Pre-sessional courses - International Student - University of Kent

Pre-sessional courses - International Student - University of Kent
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Pre-sessional courses
Pre-sessional English courses
Courses
FAQ's
Set your own pace
Our Pre-sessional courses prepare you for degree study in the UK. All our courses focus on developing your academic study skills and English language proficiency.
Our courses run between 6-16 weeks, depending on your English language level.
Choosing the right Pre-sessional course
Our Pre-sessional courses are for undergraduate and postgraduate international students who have a firmly accepted conditional offer (CF) to study a degree at Kent but do not have the required level of English to allow them to start their intended degree programme.
If you complete the Pre-sessional course and achieve a final grade that meets your condition of entry, you will not need to take an IELTS examination.
The University of Kent offers a combined CAS for eligible students who have a minimum of IELTS 5.5 in all skills. Students applying for the 6-week and 10-week courses may meet this requirement (see our
FAQs
). You need to have met all conditions of your offer, except English Language, to be eligible for a combined CAS. You will need to pay your Pre-CAS Tuition Fee Deposit as part of the CAS assessment process. Our CAS Team, who will provide full instructions on how to make this payment as part of their request.
We offer on campus accommodation. You'll need to apply for your Pre-sessional course first. Once you receive an offer you can then apply for your accommodation.
Our courses are accredited by
BALEAP
(formerly known as the British Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes).
We also run 'Navigating UK Study'. Get the essential skills and knowledge to succeed in your core studies and get ahead on settling in the UK.
Navigating UK Study
Our courses run for 6, 10 and 16 weeks. Offered both on campus and online, the courses cover:
what it is like to study at a UK university and what is expected of students
skills in academic reading, writing, critical thinking and using academic sources
listening effectively in lectures and classes, and taking notes
speaking in seminars and delivering presentations
the IT systems and e-learning platforms used at Kent.
The course you choose depends on:
whether you have a conditional or unconditional offer to study a degree at the University of Kent
your current proficiency in English language
the English language entry requirements for your chosen course.
To study at Kent, you may need a visa. Visit
Student Immigration Compliance
to find out more.
Students progressing to other universities
Students who do not have an offer to study a degree at Kent are welcome to attend the online Pre-sessional course but they will need to check with their intended university to see if the Pre-sessional assessments will be accepted as evidence of their current English language level.
Which Pre-sessional course is right for me?
Select the entry requirement for your main course of study and check against your current level below.
Your current IELTS level
(or equivalent)
Pre-sessional course required
Important dates
Fees
IELTS 4.5 overall
Minimum 4.0 in Reading & Writing and 4.5 in Listening & Speaking
16 week course
Online for first four weeks, then on campus
Online
Course dates:
Monday 18th May 2026 - Friday 4th September 2026
(on campus from Monday 22nd June 2026)
Application deadline:
Monday 20th April 2026
Tuition fees:
£6,800
Accommodation fees:
Woolf College
large
en-suite: £3,520
Darwin House standard room: £2,376
A room move on 27 June may be necessary.
IELTS 5.0 overall
Min 4.5 in all skills(Minimum 5.0 in Speaking for Online course)
10 week course
On campus
Online
Course dates:
Monday 29th June 2026 - Friday 4th September 2026
Application deadline:
Monday 1st June 2026
Tuition fees:
£5,000
Accommodation fees:
Woolf College
standard
en-suite: £2,849
Darwin House standard room: £1,998
IELTS 5.5 overall
Minimum 5.0 in all skills(Minimum 5.5 in Speaking for Online course)
6 week course
On campus
Online
Course dates:
Monday 27th July 2026 - Friday 4th September 2026
Application deadline:
Monday 29th June 2026
Tuition fees:
£3,200
Accommodation fees:
Woolf College
standard
en-suite: £1,771
Darwin House standard room: £1,242
Your current IELTS level
(or equivalent)
Pre-sessional course required
Important dates
Fees
IELTS 5.0 overall
Minimum 4.5 in Reading & Writing and 5.0 in Listening & Speaking
16
week course
Online for first four weeks, then on campus
Online
Course
dates:
Monday
18th May 2026 - Friday 4th September 2026
(on campus from Monday 22nd June 2026)
Application deadline:
Monday 20th April 2026
Tuition
fees:
£6,800
Accommodation fees:
Woolf College
large
en-suite: £3,520
Darwin House standard room: £2,376
A room move on 27 June may be necessary.
