Pre-sessional English
We offer three pre-sessional English programmes in English for Academic Purpose:
- Year-round Pre-sessional
- Summer Pre-sessional
- Extended Masters (EMA)
Each is designed specifically to meet the study needs of international students. Whether students need up to one year of study or an intensive period of study in the summer, we have a programme for everyone.
The minimum age of enrolment on our pre-sessional English programmes is 18.
Class organisation
Students study in groups of up to 16.
We use blended learning techniques, combining taught classes with collaborative workshops, online self-study and one-to-one tutorials. This is supported by our virtual learning environment, My Studies, together with a range of facilities and resources to support your studies and develop independent learning, including our excellent Open Learning Centre.
All our pre-sessional programmes offer 18 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 14:00 and 15:30 two days a week. In the event of remote delivery due to COVID-19, timetables are organised around student time zones. Course content remains the same and face-to-face teaching is delivered online as far as possible using Microsoft Teams.
Syllabus
These programmes are based on three academic stages, depending on a student’s language level at entry.
- Stage 1: The first stage focuses on general and academic English and provides a strong foundation for the next stages.
- Stage 2: This stage provides a good foundation in academic English language and skills. Students are taught how to write an academic essay in their subject area based on desk research which they present as a poster with a live Q&A.
- Stage 3: This final stage provides a comprehensive high-level programme of academic English preparing students for their transition to degree level work. Students produce an academic essay based on desk research in their subject area and give an academic presentation on their work.
Assessment
Successful completion of the assessments for Stage 3 allow students to progress to a University of Brighton degree course without taking a further English language test, such as IELTS.
Fees
Students are required to pay a £500 deposit. Where any teaching materials are required, the cost of these will be covered by the fees for the programme.
UK public holidays
Classes do not run on UK public holidays. Offices, banks, schools and universities are all closed.
2021 public holidays: 1 January, 2 April, 5 April, 3 May, 31 May, 30 August, and the 25 to 28 December.