Pre-Sessional courses

UEIC

All of UEIC’s PSE programmes will be delivered in person on campus and the programmes will not be available online.

If you join a UEIC PSE programme you will take Kaplan’s own English language test at the end of the course. If you successfully pass this, the University will remove the English language condition from your main course offer. You will not be required to take another independent English language test such as IELTS, TOEFL or Pearson.

Please see the below information regarding courses available in Spring/Summer 2023.

Pre-Sessional English Language with Study Skills (PELSS)

UEIC’s PELSS is available to conditional offer holders, providing integrated training in the academic use of English, as well as important study skills to prepare for degree-level study.

The programme is available at our Colchester campus, and runs for 20, 15 or 10 weeks, providing an uplift to your English language score equivalent to IELTS 1.5, 1 or 0.5.

You will work to develop your skills in grammar and vocabulary, reading and writing, and speaking and listening.

You will also complete an independent project in which you will be given the opportunity to focus on areas relevant to your chosen degree at the University of Essex. The project will introduce you to a range of research and study skills including planning, drafting, and presenting.

Pre-Sessional English Language (PEL)

The PEL focuses on improving your English grammar and vocabulary, and helping you gain further reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.

The 10 and 5 week PEL are available at either our Colchester or Southend campus and provide and English uplift equivalent to IELTS 1.0 and 0.5 respectively. The 15 week PEL is available at the Colchester campus only and provides an uplift equivalent to IELTS 1.5.

Academic Skills Preparation Programme (ASPP)

ASPP is the only course available to unconditional offer holders, and is available at our Colchester campus. This 4-week course will introduce you to the study and research skills common in UK universities. It will also help familiarise you with the University campus, and adjust more easily to student life and the academic culture in the UK.

All ASPP applicants will be eligible for a linked CAS which will cover their ASPP and their main programme of study, meaning they only have to make one visa application. 

How to apply

If you would like to join one of UEIC’S PSE programmes, you can apply via the “applying” tab of the myEssex applicant portal or contact us to answer any questions you might have.

If you wish to study PELSS or PEL you must hold a Secure English Language Test such as UKVI IELTS (academic), Trinity or Academic Pearson Test of English (PTE) for UKVI. This must be dated within 2 years of the start date of your PSE programme.

If you wish to study the ASPP you only need to hold an unconditional offer and do not need to hold a secure English language test.

In China Provision

If you are resident in China, you may be interested in taking a Pre-Sessional English (PSE) programme on campus at one of our partner institutions in China.

Our partners in China teach courses that are 10 or 5 weeks in duration, providing equivalent IELTS uplifts of 1.0 or 0.5 respectively. These PSE programmes focus on enhancing your English language skills to prepare you for undergraduate or postgraduate degree level study. You will be taught further grammar and vocabulary skills as well as additional reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.

If you take a PSE programme with one of our partners in China you will take the Essex Pathways English language test at the end of the course. If you have successfully passed you will be provided with a transcript and the University will remove the English language condition from your main course offer.

The number of spaces on each programme is capped and offers will be made on a first come first served basis. 

United Kingdom Education Centre (UKEC), Chengdu.

Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS), Guangzhou

Beijing Zhongguancun Foreign Language School (BZFLS), Beijing

Results and CAS issue

You will be provided with your results in August after your PSE course has ended (date TBC).

If you have achieved all the conditions of your main course offer, an unconditional offer letter and Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) will be issued for your main programme of study at University of Essex as soon as possible so that you can make a student visa application.

How to apply

Applications can be submitted via the “Applying” tab of your myEssex applicant portal.

In order to apply you must hold an accepted English language certificate dated within 2 years of the start date of the PSE programme:

• IELTS, UKVI or non UKVI Academic (including IELTS indicator)
• TOEFL iBT including TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition and My Best Scores
• Trinity ISE
• PTE (Pearson Test of English Academic) or PTE (Pearson Test of English Academic) for UKVI

If you have any queries please email PSE@essex.ac.uk

English classes for dependants

The Department of Language and Linguistics offers free English classes for dependants of international students and staff at the University of Essex. To find out more about eligibility and available classes, please visit the department's website.