Pre-Sessional English - Campus

In this section
Pre-Sessional English - Campus

Aberdeen Campus Pre-sessional (PSE) Courses

Please note that the information below is subject to change. 

Our pre-sessional courses aim to help you make the transition to study at the University of Aberdeen and focuses on the language and skills that you will need including:

  • Planning and structuring longer pieces of writing
  • Using source material in your writing
  • Developing strategies and skills for effective academic study
  • Participating in seminars and giving academic presentations

Advantages of taking these courses include:

  • Successful completion removes the language condition on your offer
  • Extremely high pass rates
  • Preparation for life and study at Aberdeen University
  • Making friends and meeting other international students

Additional Support Once Your Academic Studies Have Started

As a PSE student you will be eligible to take additional free English skills classes. The Language Centre delivers a wide range of support including academic writing and bespoke courses that focus more specifically on the demands of different degree programmes. For more information, visit the In-Sessional Academic English Skills Support page.

Next Campus Based Courses:

2025 Spring

20 weeks PSE - 31 March 2025 - 29 August 2025 - application submissions closed for students currently based outside of the UK.

2025 Summer

10 weeks PSE 23 June - 29 August 2025 (application deadline 23 May 2025)

5 week PSE - 28 July - 29 August 2025 (application deadline 27 June 2025)

2025 Autumn

20 weeks PSE 28 July - 19 December 2025 (application deadline 27 June 2025)

10 weeks PSE - 13 October 2025 - 19 December 2025 (application deadline 12 September 2025)

2025/26

40 weeks PSE - 13 October 2025 -  August 2026 (application deadline 12 September 2025)  

30 weeks PSE - 12 January 2026 - Aug 2026 (application deadline 5 December 2025)

20 weeks PSE - April 2026 - August 2026 - dates to be announced 

10 weeks PSE - June 2026 - August 2026 - dates to be announced

5 weeks PSE - July 2026 - August 2026 - dates to be announced

Join our online Live Chat Events to find out more:

10 weeks PSE - 23 June 2025 - 29 August 2025 - link to follow

5 weeks PSE - 28 July 2025 - 29 Aug 2025 - link to follow

20 weeks PSE - 28 July 2025 - 19 December 2025 - link to follow

FAQ

What kind of visa do I need to take a campus-based course?

You will need a student visa and so must have a SELT (Secure English Language Test). For details of how to apply for a visa and a full list of SELT please see: Student visa : Apply - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

If you do not have a SELT, you may be able to take our full-time online course .

Student can apply for the campus pre-sessional English course with a standard CAS or with a joint CAS (only available for 10 and 5 week PSE courses)

Standard CAS Pathway - Students get one CAS for the pre-sessional course and another CAS for degree studies. Students can apply with UKVI IELTS, UKVI PTE or Language Cert B2 UKVI and upon the successful completion of the pre-sessional language course a new CAS is issued in the UK and students can apply for a visa extension.

Which language certificates can I use to apply for this course?

Students can apply for the pre-sessional English course with a standard CAS or with a joint CAS.

Standard CAS Pathway - Students get one CAS for the pre-sessional course and another CAS for degree studies. Students can apply with UKVI IELTS, UKVI PTE or UKVI LanguageCert B1/B2 and upon the successful completion of the pre-sessional language course a new CAS is issued in the UK and students can apply for a visa extension. If you have a UKVI certificate and a Duolingo certificate, please share both.

Joint CAS Pathway - Students who have met their academic conditions and meet B2 (see below) UKVI English language requirements in all 4 skills may be eligible for a joint CAS. In order to be eligible for a joint CAS you must have one of the following: IELTS (UKVI or non UKVI), PTE, or TOEFL IBIT. A joint CAS covers the pre-sessional course and degree study (only one visa application). Please note that joint CAS requires a higher financial evidence (language course fees, degree course fees and living cost for up to 9 months). Please note that sponsored students who choose this pathway will be asked to pay the deposit which will be refunded once a formal sponsorship letter is received. Please contact the Language Centre if you think that you meet these criteria at lc-application-submission@abdn.ac.uk .

