English Language Centre

Summer Pre-sessional English Language

The pre-sessional programmes are open to all students wishing to improve their academic literacy in preparation for a degree programme at Durham. This will normally be prospective undergraduates and postgraduates who hold a conditional offer of a place to study at Durham. Given the focus on foundational research and study skills, many students with unconditional offers also find our programmes an excellent preparation for the academic road ahead.

Our four-week Preparatory Academic Research Skills & English (PARSE) programme will be of particular interest to students who have IELTS 6.5 or higher in all skills, but have little or no experience of studying at a UK university. The programme prepares students for coping with a degree course at Durham by integrating library-based research skills, critical approaches to reading and thesis-based academic essay writing.

See further details via the links on the left-hand side of this page.

Course Content

  • formal, academic English style & structure
  • the academic thinking process & argument development
  • research and study skills
  • writing extended essays
  • listening to lectures & note-taking
  • seminar speaking skills

  • awareness of academic culture and conventions

Duration

  • 4, 8, 12 or 22 weeks during the summer

  • approx. 20 hours of class time per week

Dates 2013

  • EAP 1 (12 week): Mon 1 Jul - Fri 20 Sep
  • EAP 2 (8 week): Mon 29 Jul - Fri 20 Sep
  • EAP 4 (22 week): Mon 15 April - Friday 20 Sep

  • PARSE (4 week): Tue 27 Aug - Fri 20 Sep

  • Ten week Pre-MBA: Mon 1 Jul - Fri 6 Sep

  • Four week Pre-MBA: Mon 12 Aug – Fri 6 Sep

Costs 2013

  • EAP 1: GBP 3,900
  • EAP2: GBP 2,600
  • EAP4: GBP 6,850
  • PARSE: GBP 1,300
  • Ten week Pre-MBA: GBP 3,200
  • Four week Pre-MBA: GBP 1,300

Location

  • Elvet Riverside Building, New Elvet, Durham, DH1 3JT, UK

Entry Requirements

  • Condition stated in offer letter from Durham
  • Twelve week programme: Open to any student with, generally, a minimum 6.0 IELTS score (5.5 in all elements)
  • Entry requirements for shorter Pre-Sessionals and for particular degree programmes may vary slightly
  • See the 'Entry Requirements' link (left) for further details

Qualification Awarded

  • Certificate of Attendance

How to Apply

For further information

Please see links on the left-hand side of this page and/or contact Pre-Sessional related staff via pre.sessional@dur.ac.uk