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  • Summer Pre-sessional

Summer Pre-sessional English

If you want to spend the summer in Brighton developing your English language skills before starting your degree, then our Summer Pre-sessional English course is perfect for you.

Our Pre-sessional English courses are designed to give you a solid grounding in English language, giving you the confidence to succeed at university level. Our summers courses last 6 or 10 weeks depending on your current English language abilities, and all take place on our brilliant Falmer campus which is nestled into the South Downs.

Take a summer course and come to enjoy the beautiful city of Brighton and Hove. You'll get the chance to study alongside students from all over the world in one of the UK's most popular destinations. The city has a lively, youthful feel and is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the UK. 

Our city is full of opportunities with a beautiful coastline, and is also full of culture and history, and is famous for its festivals and events. 

Key facts

Type English language pre-sessional

Duration 10 or 6 weeks

Location hosted on campus in Brighton

Submit an application for summer pre-sessional English

Why take a Summer Pre-sessional English course?

  • Spend the summer before your degree settling into Brighton whilst improving your English.
  • Our courses are taught by tutors who understand what you need for academic success at the university.
  • If your degree offer is conditional on English language, this pre-sessional programme will allow you to meet your conditions without the need to take a further IELTS test.
Book on beach

Frequently asked questions

  • This programme is a suitable pathway for most University of Brighton undergraduate degree courses, and postgraduate courses that are not routed via the Extended Masters programme.

  • Depending on your offer conditions and your level of English, you can join us for a Summer Pre-sessional English course of 6, 10 or 15 weeks in length.

  • We'll equip you with everything you need to get the best start at university, from reading, writing and speaking practice to note-taking skills and even British culture.

    For full details please see our full course breakdown below. 

  • You will study in groups of up to 16, giving you the support you need whilst letting you meet and study with other people experiencing Brighton for the first time. 

    We use the latest online learning techniques, combining taught classes with online tutor contact, peer discussion and study. 

    This is accomplished through our online learning environment and excellent learning materials housed in the Open Learning Centre. 

  • All our Pre-sessional English courses offer 21 hours of tuition per week with allocated time for guided self-study and peer work. This means there is plenty of time to explore the many experiences the city of Brighton has to offer.

    On campus, lessons normally take place between 9:30 and 13:00, Monday to Friday, with additional afternoon lessons between 14:00 and 15:30 two days a week. 

  • The costs for the course depend on your current level of English and which of the three stages is most suitable for you. 

    Whatever your level, we'll have an option that is right for you, please see the entry requirements and costs section for full details. 

Course in detail

Overview

The Summer Pre-sessional programme has two entry points. Where you enter the programme depends on your current level of English.

  • 10 weeks
  • 6 weeks

If you are not sure which entry stage is right for you, please call us on +44 (0)1273 643339 or email us and we will help you decide.

The minimum age of enrolment for this programme is 18.

Stage 1

You will develop your level of general English and you will begin your study of English for academic purposes.

  • Practice in reading, writing, listening and speaking
  • Introduction to English for academic purposes
  • Grammar review and vocabulary development
  • Pronunciation and intonation practice
  • Language learning strategies
  • British culture

Stage 2

You will further develop your level of both general and academic English.

General English

  • Intensive practice in reading, writing, listening and speaking
  • Grammar review and vocabulary development
  • Pronunciation and intonation practice
  • Language learning strategies

Academic English

  • Preparation for studying in English
  • Listening and note-taking skills from lectures
  • Extensive reading
  • Writing summaries from lectures and articles
  • Taking part in seminars
  • Introduction to British academic conventions

Stage 3

The final stage of the pre-sessional programme develops your academic English to the level you will need to start your chosen degree.

  • Research skills
  • Extensive academic reading and note-taking
  • Extending your academic vocabulary
  • Writing successful academic essays, reports and summaries
  • Giving academic presentations
  • Understanding British academic conventions.

Timetable

An example timetable for Stage 3

Weekly timetable
 DayLesson oneLesson twoLesson three
Monday

Writing process
Learn the steps involved in writing an academic essay

Assignment work
Write an academic essay in your subject area

Directed self study
Work independently

Tuesday

Reading development
Learn reading skills to improve your reading speed and efficiency

Grammar
Review your active knowledge of grammatical forms

Presentation work
Work on a presentation which supports your essay.