IELTS 5.5 overall
Min 4.5 in all skills(Minimum 5.0 in Speaking for Online course)
10
week course
On campus
Online
Course
dates:
Monday
29th June 2026 - Friday 4th September 2026
Application deadline:
Monday 1st June 2026
Tuition
fees:
£5,000
Accommodation fees:
Woolf College
standard
en-suite: £2,849
Darwin House standard room: £1,998
IELTS 6.0 overall
Minimum 5.0 in all skills(Minimum 5.5 in Speaking for Online course)
week course
On campus
Online
Course
dates:
Monday
27th July 2026 - Friday 4th September 2026
Application deadline:
Monday 29th June 2026
Tuition
fees:
£3,200
Accommodation fees:
Woolf College
standard
en-suite: £1,771
Darwin House standard room: £1,242
Your current IELTS level
(or equivalent)
Pre-sessional course required
Important dates
Fees
IELTS 5.5 overall
Minimum 5.5 in Reading & Writing and 6.0 in Listening & Speaking
16
week course
Online for first four weeks, then on campus
Online
Course
dates:
Monday
18th May 2026 - Friday 4th September 2026
(on campus from Monday 22nd June 2026)
Application deadline:
Monday 20th April 2026
Tuition
fees:
£6,800
Accommodation fees:
Woolf College
large
en-suite: £3,520
Darwin House standard room: £2,376
A room move on 27 June may be necessary.
IELTS 6.0 overall
Min 6.0 in all skills(Minimum 6.5 in Speaking for Online course)
10
week course
On campus
Online
Course
dates:
Monday
29th June 2026 - Friday 4th September 2026
Application deadline:
Monday 1st June 2026
Tuition
fees:
£5,000
Accommodation fees:
Woolf College
standard
en-suite: £2,849
Darwin House standard room: £1,998
IELTS 6.5 overall
Minimum 6.5 in all skills(Minimum 7.0 in Speaking for Online course)
week course
On campus
Online
Course
dates:
Monday
27th July 2026 - Friday 4th September 2026
Application deadline:
Monday 29th June 2026
Tuition
fees:
£3,200
Accommodation fees:
Woolf College
standard
en-suite: £1,771
Darwin House standard room: £1,242
Apply now
16-week Pre-sessional course
Online for first four weeks
On-campus from Week 5
Course
dates: Monday
18th May 2026 - Friday 4th September 2026
On campus delivery begins from Monday 22nd June 2026
Tuition fees: £6,800
Apply before Monday 20th April 2026
Accommodation fees:
Woolf College large en-suite: £3,520
Darwin House standard room: £2,376
A room move on 27 June may be necessary.
Accommodation bookings close on 1st May 2026
If you want on-campus accommodation, you will need to complete the
accommodation form
once you have applied for the Pre-sessional Course.
Note: If you require a visa for the on- campus delivery you will need a UKVI approved Secure English Language Test. Additional information is available
here
Apply now for 16-week course
10-week Pre-sessional course
On-campus delivery
Course
dates: Monday
29th June 2026 - Friday 4th September 2026
Tuition fees: £5,000
Apply before Monday 1st June 2026
Accommodation fees:
Woolf College standard en-suite: £2,849
Darwin House standard room: £1,998
Accommodation bookings close on 15 May 2026
If you want on-campus accommodation, you will need to complete the
accommodation form
once you have applied for the Pre-sessional Course.
Note: If you require a visa for the on- campus delivery you will need a UKVI approved Secure English Language Test. Additional information is available
here
Apply now for 10-week course
6-week Pre-sessional course
On-campus delivery
Course
dates: Monday
27th July 2026 - Friday 4th September 2026
Tuition fees: £3,200
Apply before Monday 29th June 2026
Accommodation fees:
Woolf College standard en-suite: £1,771
Darwin House standard room: £1,242
Accommodation bookings close on 12 June 2026
If you want on-campus accommodation, you will need to complete the
accommodation form
once you have applied for the Pre-sessional Course.
