Pre-Foundation English Online

Language entry requirements

These entry requirements are a guide only. We assess your application based on the specific entry requirements of your main course.

English tests accepted for this course:

• IELTS Academic / IELTS Academic for UKVI
• PTE Academic / PTE Academic for UKVI
• TOEFL iBT / iBT Special Home Edition
• Trinity ISE (Integrated Skills for English)
• LanguageCert International ESOL SELT

English Test Equivalencies (PDF 94KB)

Unsure which Pre-sessional course is right for you? Read our Eligibility information. For advice, use our Eligibility Questionnaire.

Course description

Pre-Foundation English Online is an intensive English language course designed to prepare you for your UAL Foundation Diploma or Level 3 Introduction course.

Join Pre-Foundation English Online to:

• improve your English language skills in the context of art, design, fashion and communication,
• learn vital academic skills to succeed as a UAL student, including critical thinking, writing reports and essays, presentations and research,
• study on an engaging course taught by supportive, experienced tutors,
• take part in social activities and events for Pre-sessional students and the wider UAL community.

Pre-Foundation English was taught online in 2020, 2021, and 2022 with high progression rates and positive student feedback.

View work created by students in 2020 as part of their courses.

Your tutors

You will be taught by experienced English language tutors. All tutors have a higher level teaching qualification in teaching English language and some also have an MA in Linguistics or Visual Arts.

Hours and timetable

Hours per week: 20 hours, plus up to 5 hours of homework.

See a Pre-sessional Sample Timetable (PDF 429KB).

Attendance and materials

Students must attend and participate in all classes. If your attendance is below 90%, you will fail the course. In addition to classes, you will be set daily self-directed study.

You will need a laptop or tablet for classes, research and assignments, Learn more about studying online on our delivery mode page.

Assessment

Your English language skills will be assessed through academic tasks. Speaking and writing skills will be assessed through seminars, presentations and essays. Reading and listening skills will be assessed by end-of-course tests. These assessments are designed to prepare you with the skills and knowledge you will need for work on your main course.

Pre-sessional students will be given feedback throughout the course so that strengths and areas for improvement are clear.

To complete your course successfully, you must pass your assignments and end of course exams and attend a minimum of 90% of the course.

If you pass your course, you can use your Pre-sessional result to meet your language condition. However, you must also have a valid IELTS Academic for UKVI for your visa for your Foundation or Level 3 Introduction course. Your IELTS Academic for UKVI must have scores of at least 4.0.

Dates and fees

Dates

Course dates: 26 June - 11 August 2023

Enrolment day: 26 June 2023

Teaching start day: 26 June 2023

Enrolment deadline: 28 June 2023

Fees

Fee: £3,300

Additional costs: You may need to buy some art materials for the end-of-course project: The Climate Crisis. Students usually spend around £30 to £50 on these.

You can also read useful information from our student advisers about costs of studying at UAL.

Additional information

Visas

Pre-Foundation English Online is delivered entirely online. You don’t need a visa or to travel to London.

Pre-sessional visa and Immigration guidance

Age requirement

You must be at least 18 years old on the start date to join the Pre-sessional course.

Disability

We aim for an inclusive learning environment where disabled and dyslexic students can succeed.

If you want to tell us about a disability, please to do this in your Pre-sessional application. You can select the option which best describes your condition.

We will contact you to ask for medical documentation, in English, about your disability. The documentation must be issued to you by a medical professional who is able to detail what disability or additional needs you have. This documentation is used to identify what adjustments UAL can make to support you on your course.

We strongly recommend that you give us full information about any disability or additional needs as soon as possible. If you don’t give us enough time, we may not be able to support you from the first day of your course.

Find more information from UAL Disability Service about the support available to students with disabilities.

To learn which UAL sites and routes are accessible to you, read the guidance from AccessAble.

How to apply