Key Facts
| English level for Student visa, degree level or above | Equivalent to CEFR level B2 |
|---|---|
| English level for Student visa, below degree level | CEFR level B1 |
| Tests UCAS names as approved SELTs for UK study visas | IELTS and Trinity's ISE |
Figures correct at the time of writing. Confirm current fees and deadlines with the school or university directly.
A pre-sessional English course is a programme of English for Academic Purposes, taught by a UK university or a partner it names, that runs immediately before the degree starts. Offer holders whose English score falls below the entry requirement often use it to meet the English condition on their offer, and the university then treats successful completion as the evidence it needs. Each university sets its own rules, so the offer letter and the course page state which scores qualify, how long the course lasts and what result you must reach at the end.
Student visa rules add a second layer, because the Home Office requires sponsors to check English at CEFR B1 or B2 depending on the level of study. A pre-sessional course tends to fit inside those rules when the sponsoring university teaches it or names the teaching partner on its licence. The sections below set out how the pieces connect and how to weigh the course against retaking a test.
What is a pre-sessional English course?
A pre-sessional course is a course that prepares a student for, and directly precedes, the intended course of study, which is how Home Office guidance for sponsors defines it. In practice the content is English for Academic Purposes, often shortened to EAP, delivered by the university's language centre or by a teaching partner. Students on it are usually offer holders who have not yet met the English condition, and the course sits between the offer and the first week of the degree.
Two sets of rules apply to the same course. The university decides which English condition sits on the offer and whether completing the course satisfies it, whilst the Home Office sets the levels that a Student visa sponsor must check before assigning a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, known as a CAS. Reading the offer letter and the visa guidance together shows where the two meet.
How do universities use a pre-sessional course for an English condition?
Universities use a pre-sessional course as a conditional route, so an offer can be unconditional apart from a requirement to reach B2 English through the course. Home Office guidance describes this arrangement for sponsors with a track record of compliance, where the student must already have shown at least B1 through an approved Secure English Language Test, known as a SELT, and the university must be satisfied that B2 is reachable. The offer letter states the condition in the university's own words.
UCAS tells applicants that universities and colleges set their own requirements and may ask for a specific English language test, with a minimum overall grade and a minimum in each of writing, speaking, listening and reading. Reading the condition on your offer against those component minima shows which skill the course must lift, and the admissions office can confirm the final result that counts as meeting the condition.
ESOL tutors
Mark
Master TutorI have thirty years in education, including Head of English at an independent school and GCSE and A-Level examiner. I teach English, Literature, Language, Creative Writing and Critical Thinking, ages four to eighteen. I start from what a student can already do and adapt my methods to them.
Enquire about this tutor
Hannah
Master TutorI am a UK-qualified teacher with 15+ years across private and state schools in the UK and abroad, and hold a BSc from LSE and a PGCE with QTS. I teach English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, 11+ and Common Entrance preparation. My approach is personalised, confidence-building and rigorous.
Enquire about this tutor
Johanna
Expert TutorI have two decades' teaching experience in English Literature, English Language and Philosophy, and hold a PhD in English Literature. I teach GCSE, A-Level, Oxbridge entrance and UCAS personal statements. My approach is person-centred, working through dialogue and ongoing assessment.
Enquire about this tutorHow do course length and entry score fit together?
The score you hold and the score the offer requires together decide which pre-sessional the university places you on, and the gap between them tends to set how much teaching time you need. Universities publish the pairing between entry score and course length themselves, so the offer letter or the international admissions page gives the exact match for your course. A wider gap usually points to a longer course, whilst a smaller gap usually points to a shorter one.
Home Office guidance adds a limit on the level change that a single combined arrangement covers. The combined-CAS provision applies to a pre-sessional that moves a student from B1 to B2, and it does not extend to other level moves such as a student holding B2 who needs C1. The course also has to last no more than three months and has to end no more than one month before the degree begins, which is why universities schedule it to finish shortly before the main start date.
How do Student visa sponsorship and the English requirement apply?
A Student visa applicant must usually prove English at CEFR level B2 for degree-level study and at CEFR level B1 below degree level, with the proof coming from a Secure English Language Test from an approved provider. GOV.UK lists exemptions for applicants from named countries and territories and for those who proved their level in a previous visa application. UCAS names IELTS and Trinity's ISE as approved SELTs.
