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Pre Sessional English for Academic Purposes

South & City College Birmingham

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Course description

Summary
This course is for 25 hours per week for international students who have a conditional offer for University study, but do not currently meet the English language requirements. The aim of the course is to develop English language skills, especially the academic language and skills needed for higher level study.

Description
This course is designed to prepare you for higher level study in the UK at university. It will help you to improve your general English, especially the academic language and skills you need for writing assignments, taking part in discussions, listening and note taking in lectures and reading academic texts.

It will help you to communicate more effectively in academic situations across the four language skills areas: speaking, listening, reading and writing. Alongside developing language skills the course aims to help you integrate more fully into UK society by increasing your awareness of British culture.

Key Areas
Initial assessment to find out your starting level – this combined with the IELTS score you require for further study will determine how long you need to study
An individual learning plan will be created for you
Regular assessments, tutorials and reviews to monitor your progress. To successfully complete the Pre-sessional course you will need to meet the entry requirements of our partner universities. This will involve sitting a set of in-course assessments and a contributory final assessment
You will learn:

Study skills – such as effective note taking, research skills
The four academic English skills
Communicating in academic situations
Academic vocabulary College certified end of year assessments (university verified) and reports Embassy student progress reports *City & Guilds English qualifications - optional
Teaching methods will include:

IELTS style weekly tests
Presentations
Group discussions and debates
Ongoing assessment progress reviews

Course topics

Listening, Speaking, Pronunciation, Reading, Writing, Vocabulary, Grammar and Activities

Class schedule

Course duration
12-52 weeks
Start dates
Every Monday
Classes per week
11 lessons per week (each lesson lasts 180 min)
Class days
Monday - Friday

Class times

Morning session
09:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Afternoon session
12:45 PM - 03:45 PM
Lesson
12:45 PM - 05:45 PM
Lunch
12:15 PM - 12:45 PM

Class schedule may change depending on availability and season.

Class level

All levels, beginner to advanced
You will take a placement test on your first day to determine your class level. You may also take this test before your arrival in Birmingham.

Class size

Average 15 students
Maximum 18 students

Student age

Age range 16 - 35 years old
Average 23 years old

Certificate

A certificate of completion will be issued at the end of the course.
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school

School description

South & City College Birmingham is an establishment of further education in Birmingham, England. Providing full-time and part-time courses. It was previously known as South Birmingham College & City College Birmingham

South and City College Birmingham is one of the biggest and most successful government-funded colleges in the UK, ideally located in its second biggest city, Birmingham.

Over 19,000 students a year choose to study with us, including international students from all around the world. We are a Student Route ( Tier 4 Sponsor) so you can rest assured that you are in safe hands.

We welcome applications from international students looking to achieve a vocational qualification or develop their English Language skills. You will find the college to be a fun and friendly place to learn and Birmingham an exciting place to live in.

The dedicated International Team are here to help answer any questions you may have about the courses on offer or the application process, including applying for your visa. From the menu on the left, you will find lots of information to help you.

The college has campuses & centres at the following:

Bordesley Green Campus (South & City College Birmingham: Brickwork, Carpentry, ESOL, Electrical, Public Services, Sport, Plumbing, ICT, Hospitality & Catering, Business),

Bournville Campus (A Levels, T Levels BTECs, NVQs, Apprenticeships and bespoke qualifications)

Digbeth Campus (South & City College Birmingham: English Language School Arts & Digital Media, Barbering, Business, ICT, Health & Social Care, Finance & Management, Media, Music)

Fusion Centre (South & City College Birmingham: Fashion, ESOL, Fashion & Textiles)

Golden Hillock Women's Centre (South & City College Birmingham: Business & Administration, Childcare, ESOL, Health & Social Care, Supported Learning Courses),

Hall Green Campus (South & City College Birmingham: Health and Social Care, Childcare, ESOL, Hair, and Beauty, Supported Learning, Science, Public Services, Catering, Travel and Tourism and Pre-16),

Handsworth Campus (South & City College Birmingham: Supported Learning, Access to Higher Education, Hair and Beauty, ESOL, Health and Social Care, Information Technology),

Year opened
1940
Number of classrooms
100

Accreditations

Facilities

  • Library
  • Social Activities
  • Cultural Trips
  • IELTS Test Center
  • TV Room
  • Elevators
  • Wheelchair access
  • Eating Area
  • Free Internet
  • Wireless Internet
  • Computers
  • Studying Area
  • Sports Activities

Teacher qualifications

Native English speakers
All
Teachers with English teaching certification
All
Teachers with college degrees
All

University partners

SCCB has partnerships with the following universities and colleges in UK. You can gain full or conditional acceptance into one of these institutions.

Birmingham City University
De Montfort University
Staffordshire University
University of Plymouth
University of Wales, Bangor

Nationality and age mix

The nationality and age mix at South & City College Birmingham varies over different time periods, courses and levels. Throughout the year, the average age is 23. In the summer, the average age is 23.

SCCB teaches students from all over the world, including:

Japan
20%
Saudi Arabia
20%
Brazil
15%
China
15%
France
10%
Spain
10%
Turkey
10%
Portugal
7%
Italy
5%
South Korea
5%

School holidays

SCCB does not hold classes on the holiday dates below. The school does not compensate for these holidays, so make sure to choose your start date accordingly.

Open dates
Year round
School holidays
None

School location

The college has eight campuses and centres spread across Birmingham, each with great facilities to make your experience at college unforgettable.

Digbeth Campus
Bournville College
Bordesley Green Campus
Hall Green Campus
Golden Hillock Women's Centre
Handsworth Campus
Fusion Centre
Bournville College Construction & Building Services Centre

Take a video tour

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visa

Visa support

We cannot apply for visas on behalf of students. However, the school can supply you with all the documentation you need to support your visa application.

If you are studying in the UK for over 11 months, you will receive a reference number called a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) that you need to submit to the UK embassy along with your General Student Visa application. Students who have successfully booked a language course and have paid their fees will receive a CAS from SCCB. Please note that UK law states that a CAS can only be issued to students who intend to pursue English language studies for over 11 months.

If you are studying in the UK for 11 months or less, you have to apply for a special visitor visa called a Student Visitor Visa. As a student visitor, you will not be able to work part-time while studying. If you plan to study in the UK for 11 months or less, a letter of acceptance will be sent to your home address by regular mail at no charge to you.

Learn more about how to get a UK visa »

Flights and airport transfer

Please note that we do not book flights for our students. If you are researching airfare costs, we recommend using Kayak.com, a search engine that lets you compare flight options from your home country to Birmingham based on your budget, schedule and preferences.

Travel insurance

Study abroad worry-free with Language International's health and personal effects insurance coverage. When you book a course with us, you can opt to purchase an international insurance plan that covers not only your health care cost but also loss of your personal belongings. You must book your insurance in advance when you register.

Learn more about our insurance plan »

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Questions and answers

Have questions? Get answers from South & City College Birmingham staff, Language International student advisors, and past students.

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