Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
See Fees and Funding below
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How long will I study?
5-10 weeks
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Where will I study?
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When do I start?
Variable start dates
Course summary
- Choose a five or ten-week course linked to your current level of English.
- Enhance your academic reading, writing and study skills.
- Prepare for success in lectures, presentations, seminars, assessments and exams by developing your language and critical thinking skills.
- Study on a course recognised for quality and accredited by the British-Council.
- Complete the course to gain an unconditional offer to start a Sheffield Hallam degree.
This is a course for students who want to study in the UK, but who haven't met their course’s English language entry scores. It offers durations of 5 or 10 weeks based on your current level of English. If you pass the course and meet all other entry conditions for your degree course, you'll get an unconditional offer for your Sheffield Hallam University degree course.
Choosing the right course
Find out which course is right for you based on your current level of English and your Sheffield Hallam degree English language entry scores.
Come to an open day
Visit us to learn more about our gold-rated teaching and why we were awarded the highest possible rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.
How you learn
Our courses are open to all international students coming to study at Sheffield Hallam University. This is the perfect move from studying in your own country to learning in a UK university. It’s made to prepare you to start on your undergraduate or postgraduate degree course, by improving your English language and academic skills.
You’ll study in small groups of up to sixteen students. You will receive lots of individual support and gain the confidence to study on your own in the future. Your classmates will be from a range of places, and together you’ll make a happy and supportive working team.
Your tutors will teach you the skills you need for your own subject area or discipline. This includes learning to listen to lectures and reading books for the writing and presentation of university assessments.
You learn through:
- Access to subject-specific materials and real-world activities
- Presentations and seminars
- Independent and group study
- Feedback sessions to help you prepare for assessments
- One-to-one or small group tutorials to help you to focus on important areas of development
- Speaking, reading, writing and listening assessments
Course topics
Throughout the course, you meet with your tutor every day (Monday to Friday). You'll refine your academic writing, reading, listening and speaking skills by learning key skills such as paraphrasing, summarising and synthesis.
We design teaching tasks that will help to develop your knowledge of academic language. You’ll practice using the grammar and vocabulary used on university courses and improve what you already know and understand about your area of future study.
These short courses give you a vital introduction to study in the UK, and cover key areas such as critical thinking, academic writing, referencing and citation, and study skills. These study skills will help you to adjust to university life in Sheffield and will help you to succeed on your degree course and in your future careers.
Course support
Once you finish your course, you'll have access to the University English Scheme. This covers key language and study skills for success and offers a chance to continue to improve your English in a classroom while living in Sheffield. These sessions are free and can allow you to make new friends across the university and beyond.
We help to develop your personal, academic and career goals by giving you access to our student support team. You can also use the Skills Centre, where you will find a wide range of webinars and online resources, and where you can arrange one-to-one meetings with skilled support staff.
Applied learning
We provide support as you practice writing tasks and presentations related to and focused on your future degree.
You'll be able to select an area within your future degree that interests you and use your academic skills to find and analyse a text within the area. This will allow you to look closely at how to use academic language, including definitions, perspectives, stance, citation and referencing. You'll also give a presentation based on your chosen text.
By doing these tasks, you'll not only enhance your academic skills, but also become more aware of topics and ideas relevant to your future studies. We aim for you to possess the basic tools and knowledge to confidently study your future course.
Future careers
The course prepares you for academic study rather than directly for employment. However, the academic skills you learn on the course are also valuable in employment.
In addition to improving communication skills, you’ll develop:
- Independent, critical thought
- Self-directed learning
- The ability to find data
- The ability to use information technology effectively
- Time management skills
- Team working skills
- The ability to evaluate your own progress
- The ability to give and receive feedback effectively
- An international awareness based on respect for social and cultural diversity
Student's success story
Rou-Jing Chen is studying for an MA in Art Psychotherapy Practice at Sheffield Hallam University. To prepare for her studies, she took part in the university’s pre-sessional English course - and it made all the difference. Read more.
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
All of your teaching will take place at our City Campus. You have access to our library and learning centre, which is open 24 hours a day for 7 days a week.
We're spending £250 million in new buildings over the next five years. This means you will have access to more new, well-designed spaces where you can study and relax.
Entry requirements
All students
You should join this course if you need to improve your language level to join your degree.
Visit our pre-study English language courses page to find out more about pre-sessional English Language entry requirements, fees, start dates and length of study.
For information on the different English Language qualifications we will accept for Direct Entry to courses at NQF Level 6, 7 and 8, visit the English language entry requirements page.
*IELTS accepted if you are on a dependant visa or an EU National.
You must be 18 years old when you enrol on the course.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK/EU students can be found on the pre-study English language courses page.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for UK/EU students can be found on the pre-study English language courses page.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Sheffield Business School (PDF, 255.6KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.