10-week Pre-sessional course 2020 entry

Aims and overview

This intensive course will help you to:

• enhance your academic English
• develop your academic skills
• learn about studying at the University of St Andrews as a postgraduate or undergraduate student 
• adapt to living and studying in the UK
• meet English language offer conditions.

This course consists of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) classes, combined with a series of academic lectures and seminars. These sessions will help you to enhance your academic reading, writing, listening and speaking skills, as well as your understanding of good academic practise in higher education. You will have approximately 18 contact hours per week over the ten weeks of the course. Most of your tuition will be in small groups, normally with 16 or fewer students. 

Assessment and learning outcomes

You will be assessed across the four skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking using assessments that are benchmarked to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). You will be awarded an overall score on the University of St Andrews 20-point scale to reflect your performance on course assessments. Scores are benchmarked to CEFR levels as follows:

• a score of 4.0-6.9 is equivalent to CEFR B2 level
• a score of 7.0-10.9 is equivalent to CEFR B2+ level
• a score of 11.0-13.9 is equivalent to CEFR C1 level
• a score of 14.0-16.9 is equivalent to CEFR C1+ level
• a score of 17.0-20.0 is equivalent to CEFR C2 level

These scores can be used as evidence of English language ability to meet English language offer conditions (see progression requirements below).

Students who complete this course with an overall score of 11.0 or higher should be able to:

• Write clear, well-structured texts on complex topics in an appropriate style of their field, using supporting evidence and examples from sources as required. 
• Give clear, well-structured presentations on complex subjects in their field, expanding and supporting points of view with appropriate reasons and examples.
• Demonstrate detailed understanding of a wide range of lengthy, complex texts where stated opinions and implied points of view are discussed, given time to reread where necessary.
• Demonstrate sufficient understanding to follow extended speech on abstract and complex topics of academic relevance.
• Produce work that demonstrates an understanding of good academic practise and scholarship, including strategies to avoid plagiarism. 

Other features of the course

The course introduces students to different services across the University, including the Library, Student Services, the Careers Centre, the Sports Centre, and the Music Centre. 

Social events also provide an opportunity for students to mix with their classmates in a more informal setting.

Progression requirements

In addition to maintaining satisfactory attendance on the course, you must also achieve a grade of either 7.0, 11.0 or 14.0 to progress onto your chosen degree programme. You can check which score you need to achieve in the Equivalent scores for English language tests section of the English language requirements for postgraduate students web page .

Further explanation of assessment and progression will be provided during orientation.