Online Pre-sessional English PSE courses
You can choose to take a fully online pre-sessional English course. This means that you can study from the comfort of your own home. Our online courses cover similar course content as our Aberdeen Campus Courses. We have worked hard to make our online courses an engaging and interactive experience. However, for those of you that have less proficient speaking and listening skills we recommend that you choose our Aberdeen Campus Courses so that you get that fully 'immersive' experience.
Additional Support Once Your Academic Studies Have Started
As a PSE student you will be eligible to take additional free English skills classes. The Language Centre delivers a wide range of support including academic writing and bespoke courses that focus more specifically on the demands of different degree programmes. For more information, visit the In-Sessional Academic English Skills Support page.
Next online Pre-sessional English courses:
2025 Autumn
5 weeks PSE - 17 November 2025 - 19 December 2025 (application deadline 7 November 2025)
2026
20 weeks PSE - 30 March 2026 -14 August 2026 (application deadline 27 February 2026)
10 weeks PSE - 8 June 2026 - 14 August 2026 - (application deadline 8 May 2026)
5 weeks PSE - 13 July 2026 - 14 August 2026 - (application deadline 12 June 2026)
2026 Autumn
10 weeks PSE - 12 October 2026 - 18 December 2026 (application deadline 11 September 2026)
5 weeks PSE - 16 November 2026 - 18 December 2026 (application deadline 16 October 2026)
Join our online live chat events to find out more:
20 weeks PSE - 30 March 2026 - 14 August 2026 - link to follow
10 weeks PSE - 8 June 2026 - 14 August 2026 - link to follow
5 weeks PSE - 13 July 2026 - 14 August 2026 - link to follow
FAQ's
- Which certificates can I use to apply for the online course?
-
Postgraduate
You can submit up to two certificates in order to meet the entry requirements.
Changes to LANGUAGECERT
As of 1 January 2025, LANGUAGECERT ESOL SELT has replaced its 4-skills test with the below options:
-
LANGUAGECERT Academic SELT (UKVI)
-
LANGUAGECERT Academic (non UKVI)
If you already have a valid LANGUAGECERT 4-skills result, it will remain valid for two years from the test date.
30-week Pre Sessional English
UKVI IELTS
UKVI PTE
UKVI Language Cert B1 UKVI Language Cert Academic SELT IELTS
TOEFL iBIT
PTE
Language Cert B1 Language Cert Academic Duolingo Overall
4.5
47
Pass 50 4.5
54+
47
Pass 50 75 Listening
4.5
47
33 50 4.5
10+
47
33 50 75 Reading
4.5
47
33 50 4.5
8+
47
33 50 75 Writing
4.5
47
33 50 4.5
15+
47
33 50 75 Speaking
4.5
47
33 50 4.5
15+
47
33 50 75 20-week Pre Sessional English
UKVI IELTS
UKVI PTE
UKVI Language Cert B1 UKVI Language Cert Academic SELT IELTS
TOEFL iBIT
PTE
Language Cert B1 Language Cert Academic Duolingo Overall
5.0
52
High Pass 55 5.0
64+
52
High Pass 55 90 Listening
5.0
52
38 55 5.0
14+
52
38 55 90 Reading3
5.0
52
38 55 5.0
12+
52
38 55 90 Writing
5.0
52
38 55 5.0
17+
52
38 55 90 Speaking
5.0
52
38 55 5.0
17+
52
38 55 90 10-week Pre Sessional English
UKVI IELTS
UKVI PTE
UKVI Language Cert B2 UKVI Language Cert Academic SELT IELTS
TOEFL iBIT
PTE
Language Cert B2
Language Cert Academic
Duolingo Overall
5.5
57
Pass 60 5.5
72+
57
Pass
60
95 Listening
5.5
59
33 60 5.5
17+
59
33
60
95 Reading
5.5
59
33 60 5.5
18+
59
33
60
95 Writing
5.5
59
33 60 5.5
19+
59
33
60
95 Speaking
5.0
52
29 55 5.0
17+
52
29
55
90 5-week Pre Sessional English
UKVI IELTS
UKVI PTE
UKVI Language Cert B2 UKVI Language Cert Academic SELT IELTS
TOEFL iBIT
PTE
Language Cert B2
Language Cert Academic
Duolingo Overall
6.0
59
Pass 65 6.0
78+
59
Pass
65
105 Listening
5.5
59
33 60 5.5
17+
59
33
60
95 Reading
5.5
59
33 60 5.5
18+
59
33
60
95 Writing
5.5
59
33 60 5.5
19+
59
33
60
95 Speaking
5.5
59
33 60 5.5
20+
59
33
60
95 Undergraduate
You can submit up to two certificates in order to meet the entry requirements.
Changes to LANGUAGECERT
As of 1 January 2025, LANGUAGECERT ESOL SELT has replaced its 4-skills test with the below options:
-
LANGUAGECERT Academic SELT (UKVI)
-
LANGUAGECERT Academic (non UKVI)
If you already have a valid LANGUAGECERT 4-skills result, it will remain valid for two years from the test date.
