Academic Pre-Sessional Course (6 Weeks)

Course Overview

The Academic Pre-Sessional course is designed for undergraduate and postgraduate students who need to develop their academic skills, understanding of subject-specific English terminology, and academic English language ability as a condition of entry to their college or school at Swansea University.

Start Dates and Duration

• Term 1: 20th July - 28th August 2026
• Term 2: 2nd November - 11th December 2026

Entry Requirements

Students must have already met the IELTS Writing requirement for their course and are no more than 0.5 below in any other skills. Alternatively, students must have already met the overall IELTS requirement for their course and are no more than 0.5 below in Writing.

Exit

The exit levels for the course are 5.5, 6.0, or 6.5.

Programme Fee

The programme fee is £2850, which does not include accommodation.

Course Information

The Academic Pre-Sessional course will build students' confidence and enable them to begin their undergraduate or postgraduate programme with a good understanding of the expectations of academic study in a UK university. The course will help students develop the following skills:

• Language Skills for their Academic programme
• Integrated Academic Skills (Academic Reading and Writing)
• Lecture Programme
• Listening and Note-taking Skills for Academic Lectures
• Academic Speaking and Presentation Skills for Presentations, Seminars, and Tutorials
• Using Academic Sources and Referencing Skills
• Critical Thinking
• Individual Project Related To Their chosen programme

Each week includes 15 hours of face-to-face tuition plus an individual tutorial once a week. Students will be required to carry out a programme of self-study and complete a number of individual assignments.

Teaching and Assessment

Students will be assessed using a combination of:

• A portfolio of the work completed during their course (70%)
• An end-of-course exam (30%)

The portfolio provides detailed evidence of students' language level and skills, their academic skills, and their readiness to begin academic study at a UK university.

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Overview:

• Founded in 1920 as University College of Swansea
• Received its Royal Charter in 1948, becoming Swansea University
• Consistently ranked among the top 30 universities in the UK
• Home to over 20,000 students from over 140 countries
• Notable achievements include:
  • 2019 Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for its work in developing and delivering innovative teaching methods
  • 2018 Times Higher Education Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community
  • 2017 Research Excellence Framework (REF) results showed that 90% of Swansea University's research was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent

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Student Life:

• Over 150 student clubs and societies
• Sports teams in a variety of disciplines, including rugby, football, and basketball
• Student support services include:
  • Counseling and mental health support
  • Disability support
  • Financial advice
  • International student support
• Campus facilities include:
  • Bay Campus: Modern campus with state-of-the-art facilities, including a library, sports center, and student union
  • Singleton Campus: Historic campus with a mix of traditional and modern buildings, including the iconic Singleton Abbey
  • Tycoch Campus: Home to the College of Engineering and the School of Management

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Academics:

• Academic resources include:
  • Over 400 undergraduate and postgraduate programs
  • World-class research facilities
  • Extensive library resources
• Faculty:
  • Over 1,000 academic staff, including internationally renowned researchers and industry experts
• Teaching methodologies:
  • Focus on student-centered learning
  • Use of innovative teaching methods, such as problem-based learning and flipped classrooms
• Academic support services:
  • Academic skills workshops
  • Writing center
  • Math and statistics support
• Unique academic programs or initiatives:
  • Swansea Employability Academy: Provides students with opportunities to develop employability skills
  • Swansea University Global: Offers international study and research opportunities

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Top Reasons to Study Here:

• Top 30 UK university
• Excellent teaching and research
• World-class facilities
• Strong industry connections
• Vibrant student life
• Notable alumni include:
  • Michael Sheen, actor
  • Catherine Zeta-Jones, actress
  • Sir Terry Matthews, entrepreneur

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Services:

• Counseling and mental health support
• Health center
• Housing services
• Library resources:
  • Over 1 million books and journals
  • Access to online databases and e-resources
• Technology support:
  • Free Wi-Fi across campus
  • Computer labs and printing facilities
• Career development services:
  • Career counseling
  • Job search assistance
  • Employer networking events