Pre-University English Language Courses at Cardiff University
1. The Pre-sessional Programme – summer 2015

The summer Pre-sessional Programme is aimed at students with IELTS scores of 6.0 and above
with offers to study on UG and PG courses at Cardiff University in September 2015.

Cardiff University Pre-sessional courses have been approved by University Executive Board for
entry to the University (in lieu of IELTS or other external qualifications) where students are
required to upgrade their IELTS by no more than half a point - see table below.

Courses available summer 2015: 10-week course
08-week courses (A&B)

The detailed entry requirements for summer 2015 are:
Entry requirement for
Academic course
(UG and PG)
IELTS 6.5 with any sub-score
IELTS 7.0 with any sub-score
IELTS 7.5 with any sub-score
Student’s score on
application to Pre-sessional
29 June 2015
6 and 13 July 2015
Which
Pre-sessional course?
IELTS 6.0
with all sub-scores at
8-week course
4.0 or higher*
IELTS 6.5
with all sub-scores at
10-week course
4.0 or higher*
Pre-sessional Programme not suitable. Require student to retake IELTS or other approved test.
*CEFR level B1 or IELTS 4.0 is the UKVI minimum entry requirement for entry to pathway programmes
for Tier 4 visas.


A student who has met the overall IELTS score for admission to a UG or PG course but has
failed to meet the sub-score requirement in one or more sub-scores may also take either of the
Pre-sessional courses and, upon successful completion, be deemed to have met the entry
requirements for their academic course.
Students may apply to take the longer course, even if conditions can be met with the shorter
course.
2. The Pre-sessional and making offers for UG & PG courses starting in September 2015
Offers conditional on 8- and 10-week Pre-sessional courses may be made ONLY to students who
need to move no more than half an IELTS point overall:
- UG/PG courses with IELTS 6.5 entry requirement:
Students with IELTS 6.0 and sub-scores of 4.0 or higher: the 8-week Pre-sessional course can be
written into the academic course offer.
- UG/PG courses with IELTS 7.0 entry requirement:
Students with IELTS 6.5: the 10-week Pre-sessional course can be written into the academic course
offer.
The following wording is recommended: “This offer is conditional on successful completion of the
xx-week pre-sessional course at Cardiff University, OR IELTS x.x, with no sub-score below x.x”.
Page 1 of 2
December 2014

Students with IELTS 6.0 who need to reach 7.0 are able to join the 10-week course, but
reaching 7.0 will be a challenge in the time available. Offers should therefore be made
conditional on IELTS and/or the student may be directed to our English for University Study
Programme (January or April entry) or to study in their home country prior to applying for the
Pre-sessional Programme at Cardiff University.
- Other IELTS entry points:
 The Pre-sessional Programme is not intended for courses with entry requirements of IELTS 7.5
or above. Applicants who have not achieved IELTS 7.5 at the time of applying for the academic
course should be required to re-take IELTS or other, similar test.
 Offers conditional on the Pre-sessional should not be made to students until they have met the
minimum Pre-sessional entry requirements – please do not make offers conditional on the Presessional to students with IELTS scores below 6.0 (see above).
 Students who have not yet reached the minimum IELTS score for entry to the Pre-sessional
Programme may be directed to the English for University Study Programme. Please see below
or contact the English Language Programmes team for advice on elt@cf.ac.uk .
Please note that the latest date for joining a pre-sessional course is two days after the start of the
course. Students will not be accepted if they cannot be ready for late testing at 0900 on the first
Wednesday of the course.
3. The English for University Study Programme – 2014/15

This is an academic-year course in English language and study skills aimed at students with
IELTS scores of 4.0 - 6.5 who wish to improve their English language skills for entry to Cardiff
University. The course has entry points in September, January and April.

Course dates and minimum IELTS requirements:
Entry point
September entry
January entry
April entry
Minimum IELTS
level
4.0
4.5
5.5
2014/15
22 September 2014
8 January 2015
20 April 2015
2015/16
21 September 2015
7January 2016
11 April 2016
4. The English for University Study Programme and making offers for UG & PG courses




The course has a summative Exit Test which includes reading, writing, speaking and listening as
well as a test of grammar and vocabulary, and can be taken in December, March or June.
The assessment is mapped to the Common European Framework of Reference and so
equivalences to IELTS and other examinations have been established (see ‘English Language
Qualifications: overall score equivalences – 2015/16 admissions cycle’).
The Programme’s Exit Test has been approved by University Executive Board for entry to the
University (in lieu of IELTS or other external qualifications). Schools can therefore make offers
conditional on the scores and sub-scores on the English for University Study Exit Test which are
equivalent to the IELTS offers being made.
Example: an offer which would normally be written as “this offer is conditional on IELTS 6.5
with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-score” could now refer to English for University Study: “this
offer is conditional on IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in each sub-score OR an overall score of 70% in the
Cardiff University English for University Study Exit Test, with at least a B in each sub-score”.
Please contact the English Language Programmes team on
elt@cf.ac.uk or extension 76587 with any queries.
Page 2 of 2
December 2014