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English Language Support and Foundation programmes

Pre-Sessional English Programme

Birkbeck offers a combined eight-week Pre-Sessional and In-Sessional English Programme, designed to provide international students with a solid foundation for their Birkbeck university studies. This programme will improve your academic English skills and help you meet Birkbeck’s English language entry requirements.

Throughout the programme, you will engage in a range of fun, interactive digital learning activities that allow you to practise and develop essential academic skills. You will also build your confidence with a variety of digital tools and technologies widely used at Birkbeck to enhance learning - helping you feel fully prepared for your academic journey.

Who is this for?

  • If you don’t meet our standard English entry requirement but have obtained IELTS 6.0 overall with minimum of 5.5 in sub-tests.
  • If you have met the standard English entry requirement but wish to take this opportunity to enhance your academic English skills ahead of your degree studies.
  • Students who have obtained 5.5 across all the sub-tests may be considered, depending on the main degree programme they intend to progress to. Such cases will be revised internally by relevant academic departments before approval.

Highlights of the programme

  • This is an in-person English programme, delivered at Birkbeck’s main building in Bloomsbury.
  • The module runs four weeks before the start of the autumn term and ends four weeks after the start of term.
  • You will not need to take any formal assessment such as IELTS at the end of the language course. Successful completion of the pre-sessional will enable you to study your chosen programme at Birkbeck.
  • Students who require a Student visa will be eligible for an Integrated CAS, covering both the Pre-Sessional course and their main programme of study. This means you only need to apply for one Student visa.

Important Deadlines

Application deadline: 30 June 2026

Offer conditions met, including enrolment on Pre-Sessional: 7 July 2026

Pre-CAS checks (students who are required to submit financial documents only): 13 July 2026

Final CAS: 27 July 2026

Programme Fees and Duration

Cost: £3,225

Duration: Eight weeks (four weeks Pre-Sessional and four weeks In-Sessional)

Pre-Sessional course start date: 7 September 2026

In-Sessional course start date: 5 October 2026

Course end date: 30 October 2026

Latest arrival date: 10 September 2026

Location: Birkbeck’s main campus, Bloomsbury

Timetable

Pre-Sessional: Monday to Friday, 10am - 12pm and 1-3pm

In-Sessional: Mon and Wed, 11am - 2pm

How to Register for the programme

If you would like to register your interest in this programme, please complete this form. Our Admissions Team will then contact you to confirm your eligibility for this programme. You must hold a valid English Language test or qualification to be eligible for the pre-sessional course. Please note that there are limited spaces to join this course, and we advise offer holders to register their interest sooner rather than later.

To secure your place on the Pre-Sessional English Programme, you must meet all the other offer conditions and pay the following amounts:

  • £3,225 to cover the Pre-Sessional Programme fee.
  • £5,000 deposit towards your CAS (for international students requiring a Student visa only). This amount will be deducted from the full tuition fee of your main degree programme.

For any enquiries, please email the Global Recruitment team

Terms and conditions

By accepting an offer of a place on the pre-sessional, you are accepting our English pre-sessional terms and conditions.

International Foundation programmes

OnCampus London

If do not meet the academic entry requirements for direct admission to your chosen programme at Birkbeck, you may benefit from joining the Undergraduate Foundation Programme or the Master's Foundation Programme offered at the OnCampus London centre. Based on the Birkbeck campus, you will have complete access to Birkbeck facilities - libraries, online resources and laboratories.

Birkbeck welcomes applications from students who have successfully completed the Undergraduate Foundation programme and the Master’s Foundation programme, and some of our courses guarantee a place to successful students.

Improving your study skills

In addition to our year-round study skills programme, there is a range of English and academic skills courses which are free to use. Check our online study skills materials and interactive tutorials and work through them at your own pace before and during your course to help you succeed.