English Language Centre

Year-round Pre-Sessional English Language

The Year-round English Language and Academic Study programme is for:

  • students who are intending to study for a foundation course, an undergraduate degree or a postgraduate degree at Durham University or other UK institution

  • students who are living in the UK and wish to improve their general English language

Students who are specifically looking to join this programme to improve their Academic English should already have conditional or unconditional offers for any of the courses above (for example, Foundation, MA, Msc or PhD).

Course Content

LEVEL 3 - Academic English

  • 20 hours of tuition each week plus tutorial consultations

  • modules include: writing skills and academic writing development, grammar and vocabulary, spoken discourse (speaking and lecture listening), presentation skills, research report writing and research skills, reading skills and strategies

LEVEL 2 - General English with IELTS preparation

  • 20 hours of tuition each week plus tutorial consultations
  • practical English language skills for communicating in everyday life, grammar classes, vocabulary development, email, letter and report writing, listening, speaking and reading skills
  • preparation for the IELTS test

Entry requirements

Programme Level Programme Entry Requirements
LEVEL 3 Preparation for Academic Study

Departmental offer preferred

English language test score:

  • IELTS 5 (writing must be 5)
  • TOEFL IBT71
  • PTE
LEVEL 2 General English and IELTS Preparation

English language test score:

  • IELTS 4
  • TOEFL IBT 41
  • PTE

Qualification Awarded (only at Level 3)

  • the Certificate in English and Academic Study (CEAS)
  • students must study at Level 3 from January to June
  • students receiving an appropriate grade in line with their departmental offer letter may proceed to their Durham University undergraduate or postgraduate course

This certificate is a recognised Durham University qualification and has been recognised for course entry by a number of different UK higher education institutions apart from Durham University

Duration

The programme runs throughout the academic year and students can join and leave at any point:

  • Michaelmas Term - October to December
  • Epiphany Term - January to March

  • Easter Term - April to June

Dates 2012-2013

  • 8 October - 14 December 2012
  • 7 January - 15 March 2013

  • 15 April - 21 June 2013

Cost

  • GBP 2,950 per term

Location

  • Elvet Riverside, Durham

Immigration

  • for this programme we ask you to apply for an 11 (eleven) month student visitor visa
  • please see UKBA website for further details

For further information

Contact the English Language Centre on: eas.englishlanguagecentre@durham.ac.uk