Pre-sessional Study Skills Courses

Course Description

Objective: The aim of the Pre-sessional Study Skills Courses is to give students who already hold a degree offer at Aberystwyth University the English language and academic skills they need to succeed.

100% student satisfaction on 2020 Pre-sessionals.

100% progression from 2020 Pre-sessionals to Degree.

The Pre-sessional Study Skills Courses prepare you for success on your degree by developing your language skills and your understanding of British academic culture and the expectations of your future department. During these intensive courses, you will have plenty of opportunities to practice and receive detailed feedback on a variety of academic tasks. You will gain competence in the research and writing skills needed for successful completion of written assignments in your chosen discipline, using appropriate academic conventions and avoiding plagiarism. You will become familiar with the wide variety of resources available for research, and will develop skills for note taking while listening to academic lectures or reading specialist texts. You will also learn to give clear, comprehensible and well-structured presentations and to participate in seminars.

The courses run for 42, 30, 12, and 6 weeks.

Students who pass a Pre-sessional Study Skills Course at the level stated in their degree offer can progress automatically to their degree at Aberystwyth University.

Students who successfully pass a Pre-sessional Study Skills Courses will have achieved a minimum English level of CEFR B2.

Minimum age: 17

Maximum class size: 16

More Information

Who is the course for?

These courses are for students who have a conditional offer to study at Aberystwyth University, but need to improve their language level in order to meet the conditions of their offer.

Students who have an unconditional offer to study at Aberystwyth University are encouraged to study an optional six week Pre-Sessional Course, to allow them to find their feet in Aberystwyth, brush up their English and develop their study skills, so that they can start their degree with confidence.

Qualifications	You must have met the academic entry requirements of your chosen degree and hold an offer for an undergraduate or postgraduate degree at Aberystwyth University.
Age	You must be at least 17 years old before the course start date.
English Test	If you need a Student Visa for this course, you will require an IELTS for UKVI Test. The score you need depends on your future degree. See below.

Your IELTS score now	For entry into degrees requiring:
Your IELTS score now	IELTS 6.0	IELTS 6.5	IELTS 7.0
4.0 (with no score below 4.0)	42-week Pre-sessional Plus
4.5 (with no score below 4.5)	30-week Pre-sessional Plus	42-week Pre-sessional Plus
5.0 (with no score below 4.5)	12-week Pre-Sessional Course	30-week Pre-sessional Plus	42-week Pre-sessional Plus
5.5 (with no score below 5.0)	6-week Pre-Sessional Course	12-week Pre-Sessional Course	30-week Pre-sessional Plus
6.0 (with no score below 5.5)	Optional 6-week Pre-Sessional Course	6-week Pre-Sessional Course	12-week Pre-Sessional Course
6.5 (with no score below 5.5)	Optional 6-week Pre-Sessional Course	Optional 6-week Pre-Sessional Course	6-week Pre-Sessional Course
7.0 (with no score below 5.5)	Optional 6-week Pre-Sessional Course	Optional 6-week Pre-Sessional Course	Optional 6-week Pre-Sessional Course

What will I study?

The courses focus on developing you academic skills and improving your command of academic English. The classroom sessions involve intensive practise of the four language skills (writing, reading, listening and speaking) through a variety of academic tasks. You will have the opportunity to experience live lectures and to gain confidence in taking effective notes. You will learn to participate actively in seminars, deliver presentations and present ideas and information to an audience in a professional manner. You will develop strategies for searching for information, reading efficiently, and recording information. There is a strong emphasis on academic writing. By the end of the course you will have learned to research and write academic essays and reports, making skilful use of sources to support your ideas, and using an appropriate academic style.

Summer 2021 online courses offer 18 hours per week of live online sessions, plus extensive independent work.

Face-to-face courses involve 20 hours of classroom-based study and tutorials a week.

The 42-week and 30-week Pre-sessional Plus Courses consist of the 12-week Pre-sessional, and either one or two terms of the Target English Course. They include holiday periods.

Timetable

Summer 2021 Online Pre-sessional classes take place between 9a.m. and 2p.m. UK time.

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
9-10.30 Reading Extensive reading and discussion in preparation for lecture	9-10.30 Listening Lecture follow up and summary writing from lecture notes	9-10.30 Writing Academic genres	9-10.30 Integrated Skills Local research project	9-10.30 Tutorials and self-directed group study tasks in preparation for seminar
Break
11-12.30 Integrated Skills Language development in preparation for lecture	11-12.30 Writing Paragraph structures	11-12.30 Integrated Skills Language development with a focus on speaking	11-12 Integrated Skills Local research project Language development	11-12 Speaking Seminar
Break
2-3 Academic Lecture	2-4 Reading Identifying main points From reading to note-making	1.30- 6 Social programme trip (optional)	2-4 Tutorials and self-directed group study tasks related to research project	2-2.15 Personal tutor meeting

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

9-10.30

Reading

Extensive reading and discussion in preparation for lecture

9-10.30

Listening

Lecture follow up and summary writing from lecture notes

9-10.30

Writing

Academic genres

9-10.30

Integrated Skills

Local research project

9-10.30

Tutorials and self-directed group study tasks in preparation for seminar

Break

11-12.30

Integrated Skills

Language development in preparation for lecture

11-12.30

Writing

Paragraph structures

11-12.30

Integrated Skills

Language development with a focus on speaking

11-12

Integrated Skills

Local research project

Language development

11-12

Speaking

Seminar

Break

2-3

Academic Lecture

2-4

Reading

Identifying main points

From reading to note-making

1.30- 6

Social programme trip (optional)

2-4

Tutorials and self-directed group study tasks related to research project

2-2.15

Personal tutor meeting

This sample timetable shows you what a typical week on the course looks like. It is not a definitive timetable for your course.