Note: If you require a visa for the on- campus delivery you will need a UKVI approved Secure English Language Test. Additional information is available
here
Apply now for 6-week course
16-week Pre-sessional course
Online delivery
Course dates: Monday 18th May 2026 - Friday 4th September 2026
Tuition fees: £6,800
Apply before Monday 20th April 2026
Apply now for 16-week course
10-week Pre-sessional course
Online delivery
Course dates: Monday 29th June 2026 - Friday 4th September 2026
Tuition fees: £5,000
Apply before Monday 1st June 2026
Apply now for 10-week course
6-week Pre-sessional course
Online delivery
Course dates: Monday 27th July 2026 - Friday 4th September 2026
Tuition fees: £3,200
Apply before Monday 29th June 2026
Apply now for 6-week course
How will my course be taught?
Please note, you will require a laptop for study both on campus and online.
If you are studying your course
on campus
, you'll receive a minimum of 16 hours face-to-face study each week. This will include:
in-class seminars (group discussions and activities led by a teacher, usually based on work you have prepared ahead of the session)
individual and group tutorials, where you receive feedback and discuss progress with your teacher
group meetings with fellow students
pre-recorded lectures.
If you are studying your course
online
, we'll allocate you to a class based on your location and time zone, making it easier to interact with fellow students and your teachers. You'll also be given access to the secure software you need to take part in your course. Classes will be on Microsoft Teams and materials will be shared through Kent's Virtual Learning System Moodle.
You'll receive a minimum of nine hours live online study each week. This will include:
live seminars (group discussions and activities led by a teacher, usually based on work you have prepared ahead of the session)
individual and group tutorials, where you receive feedback and discuss progress with your teacher
live group meetings with fellow students
pre-recorded lectures.
You are expected to complete at least 15 hours of self-study per week, using a range of resources including video and audio lessons and quizzes. Each week you will submit work and receive regular feedback to help you progress.
How will my course be assessed?
Your final assessment has four elements:
E-portfolio – this is an ongoing assessment taking place over the duration of the course. It consists of weekly tasks to be completed and takes account of your level of participation through online engagement and interaction.
Final essay – related to the academic subject area to which you intend to progress.
Individual presentation based on the topic and research linked to the final essay.
Kent International Test of English (KITE) – this has been specifically designed to test your academic language skills and it covers reading, writing, speaking and listening. The accessible format and structure allow you to apply your language skills to authentic academic situations.
Please note that there is no final assessment for the 2-week course as this is for unconditional offer holders only.
What happens when I have completed my course?
As long as you meet the specific entry requirements for your degree course, you'll be able to start your degree at Kent. We'll be on hand to help you get started and we also provide free support for all international students throughout the year so that you can get the most from your studies.
If you do not meet your language requirements following the Pre-sessional course, a resit examination will be offered to you. Resit examinations will take place the week after the courses finish - applicable for the 16, 10 and 6 Week courses. Please do not make travel arrangements until you have received your Pre-sessional results after your course has finished.
Our Pre-sessional Terms and Conditions are available to view
here
FAQs: Course Requirements and Equipment
You will need a laptop to study both for the on-campus and online courses. Our on-campus students will be using their laptops in class in order to access a number of the teaching materials and resources.  For studying an online/remote Pre-sessional course, a laptop or desktop computer with a camera and sound, or earphones is required. A very good internet connection is also vital for accessing your materials and attending your live seminars. Students are also advised to study in a quiet area, with no background noise.
To support your application, you will need the following:
Your English language test certificate.
Passport data page.
Any previous UK visas.
Please upload colour copies of these to your application via the ‘Documents’ section.
The class size varies according to the total number of students we have applying for the course. Sizes can range from 12 to 18 students per class. We try not to allocate more than 18 students to any class.
Yes. During the student induction you will be given a lot of important information about the course.
Aside from the obvious, an online Pre-sessional course requires more independent self-study and less time in seminars. You have to be very disciplined to study an online course and manage your time well. Students studying online have more individual and group tutorials with their teachers.
The Pre-sessional courses are intensive and require a lot of independent study time outside of your live seminars/classes to complete materials and work on assessments. We strongly advise NOT to work or study another course while studying on a Pre-sessional course. Students who have done this, have not successfully completed the Pre-sessional course or progressed to their main programme of study.
FAQs: Academic Progress & Assessment
Yes, as long as you meet the entry requirement of your main programme. However, a Pre-sessional course does not guarantee automatic progression: you must meet the required exit level in your final assessments on the Pre-sessional. This level is set by the academic school that provides the course you wish to progress to.
