English Language Teaching Unit

Choose your presessional course

We offer start dates all year round, with courses from 2 weeks to 40 weeks, depending on your level of English. Choose from the list below.

Presessional requirements

  • The minimum age for enrolment on all programmes is 18.
  • On campus study requires a Student Route Visa or Dependent Visa. Find out more about visas.
  • Students who complete the Presessional Programme with suitable grades will meet the English language entry requirements for University of Leicester degree programmes.
  • Entry requirements shown below are IELTS - in addition to the overall IELTS score, you must have minimum IELTS 4.0 in all skills (speaking, listening, reading, writing). If you have a different qualification, check our entry levels page.
  • Course fees should be paid in full before the start of the course. Get more information about fees payment and refunds.
  • You must apply before the application deadline, or your visa will not arrive in time.

Contact us

For general enquiries about the Presessional Programme, please contact pspadmissions@le.ac.uk.

Presessional 40 weeks (IELTS 4.0): Modules A, B, C and D

No start date currently scheduled.

If you have a group of students with a level of IELTS 4.0 or equivalent interested in this programme, please contact eltu@le.ac.uk.

Presessional 30 weeks (IELTS 4.5): Modules B, C and D

Entry requirement (IELTS equivalent): 4.5
(IELTS 5.0 for academic programmes requiring 7.0) 

October 2025

  • Mode of study: On campus
  • Dates: 6 October 2025 - 19 June 2026
  • Application deadline: 1 September 2025
  • Offer acceptance deadline: 8 September 2025 (late applicants should pay their full termly fees via online payment - £4,170 - to accept their offer)
  • Enter University: September 2026
  • Fee: £12,510

Learn more and apply

January 2026

  • Mode of study: On campus
  • Dates: 12 January 2026 - 11 September 2026
  • Application deadline: 17 November 2025
  • Offer acceptance deadline: 24 November 2025 (late applicants should pay their full termly fees via online payment - £4,170 - to accept their offer)
  • Enter University: September 2026
  • Fee: £12,510

Learn more and apply

Presessional 20 weeks (IELTS 5.0): Modules C and D

Entry requirement (IELTS equivalent): 5.0
(IELTS 5.5 for academic programmes requiring 7.0)

January 2026

  • Mode of study: On campus
  • Dates: 12 January 2026 - 19 June 2026
  • Application deadline: 17 November 2025
  • Offer acceptance deadline: 24 November 2025 (late applicants should pay their full termly fees via online payment - £4,170 - to accept their offer)
  • Enter University: September 2026
  • Fee: £8,340

Learn more and apply

Presessional 10 weeks (IELTS 5.5): Module D

Entry requirement (IELTS equivalent): 5.5
(IELTS 6.0 for academic programmes requiring 7.0)

June 2025

  • Mode of study: Online
  • Dates: 16 June 2025 - 22 August 2025
  • Application deadline: 26 May 2025
  • Offer acceptance and fee payment deadline: 2 June 2025
  • Enter University: September 2025
  • Fee: £4,050

Learn more and apply

June 2025

  • Mode of study: On campus
  • Dates: 30 June 2025 - 5 September 2025
  • Application deadline: 26 May 2025
  • Offer acceptance deadline: 2 June 2025 (late applicants should pay their full termly fees via online payment - £4,050 - to accept their offer)
  • Enter University: September 2025
  • Fee: £4,050

Learn more and apply

October 2025

  • Mode of study: On campus
  • Dates: 6 October 2025 - 12 December 2025
  • Application deadline: 1 September 2025
  • Offer acceptance deadline: 8 September 2025 (late applicants should pay their full termly fees via online payment - £4,170 - to accept their offer)
  • Enter University: January 2026
  • Fee: £4,170

Learn more and apply

Presessional 6 weeks (IELTS 6.0): Module E

Entry requirement (IELTS equivalent): 6.0
(IELTS 6.5 for academic programmes requiring 7.0)

July 2025

  • Mode of study: Online
  • Dates: 14 July 2025 - 22 August 2025
  • Application deadline: 23 June 2025 
  • Offer acceptance deadline: 30 June 2025 (late applicants should pay their full termly fees - £2,520 - via online payment to accept their offer) 
  • Enter University: September 2025
  • Fee: £2,520

Learn more and apply

  • Mode of study: On campus
  • Dates: 28 July 2025 - 5 September 2025
  • Application deadline: 30 June 2025 
  • Offer acceptance deadline: 7 July 2025 (late applicants should pay their full termly fees - £2,520 - via online payment to accept their offer) 
  • Enter University: September 2025
  • Fee: £2,520

Learn more and apply

English Language Programme (IELTS 4.0 - 5.5)

The ELTU’s English Language Programme is for students who do not yet qualify for a Student Visa, but want to improve their English in a UK academic environment.

Entry requirement (IELTS equivalent): 4.0 - 5.5. 

We accept other tests in addition to IELTS and also offer our own entry test for entry onto the English Language Programme.

  • Visa requirement: any visa type which allows full-time study for the whole duration of your programme
  • Study for between 10 and 40 weeks
  • 21 hours per week full-time intensive study

To apply or for more information, email us at pspadmissions@le.ac.uk, telling us your current level of English, when you want to start, and how many weeks you want to study.

HeadStart+ 2 weeks (Unconditional offer)

Entry requirement: You must have an unconditional offer for a University of Leicester academic programme.

September 2025

  • Mode of study: On campus
  • Dates: 8 September 2025 - 19 September 2025
  • Application deadline: 25 August 2025
  • Offer acceptance and fee payment deadline: 27 August 2025
  • Enter University: September 2025
  • Fee: £595 

Learn more and apply

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