Our Pre-sessional English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses are open to international students who do not already meet the English language entry requirement for their Cranfield course and wish to gain an insight into academic life before beginning their postgraduate study.
Working with a team of well qualified and experienced tutors we will help you:
- Improve your English language skills to satisfy our English language entry requirement.
- Develop and improve your knowledge and use of academic English.
- Prepare for the kinds of assignments you will complete on your postgraduate course.
- Develop the confidence and skills needed to succeed in your academic studies.
- Introduce you to life in the UK and to UK culture.
Course content and assessment criteria
Entry requirements
Please refer to each course section below, but note some of our masters courses have higher English language requirements, and you may be required to attend a longer Pre-sessional EAP course to achieve the required level for entry. We assess each application individually against the course requirements, please check the or your offer letter.
You must hold an offer for a postgraduate course to be considered for a Pre-sessional EAP course.
Course content
- Understanding the process approach to academic writing.
- Developing critical thinking skills.
- Developing effective reading strategies.
- Extending writing and research skills.
- Improving English grammar to support clear communication.
- Delivering a variety of effective presentations.
- Developing academic vocabulary.
- Improving listening and speaking skills.
- Using online materials to support essential independent learning.
Course structure
We offer courses delivered live online or face-to-face on campus. Both delivery modes will require participants to be available at set times daily within a standard working week.
Assessment criteria
You will be assessed throughout and at the end of the course. You will only be able to progress to postgraduate study if you successfully complete the course.
The results from your Pre-sessional English course will be valid for entry to Cranfield postgraduate courses for two years.
Winter courses (on-campus) for March 2024 taught course students
Please note this course is for students joining our March 2024 taught courses.
If you are joining a course starting in September 2024 please refer to our summer courses.
This course is delivered face-to-face on-campus.
Some of our courses have higher English language requirements, and you may be required to attend a longer Pre-sessional EAP course to achieve the required level for entry. We assess each application individually against the course requirements, please check the or your offer letter.
5 week on-campus course
Start date | Monday 22 January 2024 |
End date | Friday 23 February 2024 |
Course fee | £1,750 |
Application deadline | Friday 8 December 2023 |
Entry requirements |
IELTS Academic UKVI Minimum 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in all skill components). Pearson - PTE Academic UKVI Minimum 62 total (minimum 59 in all skill components). |
Winter courses (online) for June 2024 research students
Please note these courses are for students joining our June 2024 research intake.
If you are joining a course starting in September 2024 please refer to our summer courses.
These courses are delivered via live online classes and weekly tutorials.
10 week online course
Start date | Monday 29 January 2024 |
End date | Friday 5 April 2024 |
Course fee | £3,500 |
Application deadline | Friday 2 January 2024 |
Entry requirements |
IELTS - IELTS Academic, IELTS Online Minimum 5.5 overall (minimum 5.5 in all skill components). TOEFL iBT - TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, TOEFL iBT Paper Edition Minimum 72 total (minimum 18 reading, 17 listening, 20 speaking and 17 writing). Pearson PTE - PTE Academic, PTE Academic Online Minimum 59 total (minimum 59 in all skill components). Cambridge English Scale score - Cambridge B2 First, Cambridge C1 Advanced, Linguaskill General Minimum 160 overall (minimum 160 in all skill components). Trinity Integrated Skills in English - ISE II (B2) Merit overall. LanguageCert Academic Minimum 59 total (minimum 59 in all skill components). LanguageCert - International ESOL B2 Communicator, International ESOL SELT B2* Pass overall (minimum 25 in all skill components). Kaplan - KITE (Kaplan International Tools for English) Minimum 410 overall (minimum 410 in all skill components). |
5 week online course
Start date | Monday 4 March 2024 |
End date | Friday 5 April 2024 |
Course fee | £1,750 |
Application deadline | Friday 2 February 2024 |
Entry requirements |
IELTS - IELTS Academic, IELTS Online Minimum 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in all skill components). TOEFL iBT - TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT Home Edition or TOEFL iBT Paper Edition Minimum 78 total (minimum 18 reading, 17 listening, 20 speaking and 17 writing). Pearson PTE - PTE Academic or PTE Academic Online Minimum 62 total (59 in all skill components). Cambridge English Scale score - Cambridge B2 First, Cambridge C1 Advanced, Linguaskill General Minimum 175 overall (minimum 160 in all skill components). Trinity Integrated Skills in English - ISE II (B2) Distinction overall. LanguageCert Academic Minimum 65 total (minimum 59 in all skill components). LanguageCert - International ESOL B2 Communicator or International ESOL SELT B2* Written and Spoken exams taken together - High Pass overall (minimum 33 in all skill components). Written exam - High Pass overall (minimum 33 in all skill components). Spoken exam - Pass overall (minimum 33 in all skill components). Kaplan - KITE (Kaplan International Tools for English) Minimum 440 overall (minimum 410 in all skill components). |
* Both the Written and Spoken International ESOL B2 Communicator tests must be taken. The International ESOL SELT B2 includes all 4 skill components.
