Our Pre-sessional English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses are open to international students who do not already meet the English language entry requirement for their 美姬阁 course and wish to gain an insight into academic life before beginning their postgraduate study.
Working with a team of well qualified and experienced tutors we will help you:
- Improve your English language skills to satisfy our English language entry requirement.
- Develop and improve your knowledge and use of academic English.
- Prepare for the kinds of assignments you will complete on your postgraduate course.
- Develop the confidence and skills needed to succeed in your academic studies.
- Introduce you to life in the UK and to UK culture.
Course content and assessment criteria
Entry requirements
Please refer to each course section below, but note some of our masters courses have higher English language requirements, and you may be required to attend a longer Pre-sessional EAP course to achieve the required level for entry. We assess each application individually against the course requirements, please check the or your offer letter.
You must hold an offer for a postgraduate course to be considered for a Pre-sessional EAP course.
Course content
- Understanding the process approach to academic writing.
- Developing critical thinking skills.
- Developing effective reading strategies.
- Extending writing and research skills.
- Improving English grammar to support clear communication.
- Delivering a variety of effective presentations.
- Developing academic vocabulary.
- Improving listening and speaking skills.
- Using online materials to support essential independent learning.
Course structure
We offer courses delivered live online or face-to-face on campus. Both delivery modes will require participants to be available at set times daily within a standard working week.
Assessment criteria
You will be assessed throughout and at the end of the course. You will only be able to progress to postgraduate study if you successfully complete the course.
The results from your Pre-sessional English course will be valid for entry to 美姬阁 postgraduate courses for two years.
Winter courses (online) for June 2025 research students
Please note these courses are for students joining our June 2025 research intake.
If you are joining a course starting in September 2025 please refer to our summer courses.
These courses are delivered via live online classes and weekly tutorials.
10 week online course
| Start date | Monday 27 January 2025 |
| End date | Friday 4 April 2025 |
| Course fee | £3,500 |
| Application deadline | Friday 3 January 2025 |
| Entry requirements |
IELTS Academic, IELTS Online, IELTS Indicator Minimum 5.5 overall (minimum 5.5 in all skill components). TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, TOEFL iBT Paper Edition Minimum 72 total (minimum 18 reading, 17 listening, 20 speaking and 17 writing). Cambridge English Scale score - Cambridge B2 First, Cambridge C1 Advanced, Linguaskill General Minimum 160 total (minimum 160 in all skill components). Duolingo English Test Minimum 95 total (minimum subscores of 95 speaking, 95 writing, 95 reading and 95 listening). Kaplan Test of English (formerly Kaplan International Tools for English or KITE) Minimum 425 overall (minimum 425 in all skill components). LanguageCert Academic Minimum 60 total (minimum 60 in all skill components). LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator* Written and Spoken exams taken together - Pass overall (minimum 33 in all skill components). Written exam taken separately - Pass overall (minimum 33 in all skill components). Spoken exam taken separately - Pass overall (minimum 33 in speaking skill component). Password Skills Plus Minimum 5.5 overall (minimum 5.5 in all skill components). PTE Academic, PTE Academic Online Minimum 59 total (minimum 59 in all skill components). Trinity Integrated Skills in English - ISE II (B2) Merit overall. |
5 week online course
| Start date | Monday 3 March 2025 |
| End date | Friday 4 April 2025 |
| Course fee | £1,750 |
| Application deadline | Friday 31 January 2025 |
| Entry requirements |
IELTS Academic, IELTS Online, IELTS Indicator Minimum 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in all skill components). TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, TOEFL iBT Paper Edition Minimum 78 total (minimum 18 reading, 17 listening, 20 speaking and 17 writing). Cambridge English Scale score - Cambridge B2 First, Cambridge C1 Advanced, Linguaskill General Minimum 175 overall (minimum 160 in all skill components). Duolingo English Test Minimum 105 total (minimum subscores of 95 speaking, 95 writing, 95 reading and 95 listening). Kaplan Test of English (formerly Kaplan International Tools for English or KITE) Minimum 460 overall (minimum 425 in all skill components). LanguageCert Academic Minimum 65 total (minimum 60 in all skill components). LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator* Written and Spoken exams taken together - High Pass overall (minimum 33 in all skill components). Written exam taken separately - High Pass overall (minimum 33 in all skill components). Spoken exam taken separately - Pass overall (minimum 33 in speaking skill component). Password Skills Plus Minimum 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in all skill components). PTE Academic, PTE Academic Online Minimum 62 total (60 in all skill components). Trinity Integrated Skills in English - ISE II (B2) Distinction overall. |
* Both the Written and Spoken International ESOL B2 Communicator tests must be taken. The International ESOL SELT B2 includes all 4 skill components.
