, you will be expected to engage in approximately 19 hours of self-study time per week.
You will be taught by our highly qualified tutors of English for Academic Purposes (EAP). The Centre for English Learning and Teaching team has proven experience of helping students just like you succeed.
You will have access to Blackboard, our online learning environment, where you can access module resources and reading lists that will assist your preparation for classes and self-study.
On average, you will study in a class of 12 students and no more than 16.
The first 5 weeks are formatively assessed only, giving you information about your progress and time to prepare for later assessments, which begin in Week 6 and continue until the end of the course. You will be working on a research essay and a presentation: the topics will be agreed with you early in the second phase of Pre-sessional and you will meet your tutor to discuss your progress regularly during the course. You will be expected to do around 20 hours a week of self-study time on top of this.
About Ulster University London and Birmingham branch campuses
In light of Covid-19, start dates may vary and these courses may initially be delivered online until a point where normal campus teaching can be resumed. For more information on intakes and delivery, please contact us.
Ulster University has strong links with industry and professional bodies to ensure that the University’s courses meet market needs and that graduates are fully equipped for successful, rewarding careers.
In addition to its 4 campuses in Northern Ireland, the University has a further 2 branch campuses in London and Birmingham. These branch campuses are run in partnership with QA Higher Education offering undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in professional and modern study facilities.
The courses at the branch campuses are validated by Ulster University and taught by QA Higher Education staff.