Pre-sessional English courses
Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom
Preparatory Program
DURATION
2 months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
GBP 3,550 *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* starting from £3,550 for short pre-sessional English course
Key Summary
About: Pre-sessional English courses at Kingston University prepare international students and non-native speakers for UK study. You can use these courses as an alternative to IELTS to meet degree entry requirements. Courses run fully online, use Canvas, include interactive classes and tutorials, and hold sessions weekdays 8am–2pm UK time. You’ll do at least 30 hours of independent study per week, and class sizes are kept to a maximum of 16. Post-course surveys show 99% progressed to their main course and 99% satisfaction in 2025.
Career Outcomes: Career opportunities include further study, graduate roles in business, education, customer service, administration, hospitality.
Improve your English language skills
Find the right course for you.
We run a variety of pre-sessional English courses designed to help international students improve their language skills.
On this page, we describe all the courses on offer. You can find out what course is right for you and how to apply. There is also information on payments, refunds and cancellations. We provide contact details too, so you know who to contact if you have any questions.
Why choose our pre-sessional English course
Our pre-sessional English courses are designed for international students preparing to study in the UK for the first time. Students whose first language is not English will find our pre-sessional courses useful too.
Your pre-sessional results can also serve as an alternative to IELTS or other English test scores. This means you can meet the English language entry requirements of your chosen degree at Kingston University by undertaking one of our pre-sessional courses.
Our pre-sessional English courses will:
- Develop your English language skills to make you a more confident English speaker
- Ensure you can participate more fully on your chosen university programme
- Build the study skills and independence you need as a learner at a UK university
- Introduce you to the university systems so you know what to expect when you arrive
- Help you make friends with other students in class and on our Social Programme
The benefits of studying pre-sessional English online
Our pre-sessional English courses are all online. Courses that take place online are usually cheaper and more convenient than face-to-face lessons.
Post-course surveys show students studying pre-sessional English online with us are happy and successful:
- 99% of online students in 2025 were able to progress to their main Kingston University course
- 99% of online students in 2025 were satisfied with the course
What to expect from our online classes
Teaching is through online interactive classes and individual tutorials. You will use Canvas, our online learning management system.
Course sessions are held every weekday, between 8am and 2pm UK time with breaks. You will also undertake at least 30 hours of independent study per week outside class times.
We keep classes small with a maximum of 16 students where possible.
What you will study on a pre-sessional English course
The content of our pre-sessional English courses varies depending on the length of the block. Our extended and long pre-sessional blocks focus on integrating skills and language. Whereas our medium and short blocks look in more depth at academic skills and language. Discover more about the course content below. You will also be able to find out what tutorials, projects and assessments to expect.
- Integrated skills and language (Extended and Long Pre-sessional blocks)
- Academic skills and language (Medium and Short Pre-sessional blocks)
- Pre-sessional English projects
- Independent study on pre-sessional English courses
- Pre-sessional English tutorials
- Course assessment for pre-sessional English
The university achieved strong results in the latest rankings published in August and September 2026, with some notable improvements and subject-level achievements:
- The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2027: Ranked 78th out of 130 institutions, climbing 16 places from 94th last year.
- Top 10 nationally for Land and Property Management (4th) and Art and Design (10th).
- Top three in London across five subjects: Land and Property Management (1st), Social Work (2nd), Architecture (3rd), Art and Design (3rd) and Nursing (3rd).
- Post-1992 universities: Ranked 4th highest.
- The Guardian University Guide 2027: Ranked 62nd out of 123 nationally.
- The Complete University Guide 2027: Ranked 88th out of 130 nationally.
- The Daily Mail University Guide 2027: Ranked 85th out of 128 nationally.
Being awarded a scholarship is a great achievement
A scholarship not only provides financial support. It also offers a rich student experience unlike any other.
At Kingston, you'll become part of our international scholars community, giving you the opportunity to:
- attend our annual scholars' event alongside senior staff and academics
- boost your career prospects through valuable networking opportunities
- meet other scholars from around the world
- enhance your CV and impress future employees with your award
- work as a TAP ambassador for Kingston University, with opportunities to contribute to marketing material and in-country activities.
Attendance on pre-sessional English courses
If you are studying on one of our online pre-sessional courses, you can complete the course in your home country. Visas are not required to enrol.
To complete the online course, you will need:
- a laptop or PC with at least 8GB of RAM
- a webcam
- a stable and reliable internet connection (internet speeds with a minimum bandwidth of 600kbps (up/down), with a recommended speed of 1.5 Mbps (up/down))
- a suitable quiet place to study alone
- a detachable webcam for assessments
If you choose to travel to or within the UK during your pre-sessional course, you should check the national government guidance before you start your journey.
If you wish to come to the UK and/or stay in Kingston University halls accommodation, contact the course administrator.
How to successfully complete your pre-sessional English course
With hard work and regular attendance all students can successfully complete their pre-sessional English course.
To successfully complete a pre-sessional English course, you must:
- Attend a minimum of 80% of all timetabled sessions from day one of your pre-sessional English course
- Complete a minimum of 80% of organised and independent study tasks
- Attain an average minimum score of 80% in the organised and independent study tasks where relevant and review and redo tasks to achieve this score
- Pass the end-of-course assessments at the level required for entry onto your main course