The pre-sessional must be taught by the sponsoring university or by a partner institution named on its sponsor licence. The university can assign one CAS covering both the pre-sessional and the degree when the Home Office conditions are met, and it otherwise assigns a separate CAS for each course. Where entry to the degree is conditional on reaching B2, the guidance says sponsorship must be withdrawn if the student has not reached B2 on completion.
What does an EAP course cover, and how should you prepare?
English for Academic Purposes teaches the language skills used in university study, namely academic writing, seminar skills, reading and listening to lectures. Each skill maps onto a task the degree will set, such as an essay, a discussion in a seminar, a reading list or a lecture that you must turn into notes.
A sensible order of practice starts with reading and note-taking from recorded lectures, because written work draws on them, then moves to short academic paragraphs that you check against the marking criteria the course publishes, and finishes with seminar contributions rehearsed aloud against a timer. Ask the language centre for the final assessment criteria early, and use the component scores from your last test to decide which of the four skills to practise first.
How does a pre-sessional compare with retaking a test?
A pre-sessional adds taught study and a university-set result, whilst a retake gives a new certificate against the score the offer already specifies. Retaking tends to suit an applicant who fell short in one component by a small margin and wants a SELT certificate for the visa, and the pre-sessional tends to suit an applicant whose gap spans several skills or who wants study-style practice before the degree begins.
Before choosing, write to the admissions office with your component scores and ask the questions below, because the answers differ between universities.
- Which route does the offer letter name, and what result on that route satisfies the condition?
- Is a SELT still required for the Student visa, given that a combined CAS in the conditional case requires B1 shown by a SELT?
- Do the component minima of the test match the final result of the course?
- Who teaches the course, and is that provider named on the sponsor licence?
Related guides
English tuition for adults with Taylor Tuition
Adults who come to us for English usually know the situation they need it for, whether that is a job, a test or daily life in the UK, so lessons start with a level check against the CEFR scale and are then built around the tasks the learner actually faces.
English for adults is taught one-to-one or in small groups, at every level from beginner (CEFR A1) to proficient (C2), online or in person in central London. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on tutor level, there is no registration fee and the initial consultation is free. Employers can book programmes for staff and are invoiced directly.
Read more about our IELTS preparation tutors, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
- Does a student need a pre-sessional if they are exempt from the visa English test?
- An exemption from the visa English test applies to the Student visa and does not decide the university's own condition. UCAS says residents of some countries are exempt for visa purposes, yet universities may still require a test to show you are suited to the course. The offer letter states the condition that applies, so check it, and ask the admissions office whether your qualifications or nationality change the requirement.
- What happens if a student does not reach the required level at the end of the course?
- Where an offer is conditional on reaching B2 through the pre-sessional, Home Office guidance says sponsorship must be withdrawn if the student has not reached B2 on completion. The university's own progression rules then decide whether any other route to the degree exists, so ask in advance what the final result must be, how it is assessed and what options follow. Practising against the published criteria throughout the course keeps the standard in view.
- How can students find out whether their university offers a pre-sessional?
- Entry requirements are usually listed under each course on UCAS, and universities and colleges set their own English requirements. Start with the course page, then the university's international admissions page, and finally write to the admissions office asking which route applies to your score. Quote your current component scores so the reply can name the exact course and the result you need.
- Is an IELTS preparation course the same as a pre-sessional?
- UCAS says IELTS centres and language schools around the world offer preparation courses, and attendance is optional. A preparation course targets a test, whilst a pre-sessional course is set by a university and tied to its own English condition and sponsor arrangements. Only the second can lead directly into your degree through the offer, so confirm with the university which type it accepts.
- Can a language school outside the university run a pre-sessional for students?
- Home Office guidance says partner institutions must be named on the sponsor licence, and a pre-sessional is taught by the sponsor or by a named teaching partner. A language school the university has not named falls outside that arrangement for visa purposes. Confirm the provider's name with the admissions office before you commit to any payment or booking.
Enquire about ESOL tutoring
Start your enquiryHow Taylor Tuition can help
Expert, one-to-one support from specialist tutors.
Editorial Notice
We use automated research tools to help collate and maintain information across our website. While each post is reviewed before publication, some details may be incomplete or inaccurate.
Taylor Tuition
Educational Consultancy
Contributing expert insights on education, exam preparation, and effective learning strategies to help students reach their full potential.