You will take part in taught lessons every day, with opportunities for class-based discussion and speaking and listening tasks set by your class tutor. You will also have reading and written tasks with teacher feedback to develop your skills. You will be fully supported throughout your course and you will receive regular 1-1 tutorials to discuss your progress and get answers to any questions you might have.
On-campus classes will be delivered face to face and online classes are delivered via Zoom. All courses are assessed using a mixture of coursework, portfolio assessments and tests.
Contact Hours
The first week of your programme includes an introduction to the course and to the University’s facilities and student support services. The last 1-2 weeks of the course are usually timetabled for assessment and feedback on your progress.
You will have 15.8 hours of tuition every week. This is 19 classes of 50-minute lessons. Classes are held Monday to Friday and are scheduled between 9.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. There is no teaching on Saturday or Sunday.
Up to 20 hours per week should be allowed for completion of all pre and post-class activities and coursework. Timetabled online sessions will take into account the needs of students studying in different time zones.
Sample timetable for Presessional English 2023/24
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
09:00 - 09:50 |
Reading and Writing |
Reading and Writing |
Academic Orientation |
Reading and Writing |
Reading and Writing |
10:00 - 10:50 |
Reading and Writing |
Reading and Writing |
Academic Orientation |
Reading and Writing |
Reading and Writing |
11:00 - 11:50 |
Listening and Speaking |
Listening and Speaking |
Academic Orientation |
Listening and Speaking |
Listening and Speaking |
12:00 - 12:50 |
Listening and Speaking |
Listening and Speaking |
Enrichment |
Listening and Speaking |
Listening and Speaking |
13:00 - 13:50 |
Enrichment |
Enrichment |
Enrichment |
Enrichment |
Enrichment |
Enrichment classes are in addition to the taught classes scheduled weekly. Please note there are a number of bank holidays (BH) and University closed days (CD) throughout the year when the University will be closed.
2023-24
Thursday 21 December 2023 (CD), Friday 22 December 2023 (CD), Monday 25 December 2023 (Christmas Day BH), Tuesday 26 December 2023 (Boxing Day BH), Wednesday 27 December 2023 (CD), Thursday 28 December 2023 (CD), Friday 29 December 2023 (CD), Monday 1 January 2024 (New Year’s Day BH), Friday 29 March 2024 (Good Friday BH), Monday 1 April 2024 (Easter Monday BH), Tuesday 2 April 2024 (CD), Wednesday 3 April 2024 (CD), Monday 6 May 2024 (May BH), Monday 27 May 2024 (Spring BH), Monday 26 August 2024 (Summer BH), Monday 23 December 2024(CD), Tuesday 24 December 2024 (CD), Wednesday 25 December 2024 (Christmas Day BH), Thursday 26 December 2024 (Boxing Day BH), Friday 27 December 2024 (CD), Monday 30 December 2024 (CD), Tuesday 31 December 2024 (CD)
Assessment Methods
Over the duration of your course, you will study three modules:
- Reading and Writing
- Speaking and Listening
- Academic Orientation/English for Specific Academic Purposes (ESAP).
Each module assesses your language skills. You will need to meet the English Language Entry Requirements for your programme with your scores in those modules.
Progression
The requirements for successful completion of your English presessional programme are:
- The achievement of the appropriate final mark for all assessed work (examinations and assessed coursework)
- A minimum of 90% attendance
- Fulfilment of the University requirements for reasonable diligence