6-week courses
Our 6-week summer pre-sessional course focuses on developing the English language and core study skills you need to study effectively on an academic course in the UK.
You can choose to complete the course online from your home country or to join us on campus in Cardiff.
Both the online and on-campus 6-week programmes are full-time, intensive courses of approximately 30 hours per week, including class time, tutorials, self-study, homework and assessment.
Course dates
6-week Online
The 6-week online course will run from 16 July to 28 August 2026 as a fully online course, which you can study from your home country.
The 6-week online course will include live online classes and class tasks, plus online seminars and tutorials between 09:00 and 14:30 UK time (British Summertime) with additional hours of guided practice and self-study. We have designed this focused online course to provide you with the contact hours and practice required to help you improve your language skills and reach the entry level for your academic course.
The deadline to apply for this course is 03 July 2026.
A CAS will not be issued for this course as it can not be studied from the UK.
6-week On-campus
The 6-week on-campus course will run from 23 July to 04 September 2026 on campus in Cardiff.
The 6-week on-campus course will include live on-campus classes and class tasks, plus seminars and assessment tutorials between 09:00 and 15:00 UK time (British Summertime) with additional hours of guided practice and self-study. We have designed this focused in-person course to provide you with the contact hours and practice required to help you improve your language skills and reach the entry level for your academic course.
The deadline to apply for this course is 26 June 2026.
Cost
The course fee for 2026 entry is £3,710.
Entry requirements
For students requiring IELTS 6.5 overall
If you have a course entry requirement of IELTS 6.5 overall, you must have IELTS (Academic) 6.0 overall, with 5.5* in Writing (and all other sub-scores at 5.0 or higher).
| Section | IELTS (Academic) for UKVI | PTE Academic UKVI | LanguageCert Academic SELT (In Person) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 6.0 | 62 | 65 |
| Listening | 5.0 | 51 | 54 |
| Reading | 5.0 | 51 | 54 |
| Writing | 5.5* | 59** | 60*** |
| Speaking | 5.0 | 51 | 54 |
| Test validity period | Two calendar years | Two calendar years | Two calendar years |
*for academic offers requiring 6.5 in writing, applicants must have 6.0 in this sub-score to join the course.
** for academic offers requiring 6.5 in writing, applicants must have 62 in this sub-score to join the course.
*** for academic offers requiring 6.5 in writing, applicants must have 65 in this sub-score to join the course.
For students requiring IELTS 7.0 overall
IELTS (Academic)
If you have a course entry requirement of IELTS 7.0 overall, you must have IELTS (Academic) 6.5 overall, with 6.0 in Writing (and all other sub-scores at 5.5 or higher).
| Section | IELTS (Academic) for UKVI | PTE Academic UKVI | LanguageCert Academic SELT (In Person) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 6.5 | 69 | 70 |
| Listening | 5.5 | 59 | 60 |
| Reading | 5.5 | 59 | 60 |
| Writing | 6.0 | 62 | 65 |
| Speaking | 5.5 | 59 | 60 |
On campus
Applicants for the 6-week on-campus course will need to ensure that they take the IELTS (Academic) for UKVI test, the Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic UKVI test or the LanguageCert Academic SELT (In Person) test.
Online
Students who are taking the 6-week online course can use Oxford ELLT, TOEFL iBT (including Home Edition) or the non-UKVI version of IELTS (Academic) or Pearson Test of English Academic (not PTE Online) to meet our entry requirements. View the Oxford ELLT and TOEFL iBT requirements.
Course outline
The courses will:
- develop your language and skills to prepare you for your academic course at Cardiff University
- include a full teaching programme and course materials that will cover the skills of academic reading, writing, listening, and speaking
- feature ‘guided practice’ materials which provide extra opportunities to develop key areas of academic language and skills, supplemented by self-study materials that you may wish to practise in your own time to check your understanding of different aspects of the course
- offer every student a rich classroom experience: you will be placed in a group of students for your lessons with our experienced and qualified tutors – we hope that you will enjoy working both individually and with the other students in your group as you develop your skills together
- provide tutorials with your teacher and individual feedback on your progress
- offer all students pastoral care from our approachable and caring team
- introduce you to academic life and provide professional guidance on academic issues and expectations
Improving your academic English
This course will focus on the ways we use the English language in an academic context. We will concentrate on the grammatical structures and vocabulary commonly used in presenting academic work while improving confidence in communicating with, and responding to the academic community.
Study skills
Academic study skills are invaluable, and we believe that all university students would benefit from this course. In this part of the course, you will learn and practice the core skills needed to complete your chosen degree programme.
They include skills such as note-taking, summarising, text structure, referencing, critical thinking, understanding lectures, making presentations, and participating in seminars and tutorials.
Academic orientation
All students will be familiarised with university resources provided to students enrolled on academic programmes of study and with the conventions and expectations for the presentation of academic work.
Secure your place on one of our 6, 12 or 20 week courses now.
