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- UCB Go (Pre-Sessional English)
Choose the right path for your journey. From IELTS 4.0 to university-ready.
Do you have a conditional offer for a HE programme at University College Birmingham? To start your course, you need to meet our English requirements. So if you want to get on to your chosen course and get on with your academic progress, UCB Go is here to help you.
Learn with Expert Teachers
Your course is a mix of live lessons and your own study.
- Live Lessons: You will join a class with a professional teacher. They will show you exactly how to succeed at a UK university
- Academic Skills: You will learn how to find information for your work, how to write university essays, and how to speak confidently in big classes (lectures) and small groups (seminars).
Support Just for You
You are never alone at UCB.
- Personal Tutorials: You will have private 1-to-1 meetings with a teacher. You can talk about your progress, your homework, or your life on the course
- Helpful Feedback: When you do your own study, we give you regular feedback so you know exactly how to get better.
Get Ready for the UK
Coming to a new country can be daunting. UCB Go helps you feel at home.
- Meet Friends: You will meet students online from before your main degree starts, so when you arrive on campus, you will see many friendly faces!
- Learn the System: You will learn how UCB works. You will know exactly what your UK teachers expect from you.
Your Golden Ticket to a Degree
When you finish UCB Go, you receive an official certificate.
- University College Birmingham accepts this certificate as proof of your English for your visa
- This means you are ready to start your HE course here!
If you do not pass the UCB Go Pre-sessional English course, then you will not be able to progress onto your main course for that intake - you will need to work on your English skills and reapply for a later intake. Third-party English examinations will not be accepted in place of not progressing in your pre-sessional English course.
Why should I choose UCB Go?
- Gain the English skills required to start your academic programme
- Develop academic skills to help you make the best start to your academic programme
- 15, 8 and 6-week programmes available
- Dedicated support from UCB Go staff
- Give yourself the best chance of excelling in your studies
- Meet other students from around the world and make friends before you arrive at UCB
Course breakdown
Your course will be split into the following modules
- 15-weeks
- 8-weeks
- 6-weeks
Modules
Overview
The course is 15 weeks long. It is a journey from IELTS Level 4.0 to CEFR B2. • A minimum of 20 hours of teaching each week • Guest lectures • Online study materials to help you work more on different skills in your own time • Learn & Practice: Every day, you talk with your teacher and other students. • Check Your Progress: In Week 4 and Week 7, you will take a small test. This shows you how much you are improving! • Finish Strong: At the end of the course, you take your final exams. When you pass, you are ready for your next course
Reading and writing
In this module, you will learn how to read university texts and use that information to write your own essays. This is a very important skill for your studies at UCB. What will you learn? • Smart Reading: Learn how to find the most important information in a long article without reading every single word. • University Writing: Move from writing short paragraphs to writing professional academic reports and essays. • Finding Your Voice: Learn how to use "English File" grammar to explain your ideas clearly. • The Rules of Writing: Learn how to "reference" (tell the teacher where you found your information) so your work is professional and honest.
Speaking and listening
In this module, you will practice how to understand people at university and how to speak so they understand you. You will move from basic conversation to professional university speaking. What will you learn? • Lecture Listening: Learn how to listen to a teacher for at least 20 minutes and write down the most important notes. • Seminar Skills: Practice talking in small groups. You will learn how to agree, disagree, and ask questions politely. • Better Pronunciation: We use various activities to help you speak clearly so everyone understands your ideas.
Guest lecturers
During your course, you will attend Special Guest Lectures from UCB lecturers in departments like Business, Hospitality, and Sport. Why are these lectures special? • Real Experience: You will listen to expert teachers from other parts of the university. This is exactly what you will do in your BA or MA degree. • Safe Practice: This is a "practice run." Your English teacher will be there to help you understand the big ideas and difficult words. • Note-Taking Skills: You will practice writing down the most important information while a teacher is speaking. • Meet Your Future Teachers: You might meet a teacher from your future degree! It’s a great way to start feeling like a UCB student.
Modules
Overview
The course is 8 weeks long. It is a journey from IELTS 5.0 to CEFR B2. • A minimum of 14 hours of live teaching each week • Online self-study materials to help you work on different elements of your language • Integrated reading and writing classes teaching you how to write effectively in English • Integrated speaking and listening classes • Seminar practice • Learn and practice: Every day you will work with your teacher and other students • Finish strong: At the end of the course, you take your final exams. When you pass, you are ready for your next course
Reading and writing
In this 8-week module, you will stop being a "language learner" and start being a "university student." We combine the fun, active lessons with the professional skills to make sure you will learn what you need in a way that you enjoy. What will you learn? • From Sentences to Essays: You will learn how to connect your ideas to write clear, academic paragraphs and short reports. • Reading for Research: You will learn how to read university articles quickly to find the facts you need for your assignments. • The Academic Word List: We will teach you the specific "power words" used in UK universities so your writing looks professional. • Avoiding Mistakes: Learn how to check your own work for grammar and spelling before you give it to your teacher.