Postgraduate

Standard CAS Pathway - Students will get another CAS for degree study upon the successful completion of the language course, and apply for a visa extension once the new CAS is issued in the UK)

40-week Pre-Sessional English

UKVI IELTS

UKVI PTE

Language Cert B1 UKVI

Overall

4.5

44

N/A

Listening

4

43

N/A

Reading

4

43

N/A

Writing

4.5

47

N/A

Speaking

4

43

N/A

30-week Pre-Sessional English

UKVI IELTS

UKVI PTE

Language Cert B1 UKVI

Overall

4.5

47

Pass

Listening

4.5

47

33

Reading

4.5

47

33

Writing

4.5

47

33

Speaking

4.5

47

33

20-week Pre-Sessional English

UKVI IELTS

UKVI PTE

Language Cert B1 UKVI

Overall

5

52

High Pass

Listening

5

52

38

Reading

5

52

38

Writing

5

52

38

Speaking

5

52

38

10-week Pre-Sessional English

UKVI IELTS

UKVI PTE

Language Cert B2 UKVI

Overall

5.5

57

Pass

Listening

5.0

52

29

Reading

5.5

59

33

Writing

5.5

59

33

Speaking

5.0

52

29

5-week Pre-Sessional English

UKVI IELTS

UKVI PTE

Language Cert B2 UKVI

Overall

6.0

59

Pass

Listening

5.5

59

33

Reading

5.5

59

33

Writing

5.5

59

33

Speaking

5.5

59

33

Joint CAS Pathway - Students who have met the academic condition in full will have a joint CAS which covers their PSE and degree study (only available for 10 and 5 week PSE courses).

10-week Pre-Sessional English

UKVI IELTS

UKVI PTE (same as 5 weeks, choose as you prefer)

IELTS

TOEFL iBIT (including Home Edition)

PTE (same as 5 weeks, choose as you prefer)

Overall

5.5

59

5.5

74+

59

Listening

5.5

59

5.5

17+

59

Reading

5.5

59

5.5

18+

59

Writing

5.5

59

5.5

19+

59

Speaking

5.5

59

5.5

20+

59

5-week Pre-Sessional English

UKVI IELTS

UKVI PTE

IELTS

TOEFL iBIT (Including Home edition)

PTE

Overall

6.0

59

6.0

78+

59

Listening

5.5

59

5.5

17+

59

Reading

5.5

59

5.5

18+

59

Writing

5.5

59

5.5

19+

59

Speaking

5.5

59

5.5

20+

59

Undergraduate


Standard CAS Pathway - Students will get another CAS for degree study upon the successful completion of the language course, and apply for a visa extension once the new CAS is issued in the UK)

40-week Pre-Sessional English

UKVI IELTS

UKVI PTE

Language Cert B1 UKVI

Overall

4

43

N/A

Listening

4

43

N/A

Reading

4

43

N/A

Writing

4

43

N/A

Speaking

4

43

N/A

30-week Pre-Sessional English

UKVI IELTS

UKVI PTE

Language Cert B1 UKVI

Overall

4.5

47

Pass

Listening

4.5

47

33

Reading

4.5

47

33

Writing

4.5

47

33

Speaking

4.5

47

33

20-week Pre-Sessional English

UKVI IELTS

UKVI PTE

Language Cert B1 UKVI

Overall

5.0

52

High Pass

Listening

4.5

47

38

Reading

4.5

47

38

Writing

4.5

47

38

Speaking

4.5

47

38

10-week Pre-Sessional English

UKVI IELTS

UKVI PTE

Language Cert B2 UKVI

Overall

5.0

52

Pass

Listening

5.0

52

29

Reading

5.0

52

33

Writing

5.0

52

33

Speaking

5.0

52

29

5-week Pre-Sessional English

UKVI IELTS

UKVI PTE

Language Cert B2 UKVI

Overall

5.5

59

33

Listening

5.5

59

33

Reading

5.5

59

33

Writing

5.5

59

33

Speaking

5.5

59

33

Joint CAS Pathway - All students, except Medicine, who have met the academic condition in full will have a joint CAS which covers their PSE and degree study.

