Pre-sessional English Language Programme (PREP)

Overview

This programme fully prepares you for life and study at the University of Bradford.

The PREP is a flexible suite of courses which improve your English language and academic skills to enable you to engage fully with higher education study.

We expect you to increase your IELTS score by 0.5 per 10-week block.

The flexibility of this course allows you to enter at one of the four entry points throughout the year, depending on the English level.

You must attend the full 10 weeks of a course block, as no late arrivals are allowed on this course.

Accommodation in our award-winning Student Village can be arranged through the University’s Accommodation Office.

30 week course: 15 January 2018 - 7 September 2018
20 week course: 16 April 2018 - 7 September 2018 (this includes the Easter vacation)
10 week course: 2 July 2018 - 7 September 2018
6 week course: 30 July - 7 September 2018

Professional accreditation

Accredited by the British Council

Entry requirements

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

To start your chosen University of Bradford degree course, you will need to reach the required IELTS level - the score needed can be found in the entry requirements section of each course page.

We have a number of different pre-sessional options to help you get to the required level, outlined on the Language Centre website.

What you will study

We expect you to increase your IELTS score by 0.5 per 10-week block.

You will also become familiar with the University, the city, and the UK through our welcoming approach, social programme and our attention to your personal welfare.

You are taught by English language teachers using interactive, learner-centred and task-based methods in groups of up to 16 students.

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

You are assessed in listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in every course and need to achieve a pass grade to proceed on to the next level.

We take your individual welfare very seriously and provide regular social events, activities and trips to help you gain confidence in using English and to feel at home.

Learning and assessment

Course structure

The course is made up of four blocks. You should start the course at the block which matches your IELTS score.
There will be 20 hours of timetabled classes and learning activities each week.
There will be a maximum of 16 students in each group and the focus will be on group and pair work as well as task-based sessions.

Content

All classes will concentrate 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, note-taking, essay and report-writing 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 orientation events organised by staff in the International Study Centre.
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 skills and the development of critical thinking skills.

Assessment

You will be assessed at the end of each block, and must have successfully completed a block before progression to the next is permitted.

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

See the current timetables on the Timetables and Attendance website.

Fees, finance and scholarships

Tuition fee

2017/18:

30 weeks: £7,800
20 weeks: £5,200
10 weeks: £2,600
6 weeks: £1,560

You are committed to taking all subsequent blocks and paying the remaining tuition fee.

You may pay the tuition fee in instalments throughout the course.

The above tuition fee does not include accommodation costs.

Financial support

See our fees and financial support website.

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 website.

Which visa should I apply for?

Tier 4 visa

If you have a minimum overall IELTS score of 4.0 (with no sub-tests less than 4.0), you should apply for a Tier 4 visa.

Upon successful completion of the English language course, you may apply in your own country for the Tier 4 visa for your degree course, as long as there is not a gap of more than 3 months in between courses. This visa rule applies to English courses of more than 6 months but less than 12 months.

Short term student visa

If you have an overall score of IELTS 4.0 (with sub-tests less than 4.0) you should apply for a short term student visa and you may study 30 weeks of English from block 1.

Upon completion of the English language course, you must leave the UK to apply for the Tier 4 visa for your degree course from your home country.

Visa advice

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

Career support

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.

Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programmes there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.

Career prospects

Starting salaries will vary depending on the career path you choose. Below are the average starting salaries for a few key areas:

Chemistry & Forensic Sciences - £21,419
Pharmacy ( 5 years) - £28,852
Nursing - £22,417
Midwifery Studies - £23,412
Computer Science - £25,100
Management (business/accounting/marketing/HRM) - £22,186

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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.