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Pre-sessional Programmes
Explore this page
Who is this programme for?
Students who:
- Have not achieved their required level of English for acceptance onto their undergraduate or postgraduate programme
- Feel they do not have the academic or general English language skills necessary to succeed at the University
Learning outcomes
- To raise the overall level of English
- To improve the ability to write academic essays and papers
- To develop listening skills, when listening to lectures
- To develop confidence in spoken English, while giving presentations and attending both seminars and tutorials
- To improve reading skills and to encourage critical thinking
- To provide methods for independent study and research
- To introduce students to life in Ireland and UCC
Important notice
- Successful completion of a Pre-sessional will satisfy the English language entry requirements for your chosen degree programme
- The 16-week pre-sessional is taken wholly online
- The 12-week pre-sessional can be taken wholly online or wholly on campus
- The 6-week pre-sessional can be taken wholly online or wholly on campus
- *If a student needs to resit exam(s) these will take place the week after the end of the course. Students need to keep that week free, i.e. no holiday or travel plans should be made for that week, and students will need to make themselves available for day(s) and time(s) as requested by Centre.
2025 Pre-sessional Programme Dates & Prices
| START DATE | FINISH DATE* | DURATION | DELIVERY | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 March 2025 | 18 July 2025 | 16 weeks | Online | €5575 |
| 28 April 2025 | 18 July 2025 | 12 weeks |
Online |
€4105 |
| 09 June 2025 | 18 July 2025 | 6 weeks | Online |
€2365 |
| 19 May 2025 | 08 August 2025 | 12 weeks | On Campus | €4105 |
| 30 June 2025 | 08 August 2025 | 6 weeks | On Campus | €2365 |
Which Pre-sessional Programme do I need to take?
Pre-sessional entry requirements 2025
Target: IELTS 6.5 (6.0 individual bands) or equivalent
| Your current IELTS score | Programme length |
|---|---|
| 6.0 - no skill less than 6.0 | 6 weeks |
| 6.0/5.5 - no skill less than 5.5 | 12 weeks |
| 5.5 - maximum 2 skills at 5.0 and none lower | 16 weeks |
Target: 6.5 (6.5 individual bands) or equivalent
| Your current IELTS score | Programme length |
|---|---|
| 6.0 - no skill less than 6.0 | 6 weeks |
| 6.0/5.5 - minimum 1 skill at 6.0 and none below 5.5 | 12 weeks |
| 5.5 - all skills at 5.5 | 16 weeks |
Target: IELTS 7 (6.5 individual bands) or equivalent
| Your current IELTS score | Programme length |
|---|---|
| 6.5 - no skill less than 6.5 | 6 weeks |
| 6.5/6.0 - no skill less than 6.0 | 12 weeks |
| 6.0 - maximum 2 skills at 5.5 and none lower | 16 weeks |
Target: IELTS 7 (7.0 individual bands) or equivalent
| Your current IELTS score | Programme length |
|---|---|
| 6.5 - no skill less than 6.5 | 6 weeks |
| 6.5/6.0 - no skill less than 6.0 | 12 weeks |
| 6.0 - Speaking & Writing must be 6.0 with min 5.5 in Listening & Reading | 16 weeks |
Pre-sessional Programmes
Class Format
Online group classes will be conducted on Microsoft Teams. For both online and on campus groups, course content will be available on Canvas, UCC’s LMS (Learning management system). Students will be able to access material for self-study on this platform and will be able to upload assignments onto Canvas.
The self-study element will be prescribed work from teachers which will focus on specific elements of the programme. Students will be provided with the necessary material and resources on Canvas to fulfil the learning outcomes of the programme. Tasks will include watching pre-recorded lectures with associated tasks, reading a range of texts and submitting answers, participating in online discussions, and submitting guided written tasks as well as links to websites with prescribed tasks.
If you have any further queries on this programme please email academicenquiries@ucc.ie.
IT requirements for those stydying online:
All students are required to have a fully-charged laptop or a Desktop computer (with audio and video). A strong, reliable internet connection is required and also a quiet space where you can attend class undisturbed.
You should download Microsoft Teams to your laptop before starting your course. UCC recommends the use of Chrome browser for best interaction with all its applications. Please note that a laptop or a desktop computer are devices that are suitable for online study purposes. A tablet or smartphone are not suitable devices for study purposes.
In addition, students are required to have an external webcam, such as the ones pictured below: This must be a moveable webcam, not one that is internal to your laptop/computer.
All students are responsible for ensuring they have the IT requirements for studying online, prior to the start of the course.
IT requirements for those studying on campus:
All students are required to have a fully-charged laptop (with audio) every day in class. Headphones are also essential.