During the academic year, we offer pre-sessional courses starting in September/October or January.
The length of course you need depends on your current level of English and on the level required for your degree.
Find the right pre-sessional course for your research degree using the entry requirements on this page.
Find the right course for you
- Choose your year of entry.
- Use the entry requirements on this page to see how long you should study for.
- Select your preferred pre-sessional course for detailed course information, fees and to apply.
2023/24 courses and entry requirements
If your research degree offer is from one of the schools in the following list, please send your offer letter and most recent English language qualification by email to the Language Centre via langc@leeds.ac.uk so that we can advise you on your eligibility for a pre-sessional course:
- School of Computing
- School of Media and Communication
- School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies
- Leeds University Business School
If you’ll start your pre-sessional English course in October 2023 or January 2024, use the following list to check which course you can study. If you have an English qualification that isn’t IELTS (the International English Language Testing System) see our English language equivalent qualifications page.
If your degree requires an overall IELTS score of 6.0
Your current score: 4.5 with no components below 4.0.
You need: Pre-sessional English for Postgraduate Research (two semesters plus summer – starting in October)
Your current score: 5.0 with no components below 4.5
You need:
- Pre-sessional English for Postgraduate Research (two semesters – starting in October)
or - Pre-sessional English for Postgraduate Research (one semester plus summer – starting in January)
Your current score: 5.5 with no components below 5.0
You need:
- Pre-sessional English for Postgraduate Research (one semester – starting in October)
or - Pre-sessional English for Postgraduate Research (one semester – starting in January)
If your degree requires an overall IELTS score of 6.5
Your current score: 5.0 with no components below 4.5
You need: Pre-sessional English for Postgraduate Research (two semesters plus summer – starting in October)
Your current score: 5.5 with no components below 5.0
You need:
- Pre-sessional English for Postgraduate Research (two semesters – starting in October)
or - Pre-sessional English for Postgraduate Research (one semester plus summer – starting in January)
Your current score: 6.0 with no components below 5.5
You need:
- Pre-sessional English for Postgraduate Research (one semester – starting in October)
or - Pre-sessional English for Postgraduate Research (one semester – starting in January)
If your degree requires an overall IELTS score of 7.0
Your current score: 5.5 with no components below 5.0
You need: Pre-sessional English for Postgraduate Research (two semesters plus summer - starting in October)
Your current score: 6.0 with no components below 5.5
You need:
- Pre-sessional English for Postgraduate Research (two semesters starting in October)
or - Pre-sessional English for Postgraduate Research (one semester plus summer - starting in January)
Your current score: 6.5 with no components below 6.0
You need:
2024/25 courses and entry requirements
If your research degree offer is from one of the schools in the following list, please send your offer letter and most recent English language qualification by email to the Language Centre via langc@leeds.ac.uk so that we can advise you on your eligibility for a pre-sessional course:
- School of Computing
- School of Media and Communication
- School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies
- Leeds University Business School
If you’ll start your pre-sessional English course in September 2024 or January 2025, use the following list to check which course you can study. If you have an English qualification that isn’t IELTS (the International English Language Testing System) see our English language equivalent qualifications page.
If your degree requires an overall IELTS score of 6.0
Your current score: 4.5 with no components below 4.0.
You need: Pre-sessional English for Postgraduate Research (two semesters plus summer – starting in September)
Your current score: 5.0 with no components below 4.5
You need:
- Pre-sessional English for Postgraduate Research (two semesters – starting in September)
or - Pre-sessional English for Postgraduate Research (one semester plus summer – starting in January)
Your current score: 5.5 with no components below 5.0
You need:
- Pre-sessional English for Postgraduate Research (one semester – starting in September)
or - Pre-sessional English for Postgraduate Research (one semester – starting in January)
If your degree requires an overall IELTS score of 6.5
Your current score: 5.0 with no components below 4.5
You need: Pre-sessional English for Postgraduate Research (two semesters plus summer – starting in September)
Your current score: 5.5 with no components below 5.0
You need:
- Pre-sessional English for Postgraduate Research (two semesters – starting in September)
or - Pre-sessional English for Postgraduate Research (one semester plus summer – starting in January)
Your current score: 6.0 with no components below 5.5
You need:
- Pre-sessional English for Postgraduate Research (one semester – starting in September)
or - Pre-sessional English for Postgraduate Research (one semester – starting in January)
If your degree requires an overall IELTS score of 7.0
Your current score: 5.5 with no components below 5.0
You need: Pre-sessional English for Postgraduate Research (two semesters plus summer - starting in September)
Your current score: 6.0 with no components below 5.5
You need:
- Pre-sessional English for Postgraduate Research (two semesters starting in September)
or - Pre-sessional English for Postgraduate Research (one semester plus summer - starting in January)
Your current score: 6.5 with no components below 6.0
You need:
Summer courses
If you wish to study between June and September, visit our summer courses page.
Contact us
If you have any questions, please email the Language Centre via langc@leeds.ac.uk.