Pre-sessional Course for progression to ARU College

ARU Language Centre's Pre-sessional Course for those preparing to study at ARU College is an intensive, full-time programme, with 15 hours of online tuition with our tutors each week, and 15 hours of guided online self-study for you to complete each week. The course includes:

• English grammar and vocabulary work
• fluency focus
• pronunciation focus
• speaking for presentations and seminars
• reading, summarising and referencing
• listening and note-taking
• extended writing project
• exam preparation
• life in the UK – cultural awareness training
• regular one-to-one online tutorials to work on your speaking and listening skills

Download the online Pre-sessional Course description and sample timetable

You can also study our Pre-sessional English course face-to-face on our Cambridge campus. The course includes:

• English grammar and vocabulary work
• fluency focus
• pronunciation focus
• speaking for presentations and seminars
• reading, summarising and referencing
• listening and note-taking
• extended writing project
• exam preparation
• life in the UK – cultural awareness training
• orientation and introduction to campus learning resources
  

Download the face-to-face Pre-sessional Course description and sample timetable

The following pre-sessional English courses will either be face-to-face, taking place on our Cambridge campus, or online. Please email [email protected] for more information about whether a face-to-face course will run.

Pre-Sessional English courses for entry onto a foundation programme at ARU College starting in January 2027

In autumn 2026 all pre-sessional courses will be online. 

Course length: 6 weeks
Start date: 9 November 2026
End date: 18 December 2026
Course fee: £2,340

Pre-Sessional English courses for entry onto a foundation programme at ARU College starting in May 2027

In winter/spring 2026/7 all pre-sessional courses will be online.

Course length: 20 weeks
Start date: 2 November 2026
End date: 16 April 2027
Course fee: £7,800

Course length: 18 weeks
Start date: 16 November 2026
End date: 16 April 2027
Course fee: £7,020

Course length: 15 weeks
Start date: 7 December 2026
End date: 16 April 2027
Course fee: £5,850

Course length: 12 weeks
Start date: 11 January 2027
End date: 16 April 2027
Course fee: £4,680

Course length: 10 weeks
Start date: 25 January 2027
End date: 16 April 2027
Course fee: £3,900

Course length: 6 weeks
Start date: 22 February 2027
End date: 16 April 2027
Course fee: £2,340

There will be no teaching between 21 December 2026 and 1 January 2027 inclusive, due to the Christmas and New Year vacation, and no teaching between 25 March and 31 March 2027 inclusive, due to the Easter vacation.

Pre-Sessional English courses for entry onto a foundation course at ARU College starting in September 2027

In summer 2027 all pre-sessional courses from 12 weeks and shorter will be offered as both online and face-to-face options. Courses of 20, 18, 15 and 12 weeks in length will be online only. Face-to-face courses are subject to availability, but online courses are guaranteed to be run as an alternative if a face-to-face course cannot run.

Course length: 20 weeks
Start date: 12 April 2027
End date: 27 August 2027
Course fee: £7,800

Course length: 18 weeks
Start date: 26 April 2027
End date: 27 August 2027
Course fee: £7,020

Course length: 15 weeks
Start date: 17 May 2027
End date: 27 August 2027
Course fee: £5,850

Course length: 12 weeks
Start date: 7 June 2027
End date: 27 August 2027
Course fee: £4,680

Course length: 10 weeks
Start date: 21 June 2027
End date: 27 August 2027
Course fee: £3,900

Course length: 6 weeks
Start date: 19 July 2027
End date: 27 August 2027
Course fee: £2,340

There will be no teaching on 3 May or 27 May due to public holidays in the UK. 

Assessment

Our Pre-Sessional English course will be assessed using several elements, rather than one final exam. The assessments are the same for online and face-to-face courses.

1a) Extended Academic Essay. This is based on your area of interest, to assess your academic writing skills (20% of your score).

1b) Annotated Bibliography*. This is to assess your academic research skills (10% of your score).

2) Spoken Interview. This is to assess your Speaking and listening skills (20% of your score).

3) Formal Presentation including questions. This is again based on your area of interest, to assess your speaking and listening skills. (20% of your score).

4) Timed Listening, Writing and Reading Tests. These are formal exams to assess your listening, writing and reading skills (30% of your score).

*For courses of ten weeks or longer. For shorter courses, the Essay and Presentation account for 25% each of your total score.

To give you confidence in our online Pre-Sessional English programme, we will give you additional weeks free of charge (up to the value of the online Pre-Sessional English course that you originally booked), in the unlikely event of you failing to reach the level required to proceed in your study. Please contact us for full terms and conditions.

To progress onto your foundation at ARU College, you will need to successfully complete the Pre-sessional English Course and meet the English language requirements for your course.

You should not normally need to pass any other English test.

You will need to send us a copy of your English test. Please note that any student requiring a SELT for on-campus pre-sessional or study below degree level must take their IELTS at an approved test centre. For online courses and where a visa is not required for study we can accept other English tests; email [email protected] for more information.