Pre-Sessional English 4 or 5-week programme

The Pre-sessional English short programme is for students intending to study at Lancaster University who are required or wish to improve their English language and study skills before starting their academic studies.

The programme will be delivered both in person (on campus) and online.

If you are taking the short programme as a condition of your offer, you will need to successfully complete the four or five-week pre-sessional to progress to your academic course.

Key dates and fees

Study dates

In-person study dates: Monday 1 September – Friday 26 September 2025 (4 weeks)

Online study dates: Monday 25 August – Friday 26 September 2025; includes induction week 25-29 August 2025 (5 weeks)

2025 programme cost

£2,950

Programme aims

The programme provides thorough training in language and academic skills that will enable students to best achieve their academic potential at Lancaster University. The main aims of the programme are:

  • To develop the language skills you need for academic study at Lancaster University.
  • To prepare you for studying and living in the Lancaster area.

Course components

The course typically includes the following components

  • Academic Reading and Writing: The reading and writing skills you need for intensive study in higher education - adopting different strategies for different reading purposes; critically evaluating key texts; organising essays and reports; using an appropriate writing style.
  • Listening Comprehension: How to follow academic lectures and seminars and make useful notes.
  • Speaking Skills: How to take part in seminars (group discussions) - asking and responding to questions, giving and justifying opinions, making presentations and learning from feedback.
  • Language Development: This is an integral part of all our course components. The focus is on how language is used to express specific meanings in different academic contexts, especially in written assignments.

The course is full-time, with periods set aside for self-directed study.

Two students talking
Student sitting on the bed while another sits on a chair in student accommodation chatting.

Arrival and accommodation

If you are studying with us in-person, we will email you close to the start of your pre-sessional programme with information about arrivals, accommodation, and shuttle options from Manchester Airport.

Travel information to campus can be found on our Maps and Travel page.

You do not need to apply for accommodation for our pre-sessional courses. Once you accept your course offer, we will automatically assign you to a room on campus and you will live with other students attending the course. Your room will have a private bathroom and shared kitchen. Accommodation and living costs are not included in the tuition fee. Please contact us if you do not need the accommodation on campus.

The cost for pre-sessional English programmes and Study Start accommodation in 2025 is £191.10 per week for an ensuite room with a private bathroom.

How to apply

For information about studying a Pre-sessional English programme, visit our Pre-sessional English programmes page.

How to apply

Contact

For general pre-sessional English enquiries, please contact the admissions team.

For detailed enquiries such as the content, logistics and arrivals for the four or five-week pre-sessional programme, please email pse@lancaster.ac.uk.

For enquiries about your main degree programme, please contact your department.