Preparation and arrival
Read our preparation and arrival information for Language Centre courses.
English language certificates
We accept a range of English language certificates. Check which qualifications we accept, and find out equivalencies for other certificates.
If English isn’t your first language, improve your academic English level with our academic English for undergraduate studies course.
Studying a pre-sessional course
Our undergraduate pre-sessional English courses will help you transition successfully from high school to studying at a UK university.
How to apply
- Choose your year of entry
- Select the type of study that's relevant to you
- Use your current IELTS score, and the score you need for your degree to see how long you should study for
- Select your preferred start month for detailed course information, fees and to apply
Online pre-sessional
We offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about studying online.
2022-23 entry
You can study a pre-sessional for different lengths of time depending on your requirements. Our academic year is made up of two semesters (autumn and spring) plus the summer. View our 2022-23 semester dates.
Your pre-sessional course will include teaching and assessment time, as well as dates when the University will be closed, such as for Christmas, Easter and other public holidays.
English language entry requirements for our academic English for undergraduate studies pre-sessional course depend on:
- your current language level
- the language requirement for your degree or academic programme
Choose the type of study that's relevant to you from the following list, and use your current IELTS score, and the score you need for your degree to see how long you should study for. Select the start month (eg. September) to see the pre-sessional course you should study.
I will be studying an undergraduate degree or the exchange/study abroad programme
If your degree requires an overall IELTS score of 6.0
- Your current score: 4.5 with no components below 4.0. You need: Two semesters plus summer starting in September
- Your current score: 5.0 with no components below 4.5. You need: Two semesters starting in September or one semester plus summer starting in January
- Your current score: 5.5 with two or more components at 5.0 allowed, none below 5.0. You need: Two semesters starting in September or one semester plus summer starting in January
- Your current score: 5.5 with one component (not writing) at 5.0 allowed, none below 5.0. You need: One semester starting in September, January or July
- Your current score: 5.5 with no components below 5.5. You need: Summer starting in August
If your degree requires an overall IELTS score of 6.5
- Your current score: 4.5 with no components below 4.0. You need: Not eligible to apply
- Your current score: 5.0 with no components below 4.5. You need: Two semesters plus summer starting in September
- Your current score: 5.5 with two or more components at 5.0 allowed, none below 5.0. You need: Two semesters starting in September or one semester plus summer starting in January
- Your current score: 6.0 with one or two components at 5.5 allowed, none below 5.5. You need: One semester starting in September, January or July
- Your current score: 6.0 with one component at 5.5 allowed, none below 5.5. You need: Summer starting in August
If your degree requires an overall IELTS score of 7.0
- Your current score: 4.5 with no components below 4.0. You need: Not eligible to apply
- Your current score: 5.0 with no components below 4.5. You need: Not eligible to apply
- Your current score: 5.5 with two or more components at 5.0 allowed, none below 5.0. You need: Two semesters plus summer starting in September
- Your current score: 6.0 with one or two components at 5.5 allowed, none below 5.5. You need: Two semesters starting in September or one semester plus summer starting in January
- Your current score: 6.5 with one or two components at 6.0 allowed, none below 6.0. You need: One semester starting in September, January or July
- Your current score: 6.5 with one component at 6.0 allowed, none below 6.0. You need: Summer starting in August
I will be studying the International Foundation Year
If your International Foundation Year requires an overall IELTS score of 5.5
- Your current score: 4.0 with no components below 4.0. You need: Two semesters plus summer starting in September
- Your current score: 4.5 with no components below 4.5. You need: Two semesters starting in September or one semester plus summer starting in January
- Your current score: 5.0 with no components below 5.0. You need: One semester starting in September, January or July
- Your current score: 5.5 with no components below 5.5. You need: Summer starting in August (unconditional offer holders only)
If your International Foundation Year requires an overall IELTS score of 6.0
- Your current score: 4.0 with no components below 4.0. You need: Not eligible to apply
- Your current score: 4.5 with no components below 4.5. You need: Two semesters plus summer starting in September
- Your current score: 5.0 with no components below 5.0. You need: Two semesters starting in September or One semester plus summer starting in January
- Your current score: 5.5 with no components below 5.5. You need: One semester starting in September, January or July
- Your current score: 6.0 with no components below 5.5. You need: Summer starting in August (unconditional offer holders only)
I will be studying at the Leeds International Summer School
- Your current score: 4.0 with no components below 4.0. You need: Two semesters plus summer starting in September
- Your current score: 4.5 with two components below 4.5 allowed, none below 4.0. You need: Two semesters starting in September or one semester plus summer starting in January
- Your current score: 5.0 with two components below 5.0 allowed, none below 4.5. You need: One semester starting in September, January or July
I will be studying at my home university after the course
Please email the Language Centre at langc@leeds.ac.uk to discuss the entry requirements for this course.
