Summer pre-sessional teaching (July–September 2021)

During summer 2021, if COVID-19 restrictions allow, we’ll use a blended teaching method. This means that some of your study will be online with weekly live online classes and consultations. Independent study is an important element of these courses and you’ll have opportunities for face-to-face teaching or consultations on campus from August 2021. This will include at least one on-campus meeting a week with your tutors and other students.

If circumstances permit, throughout the summer there'll be opportunities to meet students on campus for social activities.

Please note that if COVID-19 restrictions change, any on-campus teaching, meetings or activities may be delivered online. 

If you’re not able to travel to the UK due to COVID-19 or travel restrictions in your country, you’ll be able to complete your pre-sessional course online.

10-week summer pre-sessional courses

If you’re studying a 10-week pre-sessional course, the first four weeks will be taught fully online. For the final six weeks of your course (from 2 August 2021) if COVID-19 restrictions allow, we’ll use the blended teaching method described previously.

6-week summer pre-sessional courses

If you’re studying a 6-week pre-sessional course, if COVID-19 restrictions allow, we’ll use the blended teaching method described previously.

Frequently asked questions

Which English language certificates do we accept?

We accept the following certificates:

  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic.*
  • IELTS for UKVI (Academic). This test is a SELT (Secure English Language Test).*
  • Pearson PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic*
  • Pearson PTE Academic UKVI. This test is a SELT (Secure English Language Test).*
  • TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test). We expect candidates to meet the relevant requirements from a single test.* 
  • Language Cert International English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) B2 Communicator - both the written and the spoken tests, when taken at a test centre.
  • Password Skills
  • Cambridge Advanced English
  • Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency
  • iGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) English as a first or second language  

We do not accept IELTS Indicator, Password Skills Solo, TOEFL MyBest scores or TOEFL iBT Home Edition.

*Please note, we cannot accept results from these tests that will be more than two years old on the start date of the course you intend to study. 

Check IELTS equivalencies for TOEFL iBT and Pearson tests.

What are the entry requirements?

Entry requirements vary depending on which degree you'll be studying after your pre-sessional English course.

Masters applicants

If you'll be studying a taught postgraduate degree, entry requirements for summer pre-sessional courses can be found from the 'Applying, fees and funding' section on your Masters course page. Find your Masters course page for more information.

Research applicants

If you’ll be studying a research degree, you can find the entry requirements for the 10 or 6 week research pre-sessional courses on the following course pages:

How do I apply?

Apply via the application portal. Choose either:

  • Summer pre-sessional (10 weeks) English for Postgraduate Studies, or 
  • Summer pre-sessional (6 weeks) English for Postgraduate Studies 

If you experience any difficulties, please email the Admissions Enquiries team at study@leeds.ac.uk.

My postgraduate course offer is unconditional. Can I apply for this pre-sessional course?

Yes.

I'm eligible for the six week pre-sessional course. Can I apply for the 10 week course?

Yes.

When will I receive a response to my application?  

During peak times, it may take us longer to respond to your application. 

Masters applicants

We'll review your pre-sessional English application after you've received a decision on your Masters application.

Research applicants

We'll respond to your pre-sessional application after we receive it.

What's included in the tuition fees?

Do I need to pay a tuition fee deposit?

We are accepting deposit payments to secure your place on your pre-sessional course. 

The full tuition fee for your pre-sessional English course needs to be paid before you register. We therefore encourage you to pay your tuition fee in full at this stage, rather than paying the deposit only. Your course fee is in your pre-sessional English offer letter.

If you don't attend your pre-sessional English course, any payments you've made will automatically be allocated to your Masters course instead. If you also decline your Masters course offer, your right to a refund of your deposit is limited.

How long will this pre-sessional course be valid for?

This pre-sessional course is valid for two years from the date of completion.

Important dates for Masters applicants

10-week pre-sessional English applicants 

Stage of application process Deadline

 Apply for your pre-sessional English course after submitting your Masters application.

Please include your English language certificate in your application.

  6 June 2021 5pm (UK time)
 If you apply without providing your English language certificate, you must send it to us by this date.  6 June 2021

 Accept your pre-sessional English and Masters course offers and pay a tuition fee deposit of £1,500, or provide evidence which exempts you from paying the deposit.

Please refer to your Masters offer letter for further details about the tuition fee deposit.

Find out how to pay your tuition fee deposit.

 13 June 2021

 If you receive your offer on or after 13 June, accept your offer and pay your tuition fee deposit within 3 working days.

 If you wish to be issued a combined CAS (Confirmation for Acceptance for Studies) for the pre-sessional and Masters, meet the academic conditions of your Masters course.  

Or, provide us with a UKVI IELTS certificate and request a CAS for your pre-sessional English course only.

The first four weeks of your 10-week pre-sessional English course will be taught fully online. Your CAS will be issued in time for you to arrive in Leeds for the final six weeks of this course.

 4 July 2021

We strongly recommend providing your academic evidence to meet the academic condition of your Masters course well in advance of this date to avoid delays with your combined CAS. 

6-week pre-sessional English applicants

Stage of application process Deadline

 Apply for your pre-sessional English course after submitting your Masters application. Please include your English language certificate in your application.

  6 June 2021 5pm (UK time)
 If you apply without providing your English language certificate, you must send it to us by this date.  21 June 2021

 If you wish to be issued a combined CAS for the pre-sessional and Masters, meet the academic conditions of your Masters course.

Or, provide us with a UKVI IELTS certificate and request a CAS for your pre-sessional English course only.

Your CAS will be issued in time for you to arrive in Leeds for your six-week pre-sessional English course.

 4 July 2021

 We strongly recommend providing your academic evidence to meet the academic condition of your Masters course well in advance of this date to avoid delays with your combined CAS. 

 Accept your pre-sessional English and Masters course offers and pay a tuition fee deposit of £1,500, or provide evidence which exempts you from paying the deposit.

Please refer to your Masters offer letter for further details about the tuition fee deposit.

Find out how to pay your tuition fee deposit.

11 July 2021

 We strongly recommend accepting your offers and paying well in advance of this date to avoid delays with your combined CAS.

Important dates for research applicants

Stage of application process Deadline for 10-week pre-sessional English applicants Deadline for six-week pre-sessional English applicants
 Apply for your pre-sessional English course  6 June 2021 5pm (UK time)  6 June 2021 5pm (UK time)
 Submit your English language certificate  6 June 2021  4 July 2021
 Accept your pre-sessional English course offer  13 June 2021  11 July 2021

Discipline-specific pre-sessional English courses

Read the following information about our discipline-specific pre-sessional English courses, including entry requirements, start dates and how to apply.

Masters applicants

If you'll be studying a taught postgraduate degree, our postgraduate summer pre-sessional course is tailored to your subject area, so you'll learn academic English that specifically prepares you for your degree. 

Course content in July and August is developed by teaching staff from the Language Centre and from your academic department. These courses can help if you don't meet the English language requirement for your degree, or if you want to gain a better understanding of using academic language in your subject area before your degree starts. You can see the list of our tailored pre-sessional courses at the end of this page.

Research applicants 

If you'll be studying a research degree, during the summer you'll have the opportunity to study with other postgraduate researchers. If you apply to study for 10 weeks, the first four weeks of your course will be tailored to postgraduate study within the broader context of your research subject area and you'll study with other postgraduate students.

For the remaining six weeks, or if you apply for our six-week pre-sessional course, you'll study with other researchers preparing for a research degree. You'll learn how to use academic English that specifically prepares you for research using material from your degree subject area.

Pre-sessional English for your Masters course

Pre-sessional English for your research degree