Pre-sessional English courses
Pre-sessional English courses help international students develop the English language and academic skills needed to study successfully at a UK university.
About the course
The English Language Centre (ELC) offers Pre-sessional English courses for students who plan to study:
- an undergraduate degree
- a postgraduate degree
- a PhD
at the University of Liverpool or another UK university.
The courses help you:
- meet the English language requirements of your academic offer
- develop academic study skills
- understand UK academic culture
- prepare for learning at a British university.
If you successfully complete the course at the required level, you can progress to your academic programme.
Course lengths
We offer several course lengths depending on your English level and the requirements of your degree.
| Course length | Study mode |
|---|---|
| 40 weeks | On campus |
| 30 weeks | On campus |
| 20 weeks | On campus |
| 12 weeks | Online |
| 10 weeks | Online or on campus |
| 6 weeks | Online or on campus |
Your course length will depend on:
- the English language requirement for your degree
- your current IELTS score or equivalent qualification.
See the Entry requirements page to find out which course you need.
Course structure
Our longer courses are delivered in stages.
| Stage | Course | Start |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | 40-week course | October |
| Stage 2 | 30-week course | January |
| Stage 3 | 20-week course | March or April |
Students studying Stage 3 must pass the assessments to progress to the 10-week summer course.
Shorter courses (10, 12 and 6 weeks) usually begin between June and August.
Learning environment
During the early stages of the course you will study with students from different academic subjects.
On the final summer courses, you will usually study with students preparing for similar academic disciplines.