Speaking and listening
This module is designed to help you stop feeling like a tourist and start feeling like a university student. We use professional materials like to give you a real "preview" of your future university classes. What will you learn? • Understanding Lectures: Using Lecture Ready, you will learn how to listen to long talks, understand the big ideas, and write down clear notes. • Discussion Power: Using Contemporary Topics, we look at interesting themes like Business, Science, and Culture. You will learn how to talk about these topics in a group. • Academic Speaking: You will learn how to give a professional presentation. We will help you with your body language, your slides, and your pronunciation. • Critical Listening: Learn how to hear the difference between a "fact" and an "opinion" when someone is speaking.
Guest lecturers
During your course, you will attend Special Guest Lectures from UCB lecturers in departments like Business, Hospitality, and Sport. Why are these lectures special? • Real Experience: You will listen to expert teachers from other parts of the university. This is exactly what you will do in your BA or MA degree. • Safe Practice: This is a "practice run." Your English teacher will be there to help you understand the big ideas and difficult words. • Note-Taking Skills: You will practice writing down the most important information while a teacher is speaking. • Meet Your Future Teachers: You might meet a teacher from your future degree! It’s a great way to start feeling like a UCB student.
Modules
Overview
The course is 6 weeks long. It is a journey from IELTS 5.5 to CEFR B2. • A minimum of 14 hours of live teaching each week • Online self-study materials to help you work on different elements of your language • Integrated reading and writing classes teaching you how to write effectively in English • Integrated speaking and listening classes • Seminar practice • Learn and practice: Every day you will work with your teacher and other students • Finish strong: At the end of the course, you take your final exams. When you pass, you are ready for your next course
Reading and writing
This is an intensive, high-energy module designed for students who are almost ready for their UCB course but just need that little more English to get there. In just six weeks, we move from general competence to academic mastery. What will you master? • Critical Reading: You won't just read for information; you will learn to analyse a writer's argument. You will learn to compare different texts and find the most reliable evidence. • The "UK Academic Style": Move beyond simple essays. We focus on the "Fine Details"—academic tone, objective language, and complex sentence structures that get higher marks. • Rapid Research: At university, you have a lot to read in a short time. We teach you advanced skimming and scanning techniques to find the "gold" in a 20-page journal article. • Professional Referencing: Master the art of citations and bibliographies. We ensure you understand how to protect your academic integrity from day one.
Speaking and listening
This is an intensive "university simulation" module designed to remove any remaining nerves. We use authentic lectures and activities to push your skills to the limit, ensuring you are ready to lead from day one on your next course. What will you master? • Lecture Mastery: You won't just take notes; you will learn to predict what the lecturer will say next. We focus on "Macro-listening"—understanding the big-picture theories and complex arguments of high-level academic talks. • Seminar Leadership: In the UK, your grade often depends on how you participate. We teach you how to lead a group, challenge theories respectfully, and manage a professional academic debate. • The "Q&A" Expert: Learn how to handle the most difficult part of any presentation: the questions at the end. We practice thinking on your feet and giving sharp, smart answers. • Refined Pronunciation: We focus on the "music" of English—word stress and intonation—to ensure that when you speak, people listen.
Guest lecturers
During your course, you will attend Special Guest Lectures from UCB lecturers in departments like Business, Hospitality, and Sport. Why are these lectures special? • Real Experience: You will listen to expert teachers from other parts of the university. This is exactly what you will do in your BA or MA degree. • Safe Practice: This is a "practice run." Your English teacher will be there to help you understand the big ideas and difficult words. • Note-Taking Skills: You will practice writing down the most important information while a teacher is speaking. • Meet Your Future Teachers: You might meet a teacher from your future degree! It’s a great way to start feeling like a UCB student.
The intensive learning prepared me well for better learning on my course. Besides learning advanced English, I was introduced to the patterns involved in assignments in semester one – for example, understanding literature review, matrix and citations.
Yuk Ha Wicky Cheung Pre-sessional English Course / MA Culinary Arts Management
Entry requirements
Online Pre-sessional (15 weeks)
IELTS and IELTS Indicator
Overall score of 4.0 with no less than 4.0
UCB English Proficiency Test
Overall score of B1 with no less than B1
TOEFL iBT & TOEFL iBT Home
Overall 14 – 25 (R4, L9, S16, W15)
Language Cert SELT
Language Cert SELT B1, Overall 39, with no less than 33
Language Cert International ESOL
Language Cert International ESOL B1, Overall Pass, with no less than 25
PTE Academic / UKVI (including Online)
Overall 43, with no less than 43
Password English Test (including Password Skills Plus Test)
Overall 4.0, with no less than 4.0
Duolingo English Test
Score: 50
CET- 4
405
CET- 6
380
Gaokao
105/150
To apply for the Online Pre-Sessional English Course, you are also required to have applied for an undergraduate or postgraduate course for the upcoming intake.