No, you will sit our own exam at the end of the course; this is called the KITE (Kent International Test of English) and it covers reading, writing, speaking and listening. KITE has been designed to test students’ academic language skills for the purpose of study at the University of Kent. The accessible format and structure allow candidates to apply their language skills to authentic academic situations.
A warning note on your conditional offer letter means that some components of your English language level are slightly lower than the entry level for a specific Pre-sessional course. You will need to work harder to raise the level of these  components in order to meet the standard needed to progress to your chosen degree programme at the end of the Pre-sessional course.
A Pre-sessional course does not guarantee automatic progression to a degree programme. You must meet the required standard in your final assessments on the Pre-sessional course. This standard is set by the academic school that provides the degree you wish to progress to.
Preferably not. Each course follows an intensive learning syllabus which means that even the shortest break could affect your chances of passing. We strongly advise you against missing any of the course. However, there may be exceptional circumstances, which we will deal with on a case-by-case basis.
The Language Centre can continue to provide
English for Academic Purposes
support to international students throughout your studies. You would be welcome to join the
English Language and Academic Skills
workshops, held for 5 weeks in the Autumn and Spring terms. You may also be assigned a
First Language Academic Tutor
, who will be able to provide guidance on both the academic and cultural aspects of studying at Kent.
FAQs: Administration and Visa Matters
If you are privately funded, please
use the online store to pay
. This is the most secure and quickest method.
If you are sponsored, you will need to provide a financial support letter from your sponsor, stating your name, the title of the specific pre-sessional course you have applied for, the course dates and the amount awarded to you. You will need to upload this document with your application.
If you would like on-campus accommodation during your Pre-sessional course, you can book this after you have received your offer for the Pre-sessional. You will find the accommodation link for each course in our
Apply Now
section.
To make your offer unconditional, we need to receive your payment or sponsorship letter.
You must email us at
languagecentreadmin@kent.ac.uk
as soon as you know that you will not be attending the course. A £250 administration fee will be retained from your full payment.
A combined CAS is one document covering both the Pre-sessional course and the main programme of study.  It is available to eligible students on the 6-week course, and in some cases to 10-week course students too, if they have a minimum of IELTS 5.5 in all skills when applying for the Pre-sessional course.
No, you do not need a visa for an online Pre-sessional course as you will be studying the course outside of the UK. You will receive a CAS after successful completion of your pre-​sessional course and need to apply for a visa from your home country  before coming to the UK for your main programme of study.
No. If you applied for a visa with a combined CAS and were successful, you should have entry ​clearance in the UK to study both your pre-sessional course and your main programme of study.
The University of Kent offers a combined CAS for eligible students who have applied for the 6-week Pre-Sessional English Programme, and in some cases to 10-week course students too, if they have a minimum of IELTS 5.5 in all skills when applying for the Pre-sessional course. You must have met all conditions of your offer except English Language to be eligible for a combined CAS. This means that if you are a Postgraduate student and you have not paid your tuition fee deposit, you will not be eligible for a combined CAS. Please ensure you pay your tuition fee deposit
for your main programme of study if you intend to obtain a combined CAS.
Yes. A combined CAS can be withdrawn from a student on the Pre-sessional course if the student fails to meet the English language requirements for their main programme of study
We have a dedicated and trained team in Kent Students' Union who provide bespoke visa workshops and meetings to assist Pre-sessional students studying in person. Colleagues guide Pre-sessional students on their application for their main course visa. Guidance is also offered to students studying online.
No. If you are intending to be in the UK, you must study the Pre-sessional course in-person.
Don't just take our word for it!
It's not just us who think our courses are great. Check our our accreditations and student stories.
Accreditation
Our courses are accredited by BALEAP (formerly known as the British Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes),
Nisthanate's story
Watch the First Place Winner of our 2024 Pre-Sessional Video Competition, a video made by Nisthanate Sempipat.
Picture perfect
Watch the First Place Winner of our 2023 Pre-Sessional Video Competition, a video made by Pornlapat Thopwongsri (Monet).
Kattaleeya's journey
Watch the First Place Winner of our 2022 Pre-Sessional Video Competition, a video made by Kattaleeya Limvijitwong.