The Combined Pre-sessional course includes online and face-to-face learning, offering you flexibility in the way you study. The first four weeks of the Combined Pre-sessional course take place online. You will then come to King’s to study the remaining part of the course on campus, meeting your tutors and classmates face-to-face.
There are three course lengths to choose from, depending on your current level of English and the English language requirements you need to meet for your degree offer:
- 16-weeks
- 11-weeks
- 6-weeks
Use our Pre-sessional English calculator to see what English language score is required for your degree and which Combined Pre-sessional course you should take.
During the course you’ll focus on reading, writing, listening and speaking English in an academic setting, and develop useful academic skills like notetaking, library-based research, essay writing, discussion, presenting, critical reading and active listening.
You’ll also have regular tutorials during which you will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss issues related to your studies on the course.
During the online component of the course, you will be exposed to:
- E-lessons made up of high quality bespoke videos, interactive exercises, and collaborative tasks
- Live classes with your tutor & classmates (using a video conferencing tool)
- Live tutorials (using a video conferencing tool)
- Lectures
- Social forums to interact with your classmates.
Pre-sessional course
We also offer a face-to-face Pre-sessional course, delivered on the King's campus from day one. There are various course lengths, depending on your needs.
Extra preparation
Do you meet the academic conditions for your degree and the English language requirements, but feel like you could improve your academic English before starting your degree?
The 6-week Combined Pre-sessional course is a great choice to build your confidence and help you to be better prepared before starting your studies.
If you need a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you may also be eligible for an integrated CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies), covering your Pre-sessional course and your main degree.
Please contact our Admissions team for more information.
Term Date
Pre-sessional Programme timetable
| Programme | Mandatory
online induction | Online start date | End date |
|---|
|
16-week Combined Pre-sessional
|
NA |
NA |
NA
|
|
11-week Combined Pre-sessional
|
NA |
NA |
NA
|
|
6-week Combined Pre-sessional
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
*To be completed flexibly at some point during this week.
**For students beginning in 2020 please see Presessional taught online start dates here.
1-week transition period
We will have an on-campus transition week as part of the programme, held prior to on-campus degree teaching.
Teaching
The first four weeks of the Combined Pre-sessional courses are studied online. These classes will include a combination of self-directed interactive learning units, discussion forums, and collaborative tasks.
16-week and 11-week Combined Pre-sessional
The first four weeks will be studied online and you will typically be expected to participate in online tasks for approximately 10 hours per week plus, on average, 10 hours of self-directed study. Some weeks will see more contact hours than others.
For the on-campus part of the course, a typical week includes contact hours,however, some weeks will see more contact hours than others.
6-week Combined Pre-sessional
The first four weeks of the course will be studied online where you will typically be expected to participate in online tasks for approximately 12.5 hours per week plus, on average, 12.5 hours of self-directed study. Some weeks will see more contact hours than others.
For the on-campus part of the course, a typical week includes contact hours, however, some weeks will see more contact hours than others.
Assessment
Typically, students may be assessed by means of any of the following:
- Essay(s)
- Viva(s) (a written or oral explication of a piece of research)
- Oral presentation(s)
- Exam(s)
- Seminar(s)
- Portfolio(s) of work, written and/or oral
The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give a good indication of what to expect. However, they may change if the course content changes.