Pre-sessional courses

Our Pre-sessional courses run for 4, 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.  

The University of Kent offers a combined CAS for eligible students who have applied for the 6-week or 10 Week Pre-Sessional English Programme. 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 when you apply for a Pre-sessional course.

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.

Our courses are accredited by BALEAP (formerly known as the British Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes),  

The 16-week course is for undergraduate and postgraduate international students who have a 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.

On-campus delivery

Course dates: Tuesday 09 May - Fri 25 August 2023

Tuition fees: £5,700

Accommodation fees: £3,036 (standard room); £4,356 (ensuite)

Application deadline: Monday 10th April 2023

Apply: Apply for the On-Campus 16-week Pre-sessional course here.

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.

Online delivery

Course dates: Tuesday 09 May - Fri 25 August 2023

Tuition fees: £5,700

Application deadline: Monday 24th April 2023

Apply: Apply for the Online 16-week Pre-sessional course here.

The 10-week course is for undergraduate and postgraduate international students who have a conditional offer (CF) to study a degree at Kent but need more intensive support to meet the English language requirements. The 10-week course runs twice a year, in summer and autumn.

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.

On-campus delivery

Course dates: Monday 19 June - Friday 25 August 2023

Tuition fees: £3,800

Accommodation fees: £2,070 (standard room); £2,970 (ensuite)

Application deadline: Monday 22nd May 2023

Apply: Apply for the On-Campus 10-week Pre-sessional course here.

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.

Online delivery

Course dates: Monday 19 June - Friday 25 August 2023

Tuition fees: £3,800

Application deadline: Monday 5th June 2023

Apply: Apply for the Online 10-week Pre-sessional course here.

The 6-week course is for undergraduate and postgraduate international students who have a conditional offer (CF) to study a degree at Kent but do not yet meet the English language requirements. 

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.

On-campus delivery

Course dates: Friday 14 July - Friday 25 August 2023

Tuition fees: £2,280

Accommodation fees:  £1,495 (standard room); £2,145 (ensuite)

Application deadline: Friday 16th June 2023

Apply: Apply for the On-Campus 6-week Pre-sessional course here.

Online delivery

Course dates:  Friday 14 July - Friday 25 August 2023

Tuition fees: £2,280

Application deadline: Fri 2nd July 2023

Apply: Apply for the Online 6-week Pre-sessional course here.

The 4-week course is for undergraduate and postgraduate international students who have an unconditional offer (UF) to study at Kent and have already met the English language requirements related to their academic course. This courses therefore focuses on developing your academic skills.

On-campus delivery

Course dates:  Friday 11 August - Friday 08 September 2023

Tuition fees: £1,260

Accommodation fees: £851 (standard room); £1,221 (ensuite)

Application deadline: Friday 14th July 2023

Apply: Apply for the On-Campus 4-week Pre-sessional course here.

The 10-week Autumn Pre-sessional course is for those starting their Masters in January. This course is for undergraduate and postgraduate international students who have a conditional offer (CF) to study a degree at Kent but need more intensive support to meet the English language requirements. The 10-week course runs twice a year, in summer and autumn.

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.

Course dates: Monday 02 October - Friday 08 December 2023

Tuition fees: £TBC

Application deadline: Mon 18th Sept 2023

Apply: Apply for the  online 10-week autumn course here.

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. More information about the online course requirements is available here.

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. 

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 4-week course as this is for unconditional offer holders only.

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.

This free, one-week course is for international students who have accepted a place to study an undergraduate or postgraduate degree at Kent. It takes place the week before term starts, giving you the opportunity to settle in and find your way around before Welcome Week. 

The deadline for sign up has now passed. You may wish to explore our English Language and Skills courses which run during the academic year.