Home > International home > English language & University preparation > Pre-sessional English language courses

Pre-sessional English language programmes

Pre-sessional English language programmes offer intensive preparation in English language and study skills to international students who have been offered a place to study at Royal Holloway. The programmes are 4, 8 or 12 weeks in length, and students should choose the programme appropriate to their current level of English, and the entry requirement for their chosen course.

Students on the 4 and 8 week programmes who attend and successfully complete a pre-sessional English language programme will progress directly onto their chosen Royal Holloway degree course, without the need to re-take any external English language tests.

Students on the 12 week programme need to attend and successfully complete the 12 week Pre-Sessional programme. In order to progress to their chosen Royal Holloway degree course, students must pass the programme at the required level but do not need to re-take any external English language tests.

Which Pre-sessional English language programme am I required to take?

To find out which English language programme you would need to take, select the tab below that shows the English language test that you have taken or are planning to take. You will then need to select the box with the English language requirement for your chosen undergraduate, postgraduate or university preparation course and this will expand to show you the minimum requirements for the 4, 8 and 12 week programmes.

IELTS
TOEFL iBT
Pearson Test of English

Select the English language requirement for your chosen degree or preparation course:

IELTS 5.5 (Reading 5.5, Listening 5.5, Speaking 5.5, Writing 5.5)

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 5.5 with 5.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 5.0 with 4.5 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 4.5 with 4.5 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

IELTS 6.5 (Reading 5.5, Listening 5.5, Speaking 5.5, Writing 5.5)

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 5.5 with 5.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 5.5 with 4.5 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

IELTS 6.5 (Reading 5.5, Listening 5.5, Speaking 5.5, Writing 6.0)

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.0 with 6.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 5.5 with 5.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

IELTS 6.5 (Reading 6.0, Listening 5.5, Speaking 5.5, Writing 6.0)

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.0 with 6.0 in reading and writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in reading and writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 5.5 with 5.0 in reading and writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

IELTS 6.5 (Reading 5.5, Listening 5.5, Speaking 5.5, Writing 6.5)

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.0 with 6.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 5.5 with 5.5 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

IELTS 6.5 (Reading 5.5, Listening 5.5, Speaking 5.5, Writing 7.0)

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.0 with 6.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 5.5 with 6.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

IELTS 6.5 (Reading 6.0, Listening 6.0, Speaking 6.0, Writing 6.5)

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 5.5

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.0 with 6.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 5.5

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 5.5 with 5.5 in writing and no other subscore lower than 5.0

IELTS 7.0 (Reading 5.5, Listening 5.5, Speaking 5.5, Writing 6.0)

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.0 with 5.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

IELTS 7.0 (Reading 5.5, Listening 5.5, Speaking 5.5, Writing 7.0)

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 7.0 with 6.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.0 with 6.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

Select the English language requirement for your chosen degree or preparation course:

TOEFL iBT 87 (Reading 22, Listening 21, Speaking 21, Writing 21)

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 77, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 8, Listening 13, Speaking 17, Writing 20

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 70, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 8, Listening 13, Speaking 17, Writing 18

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 64, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 8, Listening 13, Speaking 17, Writing 18

TOEFL iBT 88 (Reading 22, Listening 21, Speaking 21, Writing 21)

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 81, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 8, Listening 13, Speaking 17, Writing 21

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 77, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 8, Listening 13, Speaking 17, Writing 20

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 75, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 8, Listening 13, Speaking 17, Writing 18

TOEFL iBT 90 (Reading 22, Listening 21, Speaking 21, Writing 24)

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 83, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 8, Listening 13, Speaking 17, Writing 24

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 81, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 8, Listening 13, Speaking 17, Writing 21

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 77, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 8, Listening 13, Speaking 17, Writing 20

TOEFL iBT 90 (Reading 24, Listening 21, Speaking 21, Writing 24)

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 83, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 24, Listening 13, Speaking 17, Writing 24

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 81, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 22, Listening 13, Speaking 17, Writing 21