30-week Pre Sessional English
UKVI IELTS
UKVI PTE
UKVI Language Cert B1 UKVI Language Cert Academic SELT IELTS
TOEFL iBIT
PTE
Language Cert B1 Language Cert Academic Duolingo
Overall
4.5
47
Pass B1 50 4.5
54+
47
Pass B1 50 70 Listening
4.5
47
33 50 4.5
10+
47
33 50 70 Reading
4.5
47
33 50 4.5
8+
47
33 50 70 Writing
4.5
47
33 50 4.5
15+
47
33 50 70 Speaking
4.5
47
33 50 4.5
15+
47
33 50 70 20-week Pre Sessional English
UKVI IELTS
UKVI PTE
UKVI Language Cert B1 UKVI Language Cert Academic SELT IELTS
TOEFL iBIT
PTE
Language Cert B1 Language Cert Academic Duolingo Overall
5.0
52
High Pass 55 5.0
64+
52
High Pass 55 75 Listening
4.5
47
38 50 4.5
10+
47
38 50 75 Reading33
4.5
47
38 50 4.5
8+
47
38 50 75 Writing
4.5
47
38 50 4.5
15+
47
38 50 75 Speaking
4.5
47
38 50 4.5
15+
47
38 50 75 10-week Pre Sessional English
UKVI IELTS
UKVI PTE
UKVI Language Cert B1 UKVI Language Cert Academic SELT IELTS
TOEFL iBIT
PTE
Language Cert B2 Language Cert Academic Duolingo Overall
5.0
52
Pass 55 5.0
64+
52
Pass 55 90 Listening
5.5
59
33 60 5.5
17+
59
33 60 95 Reading
5.5
59
33 60 5.5
18+
59
33 60 95 Writing
5.0
52
33 55 5.0
17+
52
33 55 90 Speaking
5.0
52
29 55 5.0
17+
52
29 55 90 5-week Pre Sessional English
UKVI IELTS
UKVI PTE
UKVI Language Cert B2 UKVI Language Cert Academic SELT IELTS
TOEFL iBIT
PTE
Language Cert B2 Language Cert Academic Duolingo Overall
5.5
59
Pass 60 5.5
72+
59
Pass 60 95 Listening
5.5
59
33 60 5.5
17+
59
33 60 95 Reading
5.5
59
33 60 5.5
18+
59
33 60 95 Writing
5.5
59
33 60 5.5
19+
59
33 60 95 Speaking
5.5
59
33 60 5.5
20+
59
33 60 95 -
- How can I apply for a course?
-
- Please complete the Pre-Sessional English Application Form 2025/2026.
- Submit the form to lc-application-submission@abdn.ac.uk along with a copy of your language and certificate, passport and proof of payment. In order for us to process the payment we must receive the full course fees. If possible, please submit the application in MS word format.
Please note that you will not be able to change your course, withdraw or receive a refund for the course you have applied for after the applications have closed.
Course Autumn 2025 Applications Open Applications Close 5 weeks Open for applications 7 November 2025 Course 2026 Applications Open Applications Close 20 weeks Open for applications 27 February 2026) Course Summer 2026 Applications Open Applications Close 10 weeks Open for applications 8 May 2026 5 weeks Open for applications 12 June 2026 Course Autumn 2026 Applications Open Applications Close 10 weeks Open for applications 11 September 2026 5 weeks Open for applications 16 October 2026 Payment Methods
- You can pay by credit card, debit card or PayPal via our online store.
- Bank transfer details can be found on the Pre-Sessional English Application Form 2025/2026.
- What are the dates and fees?
-
Course Autumn 2025 Induction Course Starts Course Ends Fee 5 weeks TBA 17 November 2025 19 December 2025 £1,900 (deposit £380) Course 2025/ 2026 Induction Course Starts Course Ends Fee 20 weeks TBA 30 March 2026 14 August 2026 £11,400 (deposit £3000) 10 weeks TBA 8 June 2026 14 August 2026 £3,800 (deposit £760) 5 weeks TBA 13 July 2026 14 August 2026 £1,900 (deposit £380) Course Autumn 2026 Induction Course Starts Course Ends Fee 10 weeks TBA 12 October 2026 18 December 2026 £3,800 (deposit £760) 5 weeks TBA 16 November 2026 18 December 2026 £1,900 (deposit £380) The deposit is not refundable. We ask that you pay the full fees prior to the start of the course.
- What is required to study online?
-
Please ensure that you meet the following system requirements:
Hardware
· A stable Internet connection
· A computer fulfilling the software requirements outlined below
· Speakers or headphones and a microphone connected to your PC
· A webcam set up on your PCSoftware
· The online course is designed to work best with Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome
· A PDF reader such as Adobe Reader or Foxit Reader
· A .docx file compatible office suite (as a student of the University of Aberdeen you are able to access Office 365 for free, use this link Microsoft Office to find out more)Digital skills
· You should be familiar with using emails and Microsoft Word or similar
· You should be able to search the internet and be able to use online meeting software - Can I switch from an online to an Aberdeen campus course?
-
Please note that you will not be able to switch from an online course to an Aberdeen campus based course after the applications have closed.
Course On-Campus Application Close Online Application Close 30 weeks 5 December 2025 N/A 20 weeks 27 February 2026 27 February 2026 10 weeks 22 May 2026 8 May 2026 5 weeks 26 June 2026 12 June 2026 10 weeks 11 September 11 September 5 weeks 16 October 16 October 40 weeks 11 September N/A - What should I do if I am a sponsored student?
-
We require a sponsorship letter which specifies that it is for the University of Aberdeen online/on-campus pre-sessional course prior to the start of the course.
If you start your course and have not provided the official sponsor letter or we do not receive payment of your tuition fees from your sponsor fees, you will be invoiced in person.
- What is the last day that I can apply for the course?
-
Please note that you will not be able to change your course, withdraw or receive a refund for the course you have applied for after the applications have closed.
Course Autumn 2025 On-Campus Application Close Online Application Close 5 weeks N/A 7 November 2025 Course On-Campus Application Close Online Application Close 30 weeks 5 December 2025 N/A 20 weeks 27 February 2026 27 February 2026 10 weeks 22 May 2026 8 May 2026 5 weeks 26 June 2026 12 June 2026 10 weeks 11 September 2026 11 September 2026 5 weeks 16 October 2026 16 October 2026 40 weeks 11 September 2026 N/A