Pre-sessional courses
If you have applied for undergraduate or postgraduate study at The University of Manchester, but do not have the English language requirements for your degree course, a Pre-sessional course may help you achieve the level you need.
Our Pre-sessional courses are intensive and academically challenging. They have been designed to help you develop the language and academic skills you need to progress onto your academic course at The University of Manchester.
Students on these courses must have access to a laptop, computer or tablet to access materials and undertake assessments during the course.
We offer 10, 6, and 4-week courses - the length of the course you study will depend on your current English language level, and the level required for the degree course you are applying to.
Even if you have met the language conditions on your academic course, you can still participate in a pre-sessional course. Not only will it help improve your language skills and spoken English, but it’s a good opportunity to make new friends.
Junjie Wang From China / Online 10-week pre-sessional course, 2020.
Course dates
| On campus course dates | |
| Online course dates | |
| Welcome Days (optional) |
Spring pre-sessional course
| 31 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 28 | 5 | 12 | 19 | 26 | 2 | 9 | |
| March | April | May | June | ||||||||
| 10-week (online) | |||||||||||
Please note the April pre-sessional course will start on Monday, 7 April
There is a minimum number of students required for this course to run.
Summer pre-sessional courses
| 23 | 30 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 28 | 4 | 11 | 18 | 25 | 1 | |
| June | June | July | August | September | |||||||
| 10-week (on campus) | |||||||||||
| 10-week (online) | |||||||||||
| 6-week (on campus) | |||||||||||
| 6-week (online) | |||||||||||
| 4-week (on campus) |
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| 4-week (online) | |||||||||||
There will be no classes on public holidays. These include:
- 18 April 2025
- 21 April 2025
- 5 May 2025
- 26 May 2025
- 25 August 2025
Each course starts with optional welcome days, designed to prepare you for studying with us. During your course, you will have tutor-led sessions, individual and group tutorial meetings with your tutor and interactive tasks to be completed individually and collaboratively in your study group.
All University of Manchester courses are taught by enthusiastic, qualified and experienced tutors. Our Pre-sessional courses are accredited by The British Council and BALEAP and we are proud to be recognised as the number one university language centre in the UK*
*According to the EL Gazette University Language Centre ranking 2019-2023.
Discover more about Pre-sessional courses
Course content
Explore our pre-sessional courses in more detail.
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Dates and fees
Find out about dates and fees.
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How to apply
Learn about how to apply for our pre-sessional courses.
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Frequently asked questions
Find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about our courses.
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Meet our students
Hear from three of our students talking about their experiences of studying with us.
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Meet our tutors
Listen to some of our tutors talk about their approach to teaching.
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