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 77, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 20, Listening 13, Speaking 17, Writing 20

TOEFL iBT 91 (Reading 22, Listening 21, Speaking 21, Writing 25)

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 90, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 8, Listening 13, Speaking 17, Writing 24

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 83, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 8, Listening 13, Speaking 17, Writing 24

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 79, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 8, Listening 13, Speaking 17, Writing 22

TOEFL iBT 92 (Reading 22, Listening 21, Speaking 21, Writing 26)

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 90, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 8, Listening 13, Speaking 17, Writing 24

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 83, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 8, Listening 13, Speaking 17, Writing 24

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 81, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 8, Listening 13, Speaking 17, Writing 24

TOEFL iBT 92 (Reading 23, Listening 22, Speaking 22, Writing 25)

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 90, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 22, Listening 21, Speaking 21, Writing 24

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 88, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 22, Listening 21, Speaking 21, Writing 24

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 81, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 18, Listening 17, Speaking 20, Writing 22

TOEFL iBT 100 (Reading 22, Listening 21, Speaking 21, Writing 24)

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 90, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 8, Listening 13, Speaking 17, Writing 24

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 81, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 8, Listening 13, Speaking 17, Writing 22

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 79, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 8, Listening 13, Speaking 17, Writing 20

TOEFL iBT 100 (Reading 22, Listening 21, Speaking 21, Writing 26)

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 100, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 8, Listening 13, Speaking 17, Writing 24

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 90, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 8, Listening 13, Speaking 17, Writing 24

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

TOEFL iBT 83, with the following minimum subscores:
Reading 8, Listening 13, Speaking 17, Writing 24

Select the English language requirement for your chosen degree or preparation course:

PEARSON 51 with no subscore lower than 51

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 46, with 41 in writing and no other subscore lower than 36

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 41, with 38 in writing and no other subscore lower than 36

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 38, with 36 in writing and no other subscore lower than 36

PEARSON 61 with no subscore lower than 51

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 54, with 46 in writing and no other subscore lower than 36

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 46, with 41 in writing and no other subscore lower than 36

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 46, with 38 in writing and no other subscore lower than 36

PEARSON 61 with 54 in Writing and no other subscore lower than 51

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 54, with 54 in writing and no other subscore lower than 36

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 54, with 46 in writing and no other subscore lower than 36

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 46, with 41 in writing and no other subscore lower than 36

PEARSON 61 with 54 in Writing & Reading and no other subscore lower than 51

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 54, with 54 in writing and reading and no other subscore lower than 36

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 54, with 46 in writing and reading and no other subscore lower than 36

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 46, with 41 in writing and reading and no other subscore lower than 36

PEARSON 61 with 61 in Writing and no other subscore lower than 51

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 61, with 54 in writing and no other subscore lower than 36

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 54, with 54 in writing and no other subscore lower than 36

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 46, with 46 in writing and no other subscore lower than 36

PEARSON 61 with 61 in Writing and no other subscore lower than 54

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 61, with 54 in writing and no other subscore lower than 51

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 54, with 54 in writing and no other subscore lower than 51

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 46, with 54 in writing and no other subscore lower than 41

PEARSON 61 with 69 in Writing and no other subscore lower than 51

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 61, with 54 in writing and no other subscore lower than 36

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 54, with 54 in writing and no other subscore lower than 36

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 46, with 54 in writing and no other subscore lower than 36

PEARSON 69 with 54 in Writing and no other subscore lower than 51

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 61, with 54 in writing and no other subscore lower than 36

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 54, with 46 in writing and no other subscore lower than 36

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 54, with 41 in writing and no other subscore lower than 36

PEARSON 69 with 69 in Writing and no other subscore lower than 51

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 69, with 54 in writing and no other subscore lower than 36

8 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 61, with 54 in writing and no other subscore lower than 36

12 week pre-sessional if your English level is currently:

PEARSON 54, with 54 in writing and no other subscore lower than 36

Course details

In the drop-down boxes below you will find information on the structure of the course and how it is assessed, as well as useful information on the cost of the course and application process.

