Online Pre-sessional English courses at Kingston University

Students with an English score of 2 IELTS points below the target entry requirement overall, or in an individual element, for their main university degree should apply for the Extended Pre-sessional English language course.

Summer 2025

• Course: Extended Pre-sessional
• Date: 17 March – 1 August 2025 (latest start 9am, 19 March)
• Fee: £8,250
• Book your place: Apply for the Extended English course (Application deadline 7 March 2025 at 11am.)

Please read the guidance notes before making your application

Students with an English score of 1.5 IELTS points below the target entry requirement overall, or in an individual element, for their main university degree should apply for the Long Pre-sessional English language course.

Summer 2025

• Course: Long Pre-sessional
• Date: 14 April – 1 August (latest start 9am, 23 April)
• Fee: £6,900
• Book your place: Apply for the Long English course (Application deadline 7 April 2025 at 11am.)

Please read the guidance notes before making your application

Students with an English score of 1 IELTS point below the target entry requirement overall, or in an individual element, for their main university degree should apply for the Medium Pre-sessional English language course.

Summer 2025

• Course: Medium Pre-sessional
• Date: 19 May – 1 August (latest start 9am, 21 May)
• Fee: £5,450
• Book your place: Apply for the Medium English course (Application deadline 9 May 2025 at 11am.)

Autumn 2025

• Course: Medium Pre-sessional
• Date: 15 September – 28 November (latest start 9am, 17 September)
• Fee: £5,450
• Applications are now closed

Please read the guidance notes before making your application

The Short Pre-sessional English course is for:

• students with an English score of 0.5 IELTS point below the target entry requirement overall, or in an individual element, for their main university degree.
• students with an Unconditional offer who have already met their main course English requirements and want to take the Pre-sessional course for practice.

Summer 2025

• Course: Short Pre-sessional
• Date: 23 June – 1 August (latest start 9am, 23 June)
• Fee: £3,150
• Book your place: Apply for the Short English course (Application deadline 13 June 2025 at 11am.)

Autumn 2025

• Course: Short Pre-sessional
• Date: 20 October – 28 November (latest start 9am, 20 October)
• Fee: £3,150
• Applications are now closed

Please read the guidance notes before making your application

Teaching is through online interactive classes and individual tutorials; it involves our Canvas online learning management system. 

Course sessions are held every weekday, between 8am and 2pm UK time with breaks. You will also undertake at least 30 hours of organised and independent study per week outside class times.

We keep classes small with a maximum of 16 students where possible.

Integrated skills and language (Extended and Long Pre-sessional blocks)

These intensive courses will form a foundation for future studies: attention will be given to reviewing and building on your existing language skills in a communicative and student-centred environment.

Academic skills and language (Medium and Short Pre-sessional blocks)

These classes will help you to develop your language and skills in understanding, approaching and undertaking academic work. You will take part in reading and writing as well as speaking and listening classes to complete a range of activities which will develop the skills you need for university study.

The classes will include attention to context-specific grammar and vocabulary alongside the conventions of academic writing, using sources, and critical thinking. They also focus on effective skills and strategies for speaking and listening which are essential in many different settings such as presentations, tutorials and seminars.

The courses take a flipped classroom approach – this means you work on preparation tasks and come to class ready to apply your learning to communicative and analytical tasks.

Projects

Weekly project submissions will give you the opportunity to apply your learning. Project tasks will be assessed, and you will receive regular feedback to help you learn. You will also practise reworking your written and spoken work based on feedback to improve your performance and positively learn from mistakes.

Independent study

Effective independent study is vital for success at British universities and working well in groups is also a key skill. We support you to develop these with structured weekly independent and group study tasks.

Tutorials

You will have an individual tutorial with your tutor every week. This gives you one-to-one support; allows you to discuss feedback on your work, discuss your progress, and plan aims to work on.

Course assessment

Set project tasks include presentations, essays, and listening and reading assessments. These are assessed by your tutors who provide you with detailed feedback on how to improve the quality of your work.

Our end of course assessments are accepted by UK Visas and Immigration for entry onto undergraduate and postgraduate courses. If you achieve the grades you need on the Pre-sessional English course, you will not be required to take an IELTS test after completing the course (if you intend to study at another institution, please check that they will accept our course results).

If you do not achieve the grades you need, we will offer you retake examinations and give you advice about the possibilities that are open to you.

Please see course details for information about which length of Pre-sessional course to choose.

• Minimum entry score: Students must have an IELTS scores above 4.0 overall or in individual skills to be eligible for our courses.
• Minimum exit score: For courses with entry requirements lower than IELTS 5.5 (e.g. foundation courses), students will be placed on a Pre-sessional that allows them to achieve minimum exit grades of 5.5 equivalent in all skills.
• Maximum exit requirements: Our course is not designed for students aiming for grades higher than IELTS 7.0.

Accepted tests

We accept tests from IELTS Academic and PTE Academic. See also details of other accepted English language tests and qualifications.

