Pre-sessional courses

Our Pre-sessional courses are 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.

Our courses run for 7, 11 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 7-week or 11 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),  

Select the entry requirement for your main course of study and check against your current level below.

'Good' Degree Course Entry Requirement: IELTS 6.0 overall with minimum 5.5 in all skills (or equivalent)

'Very Good' Degree Course Entry Requirement: IELTS 6.5 overall with minimum 5.5 in all skills (or equivalent)

'Excellent' Degree Course Entry Requirement: IELTS 7.0 overall with minimum 7.0 in all skills (or equivalent)

On-campus delivery

Course dates: Monday 19 May 2025 - Friday 05 September 2025

Tuition fees: £6,600

Accommodation fees: £3,380 (standard) / £4,810 (en-suite), from Saturday 17 May to Wednesday 24 September 2025. If you want on-campus accommodation, you will need to complete the accommodation form once you have applied for the Pre-sessional Course.

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 May 2025 - Friday 05 September 2025

Tuition fees: £6,600

Use the links below to apply

On-campus delivery

Course dates: Monday 23 June 2025 - Friday 05 September 2025

Tuition fees: £4,840

Accommodation fees: £2,470 (standard) / £3,515 (en-suite), from Saturday 21 June to Wednesday 24 September 2025. If you want on-campus accommodation, you will need to complete the accommodation form once you have applied for the Pre-sessional Course.

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 23 June 2025 - Friday 05 September 2025

Tuition fees: £4,840

Use the links below to apply

On-campus delivery

Course dates: Monday 21 July 2025 - Friday 05 September 2025

Tuition fees: £3,080

Accommodation fees:  £1,742 (standard) / £2,479 (en-suite), from Saturday 19 July to Wednesday 24 September 2025. If you want on-campus accommodation, you will need to complete the accommodation form once you have applied for the Pre-sessional Course.

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 21 July 2025 - Friday 05 September 2025

Tuition fees: £3,080

Use the links below to apply

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 2-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.

If you do not meet your language requirements following the Pre-sessional course, a resit examination will be offered to you. Resit examinations will take place the week after the courses finish - applicable for the 16, 11 and 7 Week courses. Please do not make travel arrangements until you have received your Pre-sessional results after your course has finished.