Online Pre-sessional (8 weeks)
IELTS and IELTS Indicator
Overall score of 5.0 with no less than 4.5
UCB English Proficiency Test
Overall score of B1+ with no less than B1
TOEFL iBT & TOEFL iBT Home
Overall 64 (R14, L15, S19, W16)
Language Cert SELT
Language Cert SELT B1, Overall 45, with no less than 40
Language Cert International ESOL
Language Cert International ESOL B1, Overall High Pass, with no less than 25
PTE Academic / UKVI (including Online)
Overall 53, with no less than 50
Password English Test (including Password Skills Plus Test)
Overall 5.0, with no less than 4.5
Duolingo English Test
Score: 85
CET- 4
425
CET- 6
425
Gaokao
100/150
To apply for the Online Pre-Sessional English Course, you are also required to have applied for an undergraduate or postgraduate course for the upcoming intake.
Online Pre-Sessional (6 weeks)
IELTS and IELTS Indicator
Overall score of 5.5 with no less than 5.0
UCB English Proficiency Test
Overall score of B2- with no less than B1+
TOEFL iBT & TOEFL iBT Home
Overall 68 (R14, L15, S19, W16)
Language Cert SELT
Language Cert SELT B2; Overall 33, no less than 33
Language Cert International ESOL
Language Cert International ESOL B2; Overall Pass, with no less than 25
PTE Academic / UKVI (including Online)
Overall 55, with no less than 50
Password English Test (including Password Skills Plus Test)
Overall 5.5, with no less than 5.0
Duolingo English Test
Score: 100
CET- 4
500
CET- 6
450
Gaokao
90/150
To apply for the Online Pre-Sessional English Course, you are also required to have applied for an undergraduate or postgraduate course for the upcoming intake.
For any queries, please get in touch with us:
International applicants
- By phone: +44 121 232 4458
- By fax: +44 121 604 1166
EU applicants
- By phone: +44 121 604 1040
Key information
Teaching and assessment
Online Pre-sessional (15 weeks)
Our 15-week course is a full-immersion experience. We move you from IELTS 4.0 to CEFR B2 by combining expert live teaching with modern digital tools.
How you will learn
- Live Online Learning: You will spend a minimum of 20 hours every week with our specialist Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes (EAP). These sessions are active, engaging, and focused on your success
- Integrated Skills: We don’t teach individual skills. You will learn how reading leads to writing, and how listening leads to speaking, just like in a real university degree
- Guest Lectures: To prepare you for the "real world," you will attend guest lectures from various UCB departments, allowing you to practice note-taking in a safe, supportive environment.
- Digital Hub: You will have 24/7 access to Canvas, our online learning platform, where you can find extra study materials and receive digital feedback from your tutors.
How we check your progress
We believe in "no surprises." We use a stepped assessment approach to make sure you are ready for your degree:
- Early Check-ins: You will have progress tests at Week 4 and Week 7. These are not "scary" exams; they are tools to show you and your teacher where you need more help
- Pastoral Tutorials: You will meet 1-to-1 with a tutor regularly to discuss your test scores and your personal goals.
Final Assessments: In your final week, you will be assessed in all four language skills: Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing.
- Listening: an exam covering comprehension, lecture listening and note-taking
- Reading: an exam testing reading comprehension, critical reading skills, note-taking and summarising
- Writing: an exam testing key writing skills (60%), 750-word discursive essay (20%), plus the summary produced in the reading exam (20%)
- Speaking: a 20-minute tutor-led seminar testing your speaking and discussion skills
Online Pre-sessional (8 weeks)
The 8-week course is a focused "bridge" to your degree. It is designed for students who are ready to move from general English to Academic English before starting their next course. We focus on turning your language skills into professional university tools.
How you will learn
- Intensive Tutor Time: You will spend a minimum of 14 hours per week with our specialist Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes (EAP). This ensures you get maximum support in a shorter timeframe
- The B1+ Advantage: Using a variety of resources we help you step up to a more professional level of English. You will practice with the same type of vocabulary and grammar you will see in your future textbooks.
- Academic Simulations: Using these specialised listening and speaking materials, you will practise listening to real academic talks and taking notes like a professional
- Integrated Tasks: You will learn how to read a text and immediately use those ideas in your writing—exactly what you will do for your main course assignments
- University Guest Lectures: You won't just study in a language classroom. You will attend guest lectures from other UCB departments (such as Business, Hospitality, or Sport). This is a "real-world" test for your listening and note-taking skills. · Personal Support & Feedback: You will have regular Pastoral Tutorials. These are private 1-to-1 meetings with your lecturer to discuss your progress and ensure you are ready for your degree start date
- Digital Learning: You will use Canvas to access your self-study materials. This gives you "anytime" access to practice tasks, ensuring you can consolidate what you learn in class.