Wednesday

Listening and note taking
Improve your listening skills and learn how to take effective notes

Summary writing
Learn to identify main points and summarise information in writing

Free time
Thursday

Academic vocabulary
Increase your knowledge of academic vocabulary

Reading with critical thinking
Develop your critical thinking skills in relation to reading texts

Seminar skills
Learn to communicate effectively and discuss relevant issues with others

Friday

Elements of writing
Improve different aspects of your writing

Vocabulary development
Improve your listening skills and develop effective vocabulary skills

Directed self-study or social
Work independently or take part in organised social activities

Class organisation

You will study in groups of up to 16. We use the latest online learning techniques, combining taught classes with online tutor contact, peer discussion and study. This is accomplished though our online learning environment as well as excellent learning resources housed in the Open Learning Centre.

All our Pre-sessional programmes offer 21 hours of tuition per week with allocated time for guided self-study and peer work.

On campus, lessons normally take place between 9.30 and 13.00, Monday to Friday, with additional afternoon lessons between 14–15.30 two days a week.

The course had excellent teachers and an encouraging atmosphere. I would recommend it to anyone who would like to discover the true meaning of the English language.

Haifa'a Bani Ismail

Entry requirements, dates and fees

2023 start date

Overview

Study timeFor degree offers requiring IELTS 6.0For degree offers requiring IELTS 6.5For degree offers requiring IELTS 7.0DatesFees

10 weeks
21 hours per week

5.0 for students requiring an IELTS of 6.0 (with min of 4.5)

5.5 (with min 5.0) for students requirement an IELTS equivalent of 6.5

6.0 (with min 5.5) for students requiring an IELTS equiv of 7.0.

26 June to
1 September 2023

£3,300

6 weeks
21 hours per week

5.5 for students requiring an IELTS (min of 5.0) of 6.0

6.0 (min. of 5.5) for students requiring an IELTS of 6.5

6.5 (min. Of 6.0) for students requiring an IELTS of 7.0

24 July to
1 September 2023

£1,980

Dates are subject to confirmation

Classes do not run on UK bank holidays. Offices, banks, schools and universities are also closed.

There is one bank holiday during this academic course: 28 August 2023.

To start this programme you should submit a Secure English Language Test (SELT) result.

Academic entry requirements

  • Academic entry requirements for degree courses can be found on the course finder.
  • To find out more about the other English language qualifications that we accept, see the language entry requirements.

All about...

Location 

About Brighton

A cosmopolitan city famed for its nightlife, bohemian atmosphere and beautiful surroundings, Brighton is a great place to be a student.

Whether you prefer the natural delights of the sea and South Downs or the bustle of the North Laine shopping district, there are fantastic events throughout the year that reflect the huge amount of character – both historic and modern – that the city possesses.

Brighton is host to three university campuses: City campus, Moulsecoomb and Falmer. City campus is in the centre of town, while Moulsecoomb and Falmer are just ten minutes away by bus or by train.

Social scene – Most students head into the lively centre of Brighton for its mix of bars, pubs, clubs, theatres, comedy houses and live music venues. In the summer the seafront buzzes with activities and impromptu BBQs and picnics on the beach.

The Great Escape festival has been firmly established as the leading event for showcasing new music, with over 300 bands playing 30 venues across the city over three days.

Arts – Brighton hosts England’s biggest arts festival in May each year, and has a selection of highly regarded theatres, galleries and events, not to mention the quirky Royal Pavilion which has become a symbol of the city's eccentricities.

The Brighton Festival is now the largest arts festival in England, and is one of the major milestones in the international cultural calendar. The Brighton Fringe is one of the largest fringe festivals in the world.

i360 and ticket booth on the seafront

Brighton Fringe

Campus 

Falmer campus

All our English language pre-sessional programmes are based at the Falmer campus. The campus is on the edge of the South Downs National Park, just four miles from Brighton seafront.

With around 7,000 students based here, we've invested £60 million in this campus in the last 10 years, equipping it with outstanding modern facilities.

Over 600 students live in Great Wilkins and Paddock Field halls of residence, both within walking distance. There are a number of areas of Brighton that are popular with students a short cycle or bus ride away.

