Pre-Sessional English Course in the UK: How Long You Need and What It Means for Your Visa

TL;DR: A pre-sessional English course in the UK is a university-run English programme you take before your degree when your test score is a little short. Courses run from 2 to 40 weeks, and the length depends on the gap between your score and your course requirement. Many universities can issue one combined CAS for the English course and the degree, but usually only if you already hold a Secure English Language Test (SELT) at B1 in all four skills.

Missing your IELTS requirement by half a band does not have to mean missing your intake. It does mean making a choice quickly: retake the test, or accept a place on a pre-sessional course. The right answer depends on how big the gap is, how much time you have and what your visa needs.

Half a band short and not sure whether to retake or take a pre-sessional? Check your eligibility with Prosper.

What a pre-sessional course does

A pre-sessional course teaches academic English: reading research, writing essays, giving presentations and taking part in seminars. It is run by the university or its language centre, and it ends with an assessment. Pass it at the level your degree asks for, and most universities accept that result in place of a new test, so you move straight onto your degree.

Fail it, and policies differ. The University of Bedfordshire, for example, offers a short programme of remedial study for students who do not reach the required level, and they can join their degree after completing it. Other universities may not, so ask before you accept.

How long you need

The bigger the gap, the longer the course. Published entry rules show the pattern:

Use this as a guide only. Each university sets its own lengths, minimum band scores and start dates, and the longer courses start many months before your degree.

Want a view on whether a retake or a pre-sessional gets you to your intake with less risk?

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The visa question

This is where most students get caught out. UK rules set two English levels for the Student visa: CEFR B2 for degree-level study and B1 for study below degree level. A pre-sessional course on its own is below degree level.

For degree-level study, a university that is a Higher Education Provider can assess your English itself, which is why many universities accept IELTS Academic or other tests for admission. A pre-sessional is different, and this is how universities handle it:

• Combined CAS. The university issues one Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies covering the English course and the degree, so one visa covers both. The University of Reading offers this if your target is IELTS 6.5 and you already have B1 in all four skills.
• SELT first. Reading and Bedfordshire both ask students who need a visa for an on-campus pre-sessional to hold a SELT, such as IELTS for UKVI.

So the test you take matters. An IELTS Academic result can get you a degree offer, but it may not get you onto the visa for a pre-sessional. If a pre-sessional is likely, take IELTS for UKVI or another SELT.

Cost and timing

Pre-sessional fees are separate from tuition. The University of Bedfordshire lists fees from £900 for 2 weeks to £6,400 for 16 weeks for 2025 to 2026. You also pay rent and living costs for the extra weeks, and your visa funds must cover the longer stay.

Ask the university for the full cost in writing before you accept: course fee, accommodation for the extra weeks and any deposit. Some universities ask you to pay the pre-sessional fee before they issue a CAS.

Timing works backwards from your degree start. A 10-week course for a September degree starts in early summer. Add your CAS and visa time on top. See UK student visa processing time for how long that part takes.

Retake or pre-sessional?

A simple rule of thumb:

• Retake if you are half a band short in one skill and have time before your offer deadline. It usually costs less and keeps your start date.
• Pre-sessional if you are short in several skills, or a full band or more below. It builds the academic English your degree needs.
• Check first whether your qualifications already meet the requirement. Some universities accept other evidence. Our guide to studying in the UK without IELTS explains when.

Applying from Sri Lanka

IELTS for UKVI is available in Colombo, so you can sit a SELT before you apply for the visa. If your O/L English or English-medium degree is accepted for your degree, ask whether the university also accepts it for its pre-sessional route, since the answer can differ.

FAQ

What is a pre-sessional English course? An academic English course run by a UK university before your degree starts, for students whose test score is below the course requirement.

How long is a pre-sessional English course in the UK? Between 2 and 40 weeks, depending on the gap between your score and the requirement.

Do I need a new IELTS after a pre-sessional? Usually not. If you pass the pre-sessional at the required level, most universities accept that result for your degree.

Can one visa cover the pre-sessional and my degree? Often yes, through a combined CAS, but universities usually require a SELT at B1 in all four skills first.

Is IELTS Academic enough for a pre-sessional visa? Not always. Several universities ask for IELTS for UKVI or another SELT when the pre-sessional needs a visa.

Does a pre-sessional increase my visa funds? Yes. Your funds must cover the extra course fees and living costs for the longer stay.

PS: The pre-sessional that costs least is the one you do not need. Before you accept an extended course, check whether a focused retake would close the gap in time for your intake. If you would like a second opinion on your scores and dates, check your eligibility with Prosper.

Check your eligibility ›