Pre-sessional English courses at Essex

Pre-sessional English courses are designed to improve your English language level ahead of studying a degree at the University of Essex.

We offer a range of pre-sessional English language courses delivered by expert teachers at the University of Essex International College, a Kaplan International Pathways partner.

University of Essex International College

If you join a University of Essex International College (UEIC) pre-sessional English 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 degree course offer. You will not be required to take another independent English language test such as IELTS, TOEFL or Pearson.

Our PSE courses will run in Spring 2027 so are suitable for those applying for October 2027 entry. Courses will open to applications in November 2026.

Our courses

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 15-, 10- and 5-week PEL are available at our Colchester Campus and provide an English uplift equivalent to IELTS 1.5, 1.0 and 0.5 respectively.

15-week PEL - provides an uplift equivalent to IELTS 1.5

Start date: TBC
End date: TBC
Enrolment date: TBC
Application deadline: TBC
Deposit deadline: TBC
Tuition fees: TBC

10-week PEL - provides an uplift equivalent to IELTS 1.0

Start date: TBC
End date: TBC
Enrolment date: TBC
Application deadline: TBC
Deposit deadline: TBC
Tuition fees: TBC

5-week PEL - provides an uplift equivalent to IELTS 0.5

Start date: TBC
End date: TBC
Enrolment date: TBC
Application deadline: TBC
Deposit deadline: TBC
Tuition fees: TBC

How to apply

Applications can be submitted via your MyEssex Applicant Portal.

If you wish to study PELSS or PEL, you must hold a Secure English Language Test (SELT). It is a UK Home Office requirement that applicants studying below degree level in the UK (which includes PSE courses) hold a SELT and we are not able to make any exceptions to this rule. SELTs we are able to accept are:

UKVI IELTS (academic)
LANGUAGECERT Academic UKVI SELT
Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic UKVI
Skills for English SELT Trinity
Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III and Level IV

The test must be dated within 2 years of the start date of your PSE programme.

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

Please see our Tuition Fee Deposit Policy (.pdf) for information about the amount you will need to pay before you can start your PSE course and your main programme of study.

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.

4-week ASPP

Start date: TBC
End date: TBC
Enrolment date: TBC
Application deadline: TBC
Deposit deadline: TBC
Tuition fees: TBC

How to apply

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

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

Please see our Tuition Fee Deposit Policy (.pdf) for information about the amount you will need to pay before you can start your PSE course and your main programme of study.

Results

You will receive your PELSS and PEL results on the week commencing 6 September 2027. Provided you have successfully passed, and you have satisfied any other conditions of your main course offer, you will be issued an unconditional offer letter for your main programme of study at University of Essex within 5 working days.

Getting your CAS

If you need a student visa to study in the UK, you will need a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) in order to submit a visa application.

We always aim to issue a linked CAS if it is possible for us to do so. This means that you will be given one CAS, which will cover both your PSE programme and your main programme of study, meaning you only need to make one visa application.

Linked CAS will be assigned if:

you are taking a PSE programme less than 12 weeks long
passing the PSE programme is the only remaining condition of your main course offer.

Where this is not possible you will be given two separate standalone CAS (one for your PSE programme and one for your main programme of study at the University of Essex).

The CAS for your PSE programme will be assigned by Kaplan on behalf of UEIC no later than 4 weeks prior to the start date of your programme.

The CAS for your degree course will be assigned by the University of Essex within 5 working days from your PSE results being released, (provided you have met any other conditions and have provided us with any information requested). In most cases applicants in this position will be able to make their new visa application from within the 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.

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