Overview
Join our intensive English language course, designed for students preparing to study a Foundation course at ARU College. Feel confident communicating in English and ready to start your course. The Pre-Sessional course for those preparing to study at ARU College is now available online or face-to-face at our Cambridge campus.
Course content
ARU Language Centre's online Pre-sessional Coursefor those preparing to study at ARU College is an intensive, full-time programme, with 15 hours of online tuition with our tutors each week, and 15 hours of guided online self-study for you to complete each week.
The course includes:
- English grammar and vocabulary work
- fluency focus
- pronunciation focus
- speaking for presentations and seminars
- reading, summarising and referencing
- listening and note-taking
- extended writing project
- exam preparation
- life in the UK – cultural awareness training
- regular one-to-one online tutorials to work on your speaking and listening skills
- guest lectures.
Download the Pre-sessional Course description and sample timetable
We expect that from April 2022 it will once again be possible to study our Pre-sessional English course face-to-face on our Cambridge campus.
Our face-to-face Pre-sessional Course is an intensive, full-time programme, with 21 hours of class tuition with our tutors each week, and up to 15 hours of guided self-study for you to complete each week.
Course dates and fees
The following Pre-sessional English courses will either be face-to-face (5 week course only) taking place on our Cambridge campus, or online. They offer a pathway for entry onto a foundation programme at ARU College starting in January 2023.
| Course length | Start date | End date | Course fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 weeks | 05 September 2022 | 16 December 2022 | £5,175 |
| 12 weeks | 26 September 2022 | 16 December 2022 | £4,140 |
| 10 weeks | 10 October 2022 | 16 December 2022 | £3,450 |
| 6 weeks | 07 November 2022 | 16 December 2022 | £2,070 |
| 5 weeks | 14 November 2022 | 16 December 2022 | £1,725 |
The following Pre-sessional English courses will either be face-to-face taking place on our Cambridge campus, or online. They offer a pathway for entry onto a foundation programme at ARU College starting in May 2023. Please note face-to-face programmes run subject to a minimum number of applicants.
| Course length | Start date | End date | Course fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 weeks | 14 November 2022 | 28 April 2023 | £6,900 |
| 15 weeks | 03 January 2023* | 28 April 2023 |
£5,175 |
| 12 weeks | 23 January 2023 | 28 April 2023 |
£4,140 |
| 10 weeks | 06 February 2023 | 28 April 2023 | £3,450 |
| 6 weeks | 06 March 2023 | 28 April 2023 | £2,070 |
| 5 weeks | 13 March 2023 | 28 April 2023 | £1,725 |
*Please note Tuesday start due to Bank Holiday
The following Pre-sessional English courses will either be face-to-face, taking place on our Cambridge campus, or online. They offer a pathway for entry onto a foundation programme at ARU College starting in September 2023. Please note face-to-face programmes run subject to a minimum number of applicants.
| Course length | Start date | End date | Course fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 weeks | 17 April 2023 | 01 September 2023 | £6,900 |
| 15 weeks | 22 May 2023 | 01 September 2023 | £5,175 |
| 12 weeks | 12 June 2023 | 01 September 2023 | £4,140 |
| 10 weeks | 26 June 2023 | 01 September 2023 | £3,450 |
| 6 weeks | 24 July 2023 | 01 September 2023 | £2,070 |
| 5 weeks | 31 July 2023 | 01 September 2023 | £1,725 |
Please note there will be no teaching from 19 December 2022 - 2 January 2023 inclusive due to the Christmas Vacation, and no teaching from 3 April - 14 April 2023 due to the Easter vacation.
Assessment
Our online Pre-Sessional course for ARU College students is assessed using several elements, rather than one final exam.
| Item | Type of assessment | What we're assessing | % of your score |
| 1a | Extended academic essay, based on your area of interest | Writing | 20% |
| 1b | Annotated bibliography | Reading to write; academic skills | 10% |
| 2a | Spoken interview | Speaking and listening | 20% |
| 3 | Formal presentation including questions | Speaking and listening | 20% |
| 4 | Timed listening, writing and reading test | Listening, writing and reading skills | 30% |
To give you confidence in our online Pre-Sessional English programme, we will give you give you additional weeks free of charge (up to the value of the online Pre-Sessional course that you originally booked) in the unlikely event of you failing to reach the level required to proceed in your study. Please contact us for full terms and conditions.
On arrival in the UK we will check your writing, speaking, listening and reading skills, to ensure that they are of a suitable level. We will then recommend any extra support that you may need to give you the best chance of success in your studies.
To progress onto your pathway programme at Anglia Ruskin you will need to successfully complete the Pre-sessional Course and meet the required English requirements for your ARU College programme. You should not usually need to take any other English test.
Where you will study
Your department and faculty
Our Language Centre is here to support your academic success.
We offer a wide range of English courses, including academic and general English, summer programmes and bespoke courses, as well as in-sessional English language support. There's also the chance to learn an additional language with our Anglia Language Programme – open to all ARU students and staff.
You'll find a friendly, supportive teaching environment here with highly experienced and qualified teaching staff who are dedicated to helping you pursue your ambitions.
Where can I study?
Cambridge
Our campus is close to the centre of Cambridge, often described as the perfect student city.
How to apply
You will need to send us a copy of your English test. Please note that any student requiring a SELT for pre-sessional or study below degree level must take their IELTS at an approved test centre.
If you're applying from the EU we can accept other English tests; email language@aru.ac.uk for more information.
Please note we can only accept students onto our pre-sessional courses who have applied for a Tier 4 visa.
Entry requirements
You should be aged 18 or over at the start of this course. Required IELTS scores are as follows:
| Course Length | Minimum Entry |
|---|---|
| 20 weeks | 4.5-5.0 |
| 18 weeks | 4.5-5.0 |
| 15 weeks | 4.5-6.0 |
| 12 weeks | 5.0-6.0 |
| 10 weeks | 5.0-6.5 |
| 6 weeks | 5.5-6.5 |
| 5 weeks | 5.5-6.5 |
Additional notes for online pre-sessional courses (available for September 2020 and January 2021 entry on to an academic course
Our published entry requirements are a guide only and based on a minimum entry. Your Pre-sessional offer will be based on the academic course you have applied for and individual scores of your English qualification.
- For international students taking our online Pre-Sessional course we now accept a variety of English language tests as well as the Secure English Language Test (SELT)s that would be needed for visa purposes. We now recognise Duolinguo for entry onto a pre-sessional course, and are in the process of recognising other assessments. Please email lsu@aru.ac.uk for more details
- If you are from the EU other English tests may also be accepted.
If you need any further advice or information on which pre-sessional course to apply for or which English test we can accept please email lsu@aru.ac.uk
Additional notes for face-to-face pre-sessional courses (available for January 2021 entry on to an academic course)
Our published entry requirements are a guide only and based on a minimum entry. Your Pre-sessional offer will be based on the academic course you have applied for and individual scores of your English qualification.
- For international students we only accept a Secure English Language Test (SELT). Currently this includes an IELTS which must be taken at an approved IELTS test centre for entry onto a pre-sessional course.
- If you are from the EU other English tests may be accepted.
If you need any further advice or information on which pre-sessional course to apply for or which English test we can accept please email lsu@aru.ac.uk
For more information about immigration and for visa support please visit our immigration webpages