The campus has excellent sports facilities including:

  • a floodlit astroturf football pitch
  • netball courts
  • tennis courts
  • a sports centre with a fitness suite
  • two activity studios
  • a sports hall with six badminton courts.

The campus is right next to Brighton & Hove Albion's Amex Stadium which houses not only football matches, but a number of events throughout the year.

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Checkland Building Exterior Night

Facilities and support 

Whilst you are studying on one of our pre-sessional English language programmes you will have full access to all of the facilities enjoyed by other students at the university. This includes a wide range of academic and personal support services as well as full use of libraries and computer systems.

Our Open Learning Centre is home to facilities including:

  • computer workstations
  • viewing station equipped with a large screen for group work
  • Extensive collection of graded readers
  • large collection of English language books and dictionaries for general and academic English
  • pronunciation worksheets tailored to several first languages
  • local access to photocopier, scanner and printing facilities
  • searchable online catalogue of materials
  • live satellite television in English, French, German, Spanish
  • English and foreign language news, documentaries and films.

You'll also have access to University of Brighton support services including:

  • ongoing English language support and the Writing Advisory Service (WAS)
  • visa advice
  • careers guidance
  • academic study resources
  • specialist international student advice
  • health, disability and dyslexia support.
international_students__030

Language lesson

Accommodation 

Our accommodation service will be happy to arrange accommodation for the duration of your English pre-sessional programme, and your degree course.

We offer on-campus university halls of residence.

Halls of residence

Halls accommodation usually consists of a bedroom and shared living and kitchen space in a flat accommodating six students. Most bedrooms have ensuite facilities.

Find out more about halls of residence

  • I would like accommodation both for my Summer Pre-sessional programme and my degree course

You can apply to stay in university accommodation (if available) on one of our campuses for both your English language programme and your degree course. Please indicate your preference when you apply for your Summer Pre-sessional programme. There’s no need to apply for accommodation separately for both.

  • I would like accommodation for my Summer Pre-sessional programme only

You can apply to stay in university accommodation (if available) on one of our campuses for your English language programme. Please indicate your preference when you apply for the programme.

If you have any questions about accommodation please get in touch with us at accommodation@brighton.ac.uk or +44 (0)1273 644100.

  • I would like accommodation for my degree course only

If you don’t require university accommodation for your Summer Pre-sessional programme, but will require accommodation for your degree course visit our accommodation webpages to find out more about your options and how to apply.

Social programme 

There are lots of social activities for you to get involved in during your time at the BSSH. These activities include Brighton Students' Union activities, International Students Society (ISS) events and BSSH's very own weekly social programme.

Brighton Students' Union activities

The University of Brighton Students' Union provides a year-round programme of events including club nights, karaoke and cinema events.

There are over 100 student-run societies and some exclusively for international and EU students.

internationl social

Brighton Big Screen

How to apply

To make an application for the Summer Pre-sessional programme you should already have an offer for a degree course at the University of Brighton. Once you've received your offer you can apply online below.

Apply online

  1. Please complete this form and attach the relevant items as appropriate.
  2. Applications should be made as early as possible. Any applications made less than one week before the start date of this course must be scanned and emailed to us at learnenglish@brighton.ac.uk.
  • Which course are you applying for?
  • Summer Pre-sessional 2023
  • Personal details
  • Gender
  • Permanent home address
  • Do you hold a current University of Brighton degree offer?
  • Do you have a disability?
    We will use this information to make appropriate arrangements to support your studies.
  • We will use this information to make appropriate arrangements to support your studies.
  • Do you have a criminal conviction in your own country
    To help reduce the risk of harm or injury to students and/or staff caused by the criminal behaviour of other students, you must inform us about any criminal convictions that you may have.
  • To help reduce the risk of harm or injury to students and/or staff caused by the criminal behaviour of other students, you must inform us about any criminal convictions that you may have.
  • Accommodation
    Accommodation in halls of residence is all self-catered and costs start from £137 per week.
  • Do you require accommodation?
  • English language level
  • Additional information
  • Once your application has been processed we will be in touch regarding the next step in securing your place.
  • Please make sure you read our privacy notice
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