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What is Pre-sessional English?

Pre-sessional courses are for international students who hold an offer to study a degree at UAL and need to meet their English language requirement. They provide you with a high level of support with academic and language skills and prepare you to succeed at UAL.

If you have a UAL offer and want to know more about Pre-sessional English, join our on 28 March, 9.30am GMT.

If you pass your Pre-sessional course and meet your requirements, you will progress to your main academic course at UAL.

Our Pre-sessional courses are accredited by .

Apply for our Pre-sessional Award.

2025 entry

  • Applications are now open.
  • Courses available either online or on campus in London.
  • We may need to close applications earlier than the deadline if we reach full capacity, so we recommend applying as early as possible.

Benefits of studying Pre-sessional English

  • Experience and adapt to academic study in the UK ahead of your degree.
  • Improve your academic English language skills, including reading, writing, listening and speaking.
  • Get used to the University facilities such as libraries and learning platforms.
  • Settle into UAL life before your degree begins.
  • Meet other students and build a community of friends.

Our courses

  • Photo of a large armchair in an outdoor setting, with Chinese script on a box on a wall behind
    Pre-sessional art club work 2021: Intuitive by Siyan Lu

    7 week Pre-sessional On Campus

    For applicants who want to study on campus and need to improve their English level by 0.5 IELTS bands (or equivalent).

  • Ernestine Chua, Computer/Laptop/Technology Drawing

    12 week Pre-sessional Online

    For applicants who want to study online and need to improve their English level by 1.0 IELTS bands (or equivalent).

  • Study Abroad Fashion Design Summer School. Item credit: Adam Razvi
    Study Abroad Fashion Design Summer School. Item credit: Adam Razvi
Student sitting in front of a window, smiling
Image credit: Adam Razvi
The biggest strength of this course is that students can gain practical English skills through the materials. I found that listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills were intertwined, and a physical class is the best place to improve all of them together. Additionally, classmates from other countries are so valuable that I got so many insights through communication with them. I strongly recommend other students come and join the pre-sessional on campus before their main courses start.

Satoko Suzuki MA Innovation Management, Central Saint Martins

Join a UAL community wherever you are

You will join an engaging course taught by supportive, experienced tutors. For online courses, you do not need to travel to London.

We can accept a variety of English language tests with applications. Entry requirements can be found on our courses pages.

More information

Pre-sessional at UAL:

More than a language course