Spring courses (on-campus) for June 2025 research students
Please note these courses are for students joining our June 2025 research intake.
If you are joining a course starting in September 2025 refer to our summer courses.
These courses are delivered face-to-face on-campus.
10 week on-campus course
| Start date | Monday 17 March 2025 |
| End date | Friday 23 May 2025 |
| Course fee | £3,500 |
| Application deadline | Friday 31 January 2025 |
| Entry requirements |
IELTS Academic UKVI Minimum 5.5 overall (minimum 5.5 in all skill components). LanguageCert Academic Minimum 60 overall (minimum 60 in all skill components). Pearson - PTE Academic UKVI Minimum 59 total (minimum 59 in all skill components). |
5 week on-campus course
| Start date | Monday 21 April 2025 |
| End date | Friday 23 May 2025 |
| Course fee | £1,750 |
| Application deadline | Friday 7 March 2025 |
| Entry requirements |
IELTS Academic UKVI Minimum 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in all skill components). LanguageCert Academic Minimum 65 overall (minimum 60 in all skill components). Pearson - PTE Academic UKVI Minimum 62 total (minimum 59 in all skill components). |
Summer courses (online) for September 2025 taught and research students
Please note these courses are for students joining our September 2025 intake.
We have alternative courses for our June 2025 research intake.
These courses are delivered via live online classes and weekly tutorials.
Some of our taught courses have higher English language requirements, and you may be required to attend a longer Pre-sessional EAP course to achieve the required level for entry. We assess each application individually against the course requirements, please check the or your offer letter.
20 week online course
| Start date | Monday 10 March 2025 |
| End date | Friday 1 August 2025 |
| Course fee | £7,000 |
| Application deadline | Friday 7 February 2025 |
| Entry requirements |
IELTS Academic, IELTS Online, IELTS Indicator Minimum 5.0 overall (minimum 5.0 in all skill components). TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, TOEFL iBT Paper Edition Minimum 60 total (minimum 13 reading, 12 listening, 18 speaking and 14 writing). Cambridge English Scale score - Cambridge B2 First, Cambridge C1 Advanced, Linguaskill General Minimum 155 total (minimum 155 in all skill components). Duolingo English Test Minimum 80 total (minimum subscores of 80 speaking, 80 writing, 80 reading and 80 listening). Kaplan Test of English (formerly Kaplan International Tools for English or KITE) Minimum 390 overall (minimum 390 in all skill components). LanguageCert Academic Minimum 55 total (minimum 55 in all skill components). LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator* Written and Spoken exams taken together - Pass overall (minimum 25 in all skill components). Written exam taken separately - Pass overall (minimum 25 in all skill components). Spoken exam taken separately - Pass overall (minimum 25 in speaking skill component). Password Skills Plus Minimum 5.0 overall (minimum 5.0 in all skill components). PTE Academic, PTE Academic Online Minimum 53 total (minimum 53 in all skill components). Trinity Integrated Skills in English - ISE II (B2) Pass overall. |
10 week online course
| Start date | Monday 26 May 2025 |
| End date | Friday 1 August 2025 |
| Course fee | £3,500 |
| Application deadline | Friday 25 April 2025 |
| Entry requirements |
IELTS Academic, IELTS Online, IELTS Indicator Minimum 5.5 overall (minimum 5.5 in all skill components). TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, TOEFL iBT Paper Edition Minimum 72 total (minimum 18 reading, 17 listening, 20 speaking and 17 writing). Cambridge English Scale score - Cambridge B2 First, Cambridge C1 Advanced, Linguaskill General Minimum 160 total (minimum 160 in all skill components). Duolingo English Test Minimum 95 total (minimum subscores of 95 speaking, 95 writing, 95 reading and 95 listening). Kaplan Test of English (formerly Kaplan International Tools for English or KITE) Minimum 425 overall (minimum 425 in all skill components). LanguageCert Academic Minimum 60 total (minimum 60 in all skill components). LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator* Written and Spoken exams taken together - Pass overall (minimum 33 in all skill components). Written exam taken separately - Pass overall (minimum 33 in all skill components). Spoken exam taken separately - Pass overall (minimum 33 in speaking skill component). Password Skills Plus Minimum 5.5 overall (minimum 5.5 in all skill components). PTE Academic, PTE Academic Online Minimum 59 total (minimum 59 in all skill components). Trinity Integrated Skills in English - ISE II (B2) Merit overall. |