Dates and Fees

Dates and Fees 2021-2022

Course	Dates	Fees	Accommodation Included
42-week Pre-sessional Plus	27 September 2021 - 16 September 2022	£11,750	Yes
30-week Pre-sessional Plus	27 September 2021 - 3 June 2022	£8,450	Yes
30-week Pre-sessional Plus	10 January 2022 - 16 September 2022	£8,450	Yes
12-week Pre-sessional Study Skills Course	27 June 2022 - 16 September 2022	£3,500	Yes
6-week Pre-sessional Study Skills Course	8 August 2022 - 16 September 2022	£1,900	Yes
	20 December 2021 – 08 January 2022 3 January 2022 04 April 2022 – 23 April 2022 15 April 2022 18 April 2022 19 April 2022 2 May 2022 2 June 2022 3 June 2022 29 August 2022	Christmas Holiday Public Holiday Easter Holiday Good Friday Easter Monday University Closed Day Bank Holiday Bank Holiday Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday Bank Holiday

What our students say

Fernanda Cerqueira de Sousa, Brazil

"The Pre-sessional course really helped me to feel confident about beginning my degree."

How to apply

You can download an application from How to Apply.

Complete the application form and return it to us by email or post, with a copy of your passport and any other documents specified on the application form.
If you would like to stay in the university accommodation, tick this box on your application form. We will arrange your accommodation. You do not need to make a separate application for accommodation.
We will assess your application to ensure that the course you have applied for is appropriate for your needs, and that you meet our entry requirements. If you have not met the entry requirements we will recommend a course for you (subject to availability).
When we accept your application, we will send you an offer letter and an invoice. You will be asked to pay a deposit for your course. You can choose to pay the full fee at this time, or just the deposit.
Once you have paid your deposit, your course application is complete. If you have not paid the full fee before, you must pay it on the first day of the course.

Key Facts

Course	Pre-Sessional Study Skills Course (PS)
Course objective	The aim of the Pre-sessional Study Skills Courses is to give students who have a degree offer at Aberystwyth University the English language and academic skills they need to succeed.
Maximum class size	16
Levels	Students who successfully pass a Pre-sessional Study Skills Courses will have achieved a minimum English level of CEFR B2.
Available to	Individuals
Taught hours per week (Face-to-face Course)	20
Taught hours per week (Online Course)	18
Private study periods	Students should typically expect to study independently for an additional 15 hours per week.
Minimum age	17
Dates	2021-2022 42 week PS Course – 27 September 2021 – 16 September 2022 30 week PS Course - 27 September 2021 - 3 June 2022 30 week PS Course – 10 January 2021 - 16 September 2022 12 week PS Course – 27 June 2022 - 16 September 2022 6 week PS Course – 8 August 2022 - 16 September 2022
Non-teaching days	2021-2022 There are no classes on Saturdays or Sundays, or during the following holidays: 20 December 2021 - 8 January 2022 (Christmas Holiday) 4 April 2022 - 23 April 2022 (Easter Holiday) 2 May 2022 (Bank Holiday) 2 June 2022 (Bank Holiday) 4 June 2022 - 24 June 2022 (Summer Holiday) 29 August 2022 (Bank Holiday)
Tuition Fee	2021-2022 42-week PS Course 2021/2022 – £11,750 30-week PS Course 2021/2022 – £8,450 12-week PS Course 2022 – £3,500 6-week PS Course 2022 – £1,900
Course material costs	All course materials are included in 2020-2021 fees.
Social life	During the academic year the university offers many opportunities for social activities. You can join clubs and societies at the Students Union; enjoy the variety of films, music, drama and comedy at the University Arts Centre; get active at the University Sports Centre or get involved in the Global Experience Programme with trips, cultural events and international meals.
Accommodation	2021-22 Pre-sessionals If you request accommodation when you apply for your course, this will be reserved for you automatically in one of our self-catering halls of residence. Most of our IFC students are allocated rooms in Cwrt Mawr. This is a 5-10 minute walk from your classroom. You will have a single study bedroom in a 6 or 10 person apartment with shared bathrooms and kitchen facilities, and free Wi-Fi. Accommodation is provided on a self-catering basis. If you want to live in a single-sex apartment, please inform us when you apply and we will arrange this. Accommodation will be reserved for you from the Saturday before the course starts. Please contact us if you plan to arrive earlier. There will be a bedding pack (duvet, pillow, and linen) in your room when you arrive. You will be charged £25 for this and it is yours to keep. You will also be required to pay a £100 deposit for your room, to be returned when the key is returned and the room is in same condition. You will be expected to pay both amounts on your first day of the course.
Insurance	You are responsible for making your own insurance arrangements. We strongly advise you to take out insurance to cover your journey and your time in the UK. There are many insurance policies designed especially for international students.