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Course overview

For the 2024/25 academic year, Pre-sessional English courses are scheduled to take place on campus with online provision available over the summer

Our Pre-sessional English course has six entry points depending on your current level of English and how long you need to study for. Normally, all students finish their Pre-sessional English course on the same Friday in early September. Fully online students will usually begin and end their studies about three weeks earlier.

Longer courses

Our longest courses are divided into three stages:

  • The 40-week course begins in Stage 1 (October start date)
  • The 30-week course begins in Stage 2 (January start date)
  • The 20-week course begins in Stage 3 (March/April start date).

Shorter courses

Our shorter courses (12, 10 and 6-week courses) begin in the summer and have start dates between June and July, depending on the course. If you study with us in Stage 3, you will need to successfully complete assessments to progress to the 10-week summer course.

During Stage 1-3 and the first part of the 12-week course, you will study with students holding offers for all different subjects. For the final 10 weeks – or if you join us for the 6-week course – you will be grouped with students studying the same subject as you, or a subject from the same family of disciplines.

Our pathways

Humanities and Social Sciences pathway

For students holding an offer for subjects within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Science (including degrees in the University of Liverpool Management School). This pathway may be further split into the two following pathways:

  1. Humanities Pathway: for students holding an offer for subjects within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Science (excluding degrees in the University of Liverpool Management School)
  2. Management Pathway: for students holding an offer for the University of Liverpool Management School

Science Pathway

For students holding an offer for subjects within the Faculty of Science and Engineering or Health and Life Sciences.

What can I expect?

Before you begin your studies

You will normally take a placement test (on the 40, 30 and 20-week courses) to allow us to place you in the most appropriate class for your current level of English. On the 12/10-week course, there is no level test but you will take a diagnostic writing test.

During your classes

When you study on any of our Pre-sessional English courses, you will have:

  • A full-time, intensive course requiring approximately 35 hours per week. This includes up to 18 hours of lessons and tutorials and approximately 20 hours per week of directed self-study after class and at weekends
  • Lessons are usually held between 9am and 6pm GMT, Monday to Friday
  • Regular homework and self-study tasks
  • Small classes, usually of 8-14 students. There will be a maximum of 16 students in a class
  • Regular individual and/or small-group tutorials
  • Classes with students studying the same subject as you, or a subject from the same family of disciplines (summer courses)
  • Regular recorded lectures to help you improve your listening and note taking skills (summer courses)
  • Text books and materials necessary for your course are included in the course fee
  • Highly experienced and motivated teachers - Meet the ELC team
  • Access to University facilities, eg libraries, University email account
  • Access to self-study materials in the Language Lounge
  • Visa support through the International Advice and Guidance team
  • A range of social activities and trips to introduce you to Liverpool and life in the UK, or where appropriate an online equivalent
  • University accommodation on the Liverpool campus with the option for you to keep the same room when you begin your academic course.

All students will use Microsoft Teams and the University's virtual learning environment CANVAS to submit assessments and access policy documents. You will need to bring an audio and video enabled laptop to your classes as ebooks and elearning materials will be used. It might also be beneficial to bring a headset and a webcam when studying on campus.

For self-study outside of scheduled class times, you may also find it convenient to occasionally connect with your classmates via the internet and to complete work online and at home independently.

Our current students have reported that it is not possible to follow the course on a mobile telephone or tablet computer. Therefore, you should ensure you have the necessary equipment and a strong internet connection at home to enable you to study effectively.

After your course

  • Online students will receive a transcript and on-campus students will receive a transcript and a certificate of participation, provided the attendance requirements have been met
  • Successful completion of the Pre-sessional course at the required level will allow you to progress to your academic programme at the University of Liverpool.