2023-24 entry
You can study a pre-sessional for different lengths of time depending on your requirements. Our academic year is made up of two semesters (autumn and spring) plus the summer. View our semester dates.
Your pre-sessional course will include teaching and assessment time, as well as dates when the University will be closed, such as for Christmas, Easter and other public holidays.
English language entry requirements for our academic English for undergraduate studies pre-sessional course depend on:
- your current language level
- the language requirement for your degree or academic programme
Choose the type of study that's relevant to you from the following list, and use your current IELTS score, and the score you need for your degree to see how long you should study for. Select the start month (eg. September) to see the pre-sessional course you should study.
I will be studying an undergraduate degree or the exchange/study abroad programme
If your degree requires an overall IELTS score of 6.0
- Your current score: 4.5 with no components below 4.0. You need: Two semesters plus summer starting in September
- Your current score: 5.0 with no components below 4.5. You need: Two semesters starting in September or one semester plus summer starting in January
- Your current score: 5.5 with two or more components at 5.0 allowed, none below 5.0. You need: Two semesters starting in September or one semester plus summer starting in January
- Your current score: 5.5 with one component (not writing) at 5.0 allowed, none below 5.0. You need: One semester starting in September, January or July
- Your current score: 5.5 with no components below 5.5. You need: Summer starting in August
If your degree requires an overall IELTS score of 6.5
- Your current score: 4.5 with no components below 4.0. You need: Not eligible to apply
- Your current score: 5.0 with no components below 4.5. You need: Two semesters plus summer starting in September
- Your current score: 5.5 with two or more components at 5.0 allowed, none below 5.0. You need: Two semesters starting in September or one semester plus summer starting in January
- Your current score: 6.0 with one or two components at 5.5 allowed, none below 5.5. You need: One semester starting in September, January or July
- Your current score: 6.0 with one component at 5.5 allowed, none below 5.5. You need: Summer starting in August
If your degree requires an overall IELTS score of 7.0
- Your current score: 4.5 with no components below 4.0. You need: Not eligible to apply
- Your current score: 5.0 with no components below 4.5. You need: Not eligible to apply
- Your current score: 5.5 with two or more components at 5.0 allowed, none below 5.0. You need: Two semesters plus summer starting in September
- Your current score: 6.0 with one or two components at 5.5 allowed, none below 5.5. You need: Two semesters starting in September or one semester plus summer starting in January
- Your current score: 6.5 with one or two components at 6.0 allowed, none below 6.0. You need: One semester starting in September, January or July
- Your current score: 6.5 with one component at 6.0 allowed, none below 6.0. You need: Summer starting in August
I will be studying the International Foundation Year
If your International Foundation Year requires an overall IELTS score of 5.5
- Your current score: 4.0 with no components below 4.0. You need: Two semesters plus summer starting in September
- Your current score: 4.5 with no components below 4.5. You need: Two semesters starting in September or one semester plus summer starting in January
- Your current score: 5.0 with no components below 5.0. You need: One semester starting in September, January or July
- Your current score: 5.5 with no components below 5.5. You need: Summer starting in August (unconditional offer holders only)
If your International Foundation Year requires an overall IELTS score of 6.0
- Your current score: 4.0 with no components below 4.0. You need: Not eligible to apply
- Your current score: 4.5 with no components below 4.5. You need: Two semesters plus summer starting in September
- Your current score: 5.0 with no components below 5.0. You need: Two semesters starting in September or One semester plus summer starting in January
- Your current score: 5.5 with no components below 5.5. You need: One semester starting in September, January or July
- Your current score: 6.0 with no components below 5.5. You need: Summer starting in August (unconditional offer holders only)
I will be studying at the Leeds International Summer School
- Your current score: 4.0 with no components below 4.0. You need: Two semesters plus summer starting in September
- Your current score: 4.5 with two components below 4.5 allowed, none below 4.0. You need: Two semesters starting in September or one semester plus summer starting in January
- Your current score: 5.0 with two components below 5.0 allowed, none below 4.5. You need: One semester starting in September, January or July
I will be studying at my home university after the course
Please email the Language Centre at langc@leeds.ac.uk to discuss the entry requirements for this course.
Further information
The minimum age to study on this course is 18.
If you want to take the course to prepare for the International Foundation Year, and will be under 18 when the course starts, exceptions can be made on an individual basis. Download our guidance for applicants who are under 18 (PDF). If you have any questions, email the Language Centre at langc@leeds.ac.uk.
Read our admissions policy and read our course terms and conditions.