Structure

Pre-sessional Parts 1 & 2: Weeks 1-4 & 5-8

The first two parts of this programme are designed to improve students' overall competence in English language and develop general academic skills in reading extended texts, writing essays, listening to lectures, speaking and study skills. From the second part of the programme, postgraduate management students study separately, with courses specifically designed to prepare for postgraduate study in the School of Management.

Pre-sessional Part 3: Weeks 9-12

For the third part of the programme, students who took Parts 1 and 2 join newly arrived students for Part 3, and study together in undergraduate, general postgraduate or management postgraduate groups. There is an increased emphasis placed on discovering more about the academic community at Royal Holloway and gaining a clear understanding of what academic departments expect of their undergraduate or postgraduate students. Learning activities include students interviewing various members of staff to learn more about Royal Holloway as a way of gaining confidence in speaking and working in small teams.

Teaching and Learning

The programme is intensive in nature with 40 learning hours per week (approximately 50% of these hours will be teacher - student contact time in Part 1, and approximately 40% in Parts 2 and 3). All three parts of the programme will provide students with the following::

a timetable which enables students to concentrate on the core academic skills but also ensures there is time for independent study which is an important aspect of university level study in any subject.
an opportunity to learn about Royal Holloway's academic services together with other services such as the careers service and the library.
regular small group consultations where any problems can be discussed with an academic tutor in RHI .
extensive supporting materials and learning resources in the College library, including the e-resources and language learning software

By the end of the Pre-Sessional English Language Programme you should:

have a greater understanding and a working knowledge of the key skills and the language required for successful study at university;
have developed strategies for independent learning;
have improved your level of English;
have developed your working knowledge of a number of basic computer packages, e.g, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook, and be familiar with the college’s Virtual Learning Environment, Moodle

Assessment

There are three elements of assessment on the Pre-Sessional English Language Programme:

An essay on a given title. Postgraduate students need to write around 2000 words, and undergraduate students need to write around 1500 words. A reading list will be provided for you.
An oral presentation. You will be asked to deliver an individual presentation lasting five minutes, based on research conducted as part of a small group.
Discussion skills. You will be assessed on your ability to contribute to group discussions throughout the Pre-Sessional programme, both face-to-face and online.

Please note that students on the 12 week Pre-Sessional programme need to pass a minimum of 2 out these 3 assessments in order to progress to their chosen degree programmes at Royal Holloway.

Dates and Tuition Fees

The fees for 2013 entry are :

Programme length	Entry points	Exit points	Tuition fees
Twelve weeks	24 June 2013	13 September 2013	£3,300
Eight weeks	22 July 2013	13 September 2013	£2,210
Four weeks	19 August 2013	13 September 2013	£1,120

How to apply

Applicants will have been offered a place at Royal Holloway for a particular undergraduate or postgraduate degree. Applications for the Pre-sessional English Language Programme are sent to Royal Holloway International.

All applicants are required to use the Pre-sessional Application Form:

Pre-sessional application form (pdf) |

Pre-sessional application form (Word) |

Students must not pay the tuition fee until they have received a pre-sessional offer letter and, if they have any other academic conditions to meet, they must meet these conditions before paying.

Students are not normally admitted to the Pre-sessional unless they already hold an internationally-recognised English Language qualification at a level which indicates they are likely to be successful on the programme. For the 8-week programme, this means students are not normally admitted unless their English language qualification is only 0.5 or 1.0 band below the level specified in the prospectus for their academic programme. For the 4-week programme, it means that students normally need an English language qualification which is only 0.5 below the level specified in the prospectus or your academic programme offer letter.

Accommodation

After you have firmly accepted the offer for your degree programme/diploma, you will be invited to apply for accommodation and can then apply online for accommodation in the university halls of residence. Please refer to the accommodation webpages| for further information .

Find your course

International home

English language & University preparation

Pre-sessional English language courses

Pre-sessional English language programmes