For details of equivalent scores in other acceptable qualifications ask the course administrator for advice.

If you are studying on one of our Online Pre-sessional courses, you can complete the course in your home country. Visas are not required to enrol.

To complete the online course, you will need:

• a laptop or PC with at least 8GB of RAM
• a webcam
• a stable and reliable internet connection: internet speeds with a minimum bandwidth of 600kbps (up/down), with a recommended speed of 1.5 Mbps (up/down)
• a suitable quiet place to study alone
• a detachable webcam for assessments.

If you choose to travel to or within in the UK during your Pre-Sessional course, you should check the national government guidance before you start your journey. Please contact the course administrators if you wish to come to the UK and/or stay in Kingston University halls accommodation.

Successful completion

In order to successfully complete your course, you will:

• attend a minimum of 80% of all timetabled sessions from day one of your Pre-sessional English course.
• complete a minimum of 80% of organised and independent study tasks.
• attain an average minimum score of 80% in the organised and independent study tasks where relevant and review and redo tasks to achieve this score.
• pass the end of course assessments at the level required for entry onto your main course.

With hard work and regular attendance all students can successfully complete their Pre-sessional English course.

Pre-course information

Our course administrators will support you through the application process. They will let you know how to prepare for the first day of your course.

We will be in contact regularly with updates via the email address that you provide on your application form. Please make sure that you read their emails carefully.

Advice on immigration or other aspects of studying at Kingston

University advisors can assist you before (and during) your studies with any questions or problems you may have on a range of matters, including immigration and visa questions, accommodation, financial advice, tuition fee payment and cultural issues.

Main course visa applications

University advisors will assist Pre-sessional students who need to apply for a visa for their main courses at Kingston University.

Study support

We are determined to help you successfully complete your course. The Course Director will stay in touch with you weekly about your progress.

In your weekly tutorial you can discuss with your teacher any problems that you may have, and receive valuable advice and guidance.

You will be introduced to the online systems, including the University's Library services and the University's extensive e-resources.

Further English language development

During your main course, we offer you free English classes to support you throughout your studies at Kingston. These include skills, language and one-to-one tutorials. At the end of your Pre-sessional English course you will receive information about the range of classes available and advice on which classes to join.

If you expect to have other commitments during the course, such as work, university or family obligations, please contact us to let us know before you apply, so we can advise you.

Before completing the online application form, please read the guidance below carefully:

Apply links

You will find the apply links for each course in the course details section on this page.

Mode of attendance

The application form states that the Pre-sessional is part-time. This is purely for technical university systems reasons. Each Pre-sessional course is full-time, and you will be considered a full-time student. This will not affect your CAS.

Documents required

As part of your application you must submit the following documents:

• A copy of your English language certificate – This must be within the last two years. You may use IELTS Academic or other selected qualifications. If you have a different qualification, the Course Administrators can let you know if we can accept it.
• A copy of your passport
• Any sponsorship documents (if applicable)

Please make sure that you have these documents to hand, and that you upload them before you submit your application.

Saving your application

You have the option to save your unfinished application and return to it at a later date. You have 28 days from the date you save your application to complete and submit it. If you do not submit your application within this period, it will be deleted.

Submitting your application

Please make sure that the application is fully completed before finally submitting your application. If your form is not complete, there will be a delay in processing your application.

Non-refundable deposit

Once you have submitted your application, we will email you to confirm that you are eligible for the Pre-sessional course. At this time we will also request a non-refundable deposit of £1,000. When you have paid this, we will start to process your application. Please see the payment details section on our website for advice on how to pay.

Please note: the deposit is treated as the first instalment of your course fees.

Communication

Once we have confirmed your eligibility for the Pre-sessional course and you have sent proof of payment of your registration fee, we will process your application. We will contact you via email, so please check your email address is correct.

Further help

If you have any questions about completing the application form, please contact us.

We look forward to receiving your application.

You will pay for your Pre-sessional English course via online payments. We will contact you with further instructions after your application is processed.

If you wish to cancel your place on a Pre-sessional English course, please contact us as early as possible detailing your reasons for withdrawing. If you wish to request a refund, please do so by email (please see refund policy below).

• If you cancel your place before the start of the course you applied for, we will refund all monies paid (less the non-refundable deposit).
• If you wish to change your course after applying (for example to a shorter course), you must inform us before the start of the course you applied for.
• Deposit refunds may be considered at the University's sole discretion if you don't receive your visa for reasons the University considers were beyond your control and you can provide sufficient documentary evidence. Please remember that late applications are made at your own risk.

Refund policy for cancellations made after your course has started

• Cancellation during an extended course block – Refund price of long course
• Cancellation during a long course block – Refund price of medium course
• Cancellation during a medium course block – Refund price of short course
• Cancellation during a short course block – No refund

Please note, the £1,000 deposit is non-refundable.

You will be withdrawn from the Pre-sessional English course in cases where:

• you have not arrived and enrolled by the latest start date.
• your attendance, completion or attainment fulfilment falls below 80% from day one of your course.