UCB Go (PRE-SESSIONAL ENGLISH)

Accredited by University College Birmingham

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Duration

12/8/6 weeks FT (online)

Entry

September, October

Fees

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UCB Go (Pre-sessional English) is designed for international applicants who have been offered a place on a higher education course for the upcoming academic year but need to improve their existing English skills before studying at a UK university.

Each course is delivered as a mix of self-study and live teaching where you will join one of our Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes who will focus on the key language/academic skills needed to excel at university such as learning how to research and reference academic work, how to write in an academic style, and how to participate effectively in lecturers and seminars.

Plus, you will be offered extensive support in the self-study portion of the course, receiving frequent feedback on your performance and attending personal, pastoral tutorials, in which you can discuss your progress with one of our lecturers.

Equally as importantly, the course will get you accustomed to the internal processes at UCB and introduce you to what is expected of you as a student in a UK university, which is vital for your future progress. Plus, it will introduce you to staff and other students from around the world, so there will be plenty of friendly faces for you to recognise once you reach our Birmingham campus.

In other words, UCB Go (Pre-sessional) ensures that you are ready for every aspect of your future courses here at UCB and maximises your opportunity for success.

University College Birmingham will accept the UCB Go (Pre-sessional English) course certificates as proof of your level of English. If you wish to study elsewhere after this course, it is recommended that you check whether your chosen institution will accept this certificate.

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.

Note: This course is intended to help you improve your academic English skills in preparation for studying at a UK university. It is not intended for people who simply wish to improve their general English language skills.

Why should I choose UCB Go?

Minimum 14 hours of live teaching time per week
Gain the English skills required to start your academic programme
Develop academic skills to help you make the best start to your academic programme
12, 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 four blocks made up of different modules as shown below:

Pre-Sessional English Course

Modules

Block One: Getting Started

Unit 1: Differences in academic culture Study tips; modes of lesson delivery (lecture, seminar, etc. and their key differences) Unit 2 - Time management skills Prioritising tasks; using planners to manage time Unit 3: Understanding assignment briefs and tasks Analysing assignment briefs; understanding key words; developing ideas Unit 4: Reflection Individual SWOT analysis; peer review techniques; feedback and feedforward – reflecting on portfolio tasks End of block task (unlocks Block Two)

Block Two: Recording Information

Unit 5: Academic grammar and style Verb tenses, passive voice, noun phrases and relative clauses Unit 6: Listening to Lectures Note structures; symbols and abbreviations; recognising signposting in lectures; using introductions to structure notes; recognising supporting arguments and different positions Unit 7: Reading strategies The SQ3R reading model; predicting content; skimming, scanning and reading for detail; using topic sentences to identify ideas; making critical choices when reading; evaluating sources End of block task (unlocks Block Three)

Block Three: Using Information

Unit 8: Referencing at University College Birmingham Harvard referencing conventions; identifying plagiarism Unit 9: Presentation skills Preparing for presentations; signposting in presentations Unit 10: Paraphrasing and summarising Paraphrasing techniques – sentence and paragraph level; identifying key information and summarising texts Unit 11: Essay writing Different essay structures; essays vs. reports; University College Birmingham format conventions Unit 12: Introductions Structuring effective introductions; useful expressions/signposting Unit 13: Paragraphs Paragraph structure; writing effective topic sentences; cohesive devices in writing Unit 14: Conclusions Structuring effective conclusions; useful expressions/signposting Unit 15: Discussions Participating in a seminar discussion; language for agreeing and disagreeing; language for giving explanations and rephrasing; referring to sources when speaking End of block task (unlocks Block Four)

Block Four: Looking Forward

Unit 16: Using Grammarly Setting up and getting the most out of Grammarly; proofreading checklist Unit 17: Course review and final practice activities Review of key skills; additional listening and reading practice Unit 18: Support at University College Birmingham Details of wider support at University College Birmingham; useful links

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 (12 weeks)

IELTS and IELTS Indicator
Overall score of 4.5 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 54 (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 4.5, with no less than 4.0

Duolingo English Test
Score: 70

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

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

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:

Enquiry Form

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 (12 weeks)

Teaching

The course is hybrid, with a mix of taught sessions and self-study. Teaching is task-based and communicative in approach. It is delivered wholly online via Teams and Canvas, University College Birmingham’s online learning platform. Students will be expected to attend a minimum of 14 hours of live sessions per week. Sessions will be made up of a variety of tasks, including:

Lecture listening tasks
Seminar and presentation tasks
Groupwork
Research tasks
Academic reading tasks
Academic writing tasks
Pastoral tutorials

Assessment

All the same except writing:

Writing - an exam focussing on key writing skills covered in the course (60%), 750-word discursive essay (20%) plus the summary produced in the reading exam (20%)

Online Pre-sessional (8 weeks)

Teaching

Lecture listening tasks
Seminar and presentation tasks
Groupwork
Research tasks
Academic reading tasks
Academic writing tasks
Pastoral tutorials

Assessment

All the same except writing:

Writing - an exam focussing on key writing skills covered in the course (60%), 750-word discursive essay (20%) plus the summary produced in the reading exam (20%)

Online Pre-sessional (6 weeks)

Teaching

Lecture listening tasks
Seminar and presentation tasks
Groupwork
Research tasks
Academic reading tasks
Academic writing tasks
Pastoral tutorials

Assessment

All the same except writing:

Writing - an exam focussing on key writing skills covered in the course (60%), 750-word discursive essay (20%) plus the summary produced in the reading exam (20%)

Our teaching and assessment is underpinned by our Learning and Teaching Strategy 2025-2030.

Course dates

Course	IELTS improvement	Sept 2025 dates	Summer 2026 dates
12 week	1.5	29/09/2025 – 16/01/2025 Exams w/c 12/01/2026 Resits w/c 19/01/2026 Application deadline 22/09/2025	08/06/2026 – 21/08/2026 Exams w/c 24/08/2026 Resits w/c 31/08/2026 Application deadline 01/06/2026
8 week	1.0	13/10/2025 – 05/12/2025 Exams w/c 08/12/2025 Resits w/c 05/01/2026 Application deadline 06/10/2025	29/06/2026 – 21/08/2026 Exams w/c 24/08/2026 Resits w/c 31/08/2026 Application deadline 22/06/2026
6 week	0.5	27/10/2025 – 05/12/2025 Exams w/c 08/12/2025 Resits w/c 05/01/2026 Application deadline 20/10/2025	13/07/2026 – 21/08/2026 Exams w/c 24/08/2026 Resits w/c 31/08/2026 Application deadline 06/07/2026

Tuition fees and finance

Course	Fees (excluding accommodation)	Application and fee payment deadline
Online Summer Pre-sessional English Course (12 weeks)
02/06/2025	£4,500	25/05/2025
29/09/2025	£4,500	22/09/2025
Online Summer Pre-sessional English Course (8 weeks)
23/06/2025	£3,500	16/06/2025
13/10/2025	£3,500	06/10/2025
Online Summer Pre-sessional English Course (6 weeks)
07/07/2025	£2,180	30/06/2025
27/10/2025	£2,180	21/10/2025

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

Meet your lecturers

Julia Clifford

EAP Lecturer and Assessment Developer

Meet Julia

Tim Silk

Academic Development Tutor

Meet Tim

UCB Go (PRE-SESSIONAL ENGLISH)

Duration

Entry

Fees

UCB Go (Pre-sessional English) is designed for international applicants who have been offered a place on a higher education course for the upcoming academic year but need to improve their existing English skills before studying at a UK university.

Why should I choose UCB Go?