Online and on-campus study

Our pre-sessional courses offer the best possible preparation for your undergraduate or postgraduate studies at the University of Bristol. They will provide the academic language and literacy skills you need to succeed.

We offer online and on-campus course options.

Read on for information about:

Study options

Our courses are suitable for conditional and unconditional international students with a range of language abilities. Check our entry requirements page to see which length of course would be most appropriate for you. 

Our online courses offer the same high-quality experience as our on-campus courses. However, when choosing an online course, please ensure you have considered any difference in time zones. You can find more information on our online learning page.

Study options for our 10-week pre-sessional course
Online course On-campus course
Induction: 4 to 6 June 2025 (online)

Teaching: 9 June to 12 August 2025 (online)

Induction: 4 to 6 June 2025 (on campus)

Teaching: 9 June to 15 August 2025 (on campus)

Study options for our 6-week pre-sessional course
Online course On-campus course
Induction: 2 to 4 July 2025 (online)

Teaching: 7 July to 12 August 2025 (online)

Induction: 2 to 4 July 2025 (on campus)

Teaching: 7 July to 15 August 2025 (on campus)

The induction will be a compulsory part of your course, and you will be expected to attend all sessions.

Course content

Our unit catalogue contains full details of what you will learn and how you will be assessed. Visit the following unit catalogue pages for information on:

The online and on-campus options of each course will have the same course content.

Timetable, workload and study support

All our pre-sessional courses include:

  • a preparatory induction
  • teaching in small groups of up to 16
  • 50 per cent synchronous interaction with classmates and teacher
  • opportunities for one-to-one synchronous interaction with a teacher
  • guided learning tasks for you to complete in your own time
  • regular opportunities for personalised feedback on your work from your teacher and classmates.

Classes and one-to-one interactions will take place either online or in person, depending on which course option you have chosen.

Teaching staff

Many of our current teaching staff work on the pre-sessional courses. We also recruit extra teachers to work over the summer. Our reputation for excellence means we employ highly qualified and experienced people.

Location

6-week and 10-week on-campus students

Your induction sessions and all taught classes will take place on our Clifton campus. You will need to attend in person.

6-week and 10-week online students

Your induction sessions and all taught classes will take place online. Read our online learning page for details.

Social activities

All on-campus pre-sessional students will have access to our Global Lounge. This intercultural hub will run activities for all students who are on campus during the summer. Attending Global Lounge events will help you learn more about Bristol, settle into your new life in the UK, and make new friends from around the world.

Progression

In 2024, 100 per cent of on-campus students and 98 per cent of online students who completed a pre-sessional course progressed on to a degree at Bristol.

To progress to further study, you will need to fully engage with the pre-sessional course. Fully engaging with the course will also provide the best possible preparation for your studies. Engagement throughout the course is mandatory.

Online learning

Our online courses offer the same high-quality experience as our on-campus courses.

Read more about online learning.

The course definitely empowered me for employability. I had a job interview last month, and the format was a 10-minute presentation. I used the presentation skills that I’d learnt on the pre-sessional, and the interviewer was impressed.

Yen-En Kuo (pre-sessional graduate)

Ask a question

Email: cald-pre-sessional@bristol.ac.uk.

Visas

Visit the Student Visas page for pre-sessional visa and CAS information. 

Satisfied students

In our 2024 survey of pre-sessional students, more than 96% rated their overall experience as very good or excellent.

Edit this page