Course Dates

Postgraduate Taught Pre-sessional courses:

Undergraduate Pre-sessional courses:

Postgraduate Research 'Pathway to PhD' courses:

*On the 20 week course, students study in a mixed cohort of all levels for the first ten weeks, before transferring onto a separate undergraduate, postgraduate taught, or pathway to PhD track for the last ten weeks. Students have a one-week break between the first 10 weeks of their course and the second 10 weeks, which allows the administration to make sure students are transferred onto the most relevant curriculum (usually involving a new class and tutor). During this week students will typically be expected to do some minimal induction activity as part of joining their new class, but it is primarily intended as a short vacation.

Application Process

Undergraduate students

A pre-sessional course will benefit you if you have not yet achieved the required level of English language for the course you have applied to.

If you would like to take a pre-sessional course please complete the Application Form.

We will then check your eligibility and contact you to let you know if we are able to offer you a place.

Please note:

Depending on the length of the pre-sessional course you wish to take, you may need to apply before you make your replies to your offers at UCAS. If you haven't made your UCAS replies when you apply for the pre-sessional course, we will assume you intend to make Durham your Conditional Firm choice.

If you make Durham your Conditional Insurance choice or decide to decline your Durham undergraduate offer, you must have a UKVI approved SELT, such as the UKVI SELT IELTS, to be able to join a pre-sessional course. We will withdraw a pre-sessional place if you can't provide a UKVI approved SELT. A UKVI SELT is also required if you will receive the results of the qualifications you are taking after you apply for the pre-sessional course.

Once enrolled on the pre-sessional course, you will need to complete and pass the course to progress onto your undergraduate degree. We cannot accept an alternative English language test as evidence of English language after you have started the pre-sessional course.

Postgraduate taught and PhD students

If you are eligible to take a pre-sessional course, this should automatically be added as a condition of their offer. You can then choose whether you wish to attend the pre-sessional course or re-take a Recognised English Language Test as a way to meet your language condition. This can be done by selecting the pre-sessional option from the drop-down menu next to your offer in your Applicant Portal dashboard. If you don’t see a pre-sessional option, and you believe you should have a pre-sessional added to your offer, get in touch with us by opening an enquiry within your portal.

Payment information

Payment for your pre-sessional course tuition fee is required within 2 weeks of the course starting, but we strongly recommend you pay in advance to avoid any issues.

If you have paid for a pre-sessional course, and obtained IELTS that meets criteria for direct entry, you will be able to decline it and get a refund if you request it before the course starts (or up to 2 weeks after starting the 10-week course and up to 1 week after starting the 6-week course). If a student leaves the pre-sessional course for any other reason there will be no automatic entitlement to a refund, but a partial refund may be offered at the discretion of the pre-sessional team.