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Summer Pre-sessional English courses

If you have received an offer to study at Bath but you need to improve your English first, a summer Pre-sessional English (PSE) course will prepare you.

A group of international students working together on laptops in a Pre-sessional English class
Our summer Pre-sessional courses run in-person on campus

Our Pre-sessional English (PSE) courses aim to improve your accuracy and fluency in English, focusing on building the language and skills you need to be successful in your studies.

The courses will prepare you for study on your main degree programme by:

  • increasing your confidence in using English in academic contexts across speaking, listening, reading and writing
  • developing independent learning as well as teamworking skills to prepare you for seminars, group projects, and presentations
  • providing you with opportunities to practice and develop your academic English skills so you can succeed in your programme of study and beyond

Course approach and content

PSE classes are practical, interactive and designed to prepare you for university study at Bath.

You will be encouraged to develop a pro-active and cooperative approach to learning and will often be asked to work in pairs and groups with other students to complete activities in an organised and timely manner.

You will also be expected to work as an active participant to achieve your aims and undertake some independent, self-directed study. In this way you will become a more confident and fluent user of English while developing other important skills such as teamworking and digital skills, all necessary for you to succeed in the next stage of your academic journey.

The courses focus on increasing your confidence and abilities in:

  • critical thinking
  • creating strong academic arguments
  • listening and reading in academic contexts
  • speaking and writing clearly

The course assessments will evaluate your progress and proficiency across these learning objectives. They are designed to reflect not only your perceived competency in specific skill areas but also your overall engagement with the programme.

How you will study

All summer PSE classes run on campus in Bath.

Classes take place in the morning, Monday to Friday. Scheduled afternoon sessions may include tutorials, workshops, guest speaker lectures, and social activities.

Social and cultural awareness

Bath is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is famous for its architecture and history, and for being the UK’s only thermal spa. Our World Heritage City is small but lively, safe, and very student-friendly.

During your time with us, you will have lots of opportunities to visit Bath and other sites of cultural and historic interest. You will also have the opportunity to meet other students from different cultural backgrounds and form lasting friendships.

"The university organised trips to visit Oxford and Bristol. It was a fantastic experience to explore the local cultures and histories." (Junzhi Lai, MBA)

Accommodation

Bath offers a range of accommodation options.

Please email the Student Living Team for more information.

Visas

As an international student, you may need a visa to study in the UK.

For further information about visas and how to apply for one, visit our Student Immigration Service pages.

Contact us

If you have any questions about Pre-sessional courses at the University of Bath, please contact us.


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