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  4. Pre-sessional English Language Programme (PREP)

Pre-sessional English Language Programme (PREP)

Attendance mode
Full-time

Start date(s)
April, June, July

Duration
20, 10 or 6 weeks

Location
City Campus

UK and international students can apply

Overview

The Pre-sessional English Programme (PREP) fully prepares you for life and study at the University of Bradford. You can choose from a range of course lengths depending on your current level.

PREP 6 is also particularly useful if you want to get ahead by improving your academic English and getting to know the university before you start your degree course.

Course dates 2023

PREP 20

17 April - 1 September

PREP 10

26 June - 1 September

PREP 6

24 July - 1 September

Professional accreditation

Accredited by the British Council.

Accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK logo

Entry requirements

To be accepted onto the PREP, you should already have a conditional offer of study for a degree course at the University of Bradford.

We offer a number of different PREP courses depending on your current level and the required IELTS level for your course – see the entry requirements here.

What you will study

PREP is an exciting and challenging course that fully prepares you for life and study at the University of Bradford. By the end of the PREP you will feel confident in your English language skills and be well prepared to progress to your degree studies.

You will also become familiar with the University, the city, and the UK through our friendly approach, social programme and our attention to each individual student.

You are taught by English for Academic Purposes teachers using interactive language-learning methods in groups of up to 18 students.

Additional resources and support activities will also be used through the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

Course structure

  • The course is made up of three blocks. You should start the course at the block which matches your current level.
  • You will study for a minimum of 20 hours each week in a mix of timetabled classes and online learning activities.
  • There will be a maximum of 18 students in each group and the focus will be on group and pair work as well as task-based sessions.

Content

  • All classes will focus on improving English vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation and language skills as well as English for Academic Purposes (EAP).
  • As well as studying reading, writing, listening and speaking skills, other classes will include seminar discussions, taking notes, writing essays and reports and exam techniques.  
  • There will be sessions on how to use the library resources and IT services.  
  • There will be a programme of social and cultural events organised by the Student's Union.
  • There will be more emphasis on EAP as students progress through the blocks.
  • The final block will focus on the research and writing of academic texts, as well as presentation and seminar skills.

Assessment

You will be assessed at the end of each block, and must have successfully completed a block before you are allowed to move on to the next block.

You should be a minimum CEFR Level B2 in all skills by the end of the course.

Fees, finance and scholarships

Tuition fee

20 weeks – £5800

10 weeks – £2900

6 weeks - £1740

Additional costs

There may be additional costs that you may incur as a student. Though these are not essential to your programme of study you need to be aware of them as a student of the University. A list of the sort of costs you might expect can be found on our fees and finance section.

Financial support

See our fees and financial support section.

Scholarships

Every year we award numerous non-repayable scholarships to UK, EU and international students on the basis of academic excellence, personal circumstances or economic hardship. For full details, visit our scholarships section.

Which visa should I apply for?

Student Visa Route

If you have a minimum overall IELTS score of 4.0 (with no sub-tests less than 4.0), you should apply for a student visa. You can obtain a visa that covers both your English language course and degree programme. However, you must successfully complete the PREP in order to be able to start your degree programme. 

If you successfully complete the PREP, you may apply in the UK for the student visa required for your degree course, as long as there is no more than 3 months in between courses. The length of time between the end of your current visa and the start of your new course must not be more than 28 days.

Visa advice

For more detailed visa information and contact details for the Visa Support Team, please visit our Visas website.

Got a question?

Fill in an enquiry form
This is the current course information. Modules and course details may change, subject to the University's programme approval, monitoring and review procedures. The University reserves the right to alter or withdraw courses, services and facilities as described on our website without notice and to amend Ordinances, Regulations, fees and charges at any time. Students should enquire as to the up-to-date position when applying for their course of study.