10-week Pre-Sessional English - Not applicable please see the arrangement for 5 weeks pre-sessional course.

5-week Pre-Sessional English

UKVI IELTS

UKVI PTE

IELTS

TOEFL iBIT (Including Home Edition)

PTE

Overall

5.5

59

5.5

74+

59

Listening

5.5

59

5.5

17+

59

Reading

5.5

59

5.5

18+

59

Writing

5.5

59

5.5

19+

59

Speaking

5.5

59

5.5

20+

59

How can I apply for the course?
  1. Please complete the Pre-Sessional English Application Form 2025/2026 and the terms & conditions document.
  2. Submit the form and the signed terms & conditions to lc-application-submission@abdn.ac.uk along with a copy of your language and certificate, passport and proof of payment. In order for us to process the payment we must receive the full course fees. If possible, please submit the application in MS word format.

Please note that you will not be able to change your course, withdraw or receive a refund for the course you have applied for after the applications have closed.

 

Courses Summer 2025 Applications Open Applications Close
10 weeks open for applications 23 May 2025
5 weeks open for applications 27 June 2025

 

Courses Autumn 2025 Applications Open Applications Close
20 weeks open for applications 27 June 2025
10 weeks open for applications 12 September 2025

 

Courses 2025/2026 Applications Open Applications Close
40 weeks open for applications 12 September 2025
30 weeks open for applications 5 December 2025

 

 

 


Payment Methods

  1. You can pay by credit card, debit card or PayPal via our online store.
  2. Bank transfer details can be found on the Pre-Sessional English Application Form 2025/2026

 

 

 

 

What are the dates and fees?

 

Courses Summer  2025 Induction Course Starts Course Ends Fee
10 weeks TBA 23 June 2025 29 August 2025 £3,800 (deposit £760)
5 weeks TBA 28 July 2025 29 August 2025 £1,900 (deposit £380)

 

Courses Autumn  2025 Induction Course Starts Course Ends Fee
20 weeks TBA 28 July 2025 19 December 2025 £7,600 (deposit £1,520)
10 weeks TBA 13 October 2025 19 December 2025 £1,900 (deposit £380)

 

Course 2025/2026 Induction Course Starts Course Ends Fee
40 weeks TBA 13 October 2025 August 2026 £15,200 (deposit £3,800)
30 weeks TBA 12 January 2026 August 2026 £11,400 (deposit £3,000)
20 weeks TBA April 2026 August 2026 £7,600 (deposit £1,520)
10 weeks TBA June 2026 August 2026 £3,800 (deposit £760)
5 weeks TBA July 2026 August 2026 £1,900 (deposit £380)

 

The deposit is not refundable. We ask that you pay the full fees prior to the start of the course.

What should I do if I am a sponsored student?

We require a sponsorship letter which specifies that it is for the University of Aberdeen online/on-campus pre-sessional course prior to the start of the course.

If you start your course and have not provided the official sponsor letter or we do not receive payment of your tuition fees from your sponsor fees, you will be invoiced in person.

What is the last day that I can apply for the course?

Please note that you will not be able to change your course, withdraw or receive a refund for the course you have applied for after the applications have closed.

Course Summer 2025 On-Campus Application Close Online Application Close
10 weeks 23 May 2025 9 May 2025
5 weeks 27 June 2025 13 June 2025

 

Course Autumn  On-Campus Application Close Online Application Close
20 weeks 27 June 2025 N/A
10 weeks 12 September 2025 N/A
5 weeks N/A 17 October 2025

 

Course 2025/2026  On-Campus Application Close Online Application Close
40 weeks 12 September 2025 N/A
30 weeks 5 December 2025 N/A