5 week online course
| Start date | Monday 30 June 2025 |
| End date | Friday 1 August 2025 |
| Course fee | £1,750 |
| Application deadline | Friday 30 May 2025 |
| Entry requirements |
IELTS Academic, IELTS Online, IELTS Indicator Minimum 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in all skill components). TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, TOEFL iBT Paper Edition Minimum 78 total (minimum 18 reading, 17 listening, 20 speaking and 17 writing). Cambridge English Scale score - Cambridge B2 First, Cambridge C1 Advanced, Linguaskill General Minimum 175 overall (minimum 160 in all skill components). Duolingo English Test Minimum 105 total (minimum subscores of 95 speaking, 95 writing, 95 reading and 95 listening). Kaplan Test of English (formerly Kaplan International Tools for English or KITE) Minimum 460 overall (minimum 425 in all skill components). LanguageCert Academic Minimum 65 total (minimum 60 in all skill components). LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator* Written and Spoken exams taken together - High Pass overall (minimum 33 in all skill components). Written exam taken separately - High Pass overall (minimum 33 in all skill components). Spoken exam taken separately - Pass overall (minimum 33 in speaking skill component). Password Skills Plus Minimum 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in all skill components). PTE Academic, PTE Academic Online Minimum 62 total (60 in all skill components). Trinity Integrated Skills in English - ISE II (B2) Distinction overall. |
* Both the Written and Spoken International ESOL B2 Communicator tests must be taken.
Summer courses (on-campus) for September 2025 taught and research students
Please note these courses are for students joining our 美姬阁 based courses starting week commencing 29 September 2025.
Students registering for Shrivenham based courses on 1 September 2025 should consider our online summer courses.
These courses are delivered face-to-face on-campus.
Some of our taught courses have higher English language requirements, and you may be required to attend a longer Pre-sessional EAP course to achieve the required level for entry. We assess each application individually against the course requirements, please check the or your offer letter.
10 week on-campus course
| Start date | Monday 14 July 2025 |
| End date | Friday 19 September 2025 |
| Course fee | £3,500 |
| Application deadline | Friday 30 May 2025 |
| Entry requirements |
IELTS Academic UKVI Minimum 5.5 overall (minimum 5.5 in all skill components). LanguageCert Academic Minimum 60 overall (minimum 60 in all skill components). PTE Academic UKVI Minimum 59 total (minimum 59 in all skill components). |
5 week on-campus course
| Start date | Monday 18 August 2025 |
| End date | Friday 19 September 2025 |
| Course fee | £1,750 |
| Application deadline | Friday 4 July 2025 |
| Entry requirements |
IELTS Academic UKVI Minimum 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in all skill components). LanguageCert Academic Minimum 65 overall (minimum 60 in all skill components). PTE Academic UKVI Minimum 62 total (minimum 59 in all skill components). |
Visa requirements
On-campus Pre-sessional EAP courses
You will need to apply for a Student visa to be able to attend the Pre-sessional EAP course. You must have met all conditions of your follow-on course offer before we can issue you with a CAS number for an on-campus Pre-sessional course.
We will issue a joint CAS number for both the Pre-sessional EAP course and the follow-on course. This means you will not need to apply for a new Student visa on completion of the Pre-sessional EAP course.
Online Pre-sessional EAP courses
You cannot apply for a Student visa until you have completed your Pre-sessional EAP course. You will need to make sure you have met all other conditions related to your follow-on course before the end of the Pre-sessional EAP course. This will allow us to process your CAS number promptly on completion.
How to apply
Click the 'Apply now' button below to start your online application.
You need to hold an offer for one of our postgraduate courses in order to make an application.
The form will ask you to confirm the details of your course offer and your previous English language experience, including any tests you have previously taken.