Final Assessments: In your final week, you will be assessed in all four language skills: Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing.
- Listening: an exam covering comprehension, lecture listening and note-taking
- Reading: an exam testing reading comprehension, critical reading skills, note-taking and summarising
- Writing: an exam testing key writing skills (60%), 750-word discursive essay (20%), plus the summary produced in the reading exam (20%)
- Speaking: a 20-minute tutor-led seminar testing your speaking and discussion skills.
Online Pre-sessional (6 weeks)
The 6-week course is our most intensive "university simulation." It is designed for students who are very close to their target score and want to master the final skills needed to lead in a UK classroom. We focus on polishing your academic voice and ensuring you are ready to start your degree with total confidence.
How you will learn
- Intensive Tutor Time: You will spend a minimum of 14 hours per week with our specialist Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes (EAP). This ensures you get maximum support in a shorter timeframe
- The B1+ Advantage: Using a variety of resources we help you step up to a more professional level of English. You will practice with the same type of vocabulary and grammar you will see in your future textbooks.
- Academic Simulations: Using these specialised listening and speaking materials, you will practise listening to real academic talks and taking notes like a professional
- Integrated Tasks: You will learn how to read a text and immediately use those ideas in your writing—exactly what you will do for your main course assignments
- University Guest Lectures: You won't just study in a language classroom. You will attend guest lectures from other UCB departments (such as Business, Hospitality, or Sport). This is a "real-world" test for your listening and note-taking skills. · Personal Support & Feedback: You will have regular Pastoral Tutorials. These are private 1-to-1 meetings with your lecturer to discuss your progress and ensure you are ready for your degree start date
- Digital Learning: You will use Canvas to access your self-study materials. This gives you "anytime" access to practice tasks, ensuring you can consolidate what you learn in class.
Final Assessments: In your final week, you will be assessed in all four language skills: Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing.
- Listening: an exam covering comprehension, lecture listening and note-taking
- Reading: an exam testing reading comprehension, critical reading skills, note-taking and summarising
- Writing: an exam testing key writing skills (60%), 750-word discursive essay (20%), plus the summary produced in the reading exam (20%)
- Speaking: a 20-minute tutor-led seminar testing your speaking and discussion skills.
Our teaching and assessment is underpinned by our Learning and Teaching Strategy 2025-2030.
Course dates
|
Course |
English level |
Summer 2026 dates |
September 2026 dates |
|
15 week |
IELTS 4.0 with nothing below 4.0 UCBELT B1 with nothing below B1 CET-4 – 425 |
11/05/2026 – 21/08/2026 Resits w/c 24/08/2026 Application deadline |
21/09/2026 – 22/01/2027 Resits w/c 26/01/2027 Application deadline |
|
8 week |
IELTS 5.0 with nothing below 4.5 UCBELT B1+ with nothing below B1+ CET-4 – 550 CET-6 - 425 |
29/06/2026 – 21/08/2026 Resits w/c 24/08/2026 Application deadline |
19/10/2026 – 11/12/2026 Resits w/c 14/12/2026 Application deadline |
|
6 week |
IELTS 5.5 with nothing below 5.0 UCBELT B2- with nothing below B1+ CET-4 – 600 CET-6 – 500 |
13/07/2026 – 21/08/2026 Resits w/c 24/08/2026 Application deadline |
02/11/2026 – 11/12/2026 Resits w/c 14/12/2026 Application deadline |
Tuition fees and finance
|
Course |
Fees |
|
Online Pre-sessional English Course (15 weeks) |
£4,500 |
|
Online Pre-sessional English Course (8 weeks) |
£3,500 |
|
Online Pre-sessional English Course (6 weeks) |
£2,180 |
International pre-payment policy
Please note there is a pre-payment of tuition fees policy for International students who apply for a course at University College Birmingham.
Can I still get Student Finance for the Pre-sessional English Course?
You will NOT receive any Student Finance while you are studying this course. The Pre-sessional English Course will teach you the English skills needed to progress onto an academic course at University College Birmingham. You will therefore need to be prepared to support yourself for living costs for the period of time you are studying these courses and you will need to be able to pay the fees yourself.
Have any questions
If you have any questions about UCB Go (Pre-Sessional English), please email Michelle Cornick M.Cornick@ucb.ac.uk
Studying this course encouraged my career plans, from the teaching to the support I received from tutors to be more reliable and confident in my future. Studying and living in Birmingham is quite easy for me because I am already used to the city, and eager to study and achieve my goals here.
Adebimpe Ilelaboye Pre-sessional English Course / BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care
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