English language courses
Develop your language skills with English courses at the University of Sussex International Study Centre
What you’ll study
If you do not meet the English language requirements for an International Study Centre programme, you can improve your level of English by studying one of the following programmes.
Course facts | Semester dates |
| Course length: 10 weeks, 20 weeks, one semester or two semesters | May/June 2022 10 weeks: 25 May 2022 - 12 August 2022 20 weeks: 25 May 2022 - 18 November 2022 One Semester: 13 June 2022 - 09 September 2022 Two Semester: 13 June 2022 - 09 December 2022 |
| Entry points: May, June or September | September 2022 One Semester: 19 September 2022 – 09 December 2022 |
| Fees: Find out more | June 2023 One Semester: 16 June 2023 - 01 September 2023 |
English Language Preparation (ELP) and Online Pre-Sessional English (OPSE)
Each of these two courses are designed for students who want to go on to study the International Foundation Year or the International Year One. Entry requirements are listed below:
| If you want to study... | And your IELTS is... | You will need to study... |
| International Foundation Year | Academic IELTS for UKVI 4.5 (with 4.0 in all skills)* | 1 semester of ELP |
| International Foundation Year | Academic IELTS for UKVI 4.0 (with 3.5 in all skills)* | 2 semesters of ELP |
| International Foundation Year | Academic IELTS for UKVI 4.5 (with 4.5 in all skills)* | 10 weeks of OPSE |
| International Year One | Academic IELTS for UKVI 5.0* | 1 semester of ELP |
| International Year One | Academic IELTS for UKVI 4.5* | 20 weeks OPSE |
| International Year One | Academic IELTS for UKVI 5.0 (with 5.0 in all skills)* | 10 weeks of OPSE |
English for Pre-Masters (EPM) and Online Pre-Sessional English (OPSE)
This one or two-semester course is designed for students who want to study the Pre-Masters Programme. Entry requirements are listed below:
| If you want to study... | And your IELTS is... | You will need to study... |
| Pre-Masters Programme | Academic IELTS for UKVI 5.0 (with 5.0 in all skills)* | 1 semester of EPM |
| Pre-Masters Programme | Academic IELTS for UKVI 4.5 (with 4.5 in all skills)* | 20 weeks of OPSE |
| Pre-Masters Programme | Academic IELTS for UKVI 5.0 (with 5.0 in all skills)* | 10 weeks of OPSE |
English for Pre-Masters students do not need to take an additional IELTS test at the end of their course to progress on to their Pre-Masters Programme. They will be assessed on their Academic English Skills (AES) grade at the International Study Centre (they will be required to achieve a minimum of 40% in all areas).
Language Lift
This six-week course is designed for students who need to raise the level of their written English. Language Lift starts at the same time as your academic course, so you will study courses at the same time. Entry requirements are listed below:
| International Foundation Year | International Year One | Pre-Masters** |
| Academic IELTS for UKVI score is 5.0 overall with 4.5 in writing* | Academic IELTS for UKVI score is 5.5 overall with 5.0 in writing* | Academic IELTS for UKVI score is 6.0 overall with 5.5 in writing* |
* If you do not need a Student visa, or are exempted in another way, we can accept equivalent proof of English.
** For students who want to study the one-semester Pre-Masters Programme. Language Lift is optional if you plan to join the two-semester Pre-Masters Programme.