Spring courses (on-campus) for June 2024 research students
Please note these courses are for students joining our June 2024 research intake.
If you are joining a course starting in September 2024 refer to our summer courses.
These courses are delivered face-to-face on-campus.
10 week on-campus course
Start date | Monday 18 March 2024 |
End date | Friday 24 May 2024 |
Course fee | £3,500 |
Application deadline | Friday 2 February 2024 |
Entry requirements |
IELTS Academic UKVI Minimum 5.5 overall (minimum 5.5 in all skill components). Pearson - PTE Academic UKVI Minimum 59 total (minimum 59 in all skill components). |
5 week on-campus course
Start date | Monday 22 April 2024 |
End date | Friday 24 May 2024 |
Course fee | £1,750 |
Application deadline | Friday 8 March 2024 |
Entry requirements |
IELTS Academic UKVI Minimum 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in all skill components). Pearson - PTE Academic UKVI Minimum 62 total (minimum 59 in all skill components). |
Summer courses (online) for September 2024 taught and research students
Please note these courses are for students joining our September 2024 intake.
We have alternative courses for March 2024 taught course students and our June 2024 research intake.
These courses are delivered via live online classes and weekly tutorials.
Some of our taught courses have higher English language requirements, and you may be required to attend a longer Pre-sessional EAP course to achieve the required level for entry. We assess each application individually against the course requirements, please check the or your offer letter.
10 week online course
Start date | Monday 27 May 2024 |
End date | Friday 2 August 2024 |
Course fee | £3,500 |
Application deadline | Friday 26 April 2024 |
Entry requirements |
IELTS - IELTS Academic, IELTS Online Minimum 5.5 overall (minimum 5.5 in all skill components). TOEFL iBT - TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT Home Edition or TOEFL iBT Paper Edition Minimum 72 total (minimum 18 reading, 17 listening, 20 speaking and 17 writing). Pearson PTE - PTE Academic or PTE Academic Online Minimum 59 total (minimum 59 in all skill components). Cambridge English Scale score - Cambridge B2 First, Cambridge C1 Advanced, Linguaskill General Minimum 160 total (minimum 160 in all skill components). Trinity Integrated Skills in English - ISE II (B2) Merit overall. LanguageCert Academic Minimum 59 total (minimum 59 in all skill components). LanguageCert - International ESOL B2 Communicator or International ESOL SELT B2* Pass overall (minimum 33 in all skill components). Kaplan - KITE (Kaplan International Tools for English) Minimum 410 overall (minimum 410 in all skill components). |
5 week online course
Start date | Monday 1 July 2024 |
End date | Friday 2 August 2024 |
Course fee | £1,750 |
Application deadline | Friday 31 May 2024 |
Entry requirements |
IELTS - IELTS Academic, IELTS Online Minimum 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in all skill components). TOEFL iBT - TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT Home Edition or TOEFL iBT Paper Edition Minimum 78 total (minimum 18 reading, 17 listening, 20 speaking and 17 writing). Pearson PTE - PTE Academic or PTE Academic Online Minimum 62 total (59 in all skill components). Cambridge English Scale score - Cambridge B2 First, Cambridge C1 Advanced, Linguaskill General Minimum 175 overall (minimum 160 in all skill components). Trinity Integrated Skills in English - ISE II (B2) Distinction overall. LanguageCert Academic Minimum 65 total (minimum 59 in all skill components). LanguageCert - International ESOL B2 Communicator or International ESOL SELT B2* Written and Spoken exams - High Pass overall (minimum 33 in all skill components). Written exam - High Pass overall (minimum 33 in all skill components). Spoken exam - Pass overall (minimum 33 in speaking skill component). Kaplan - KITE (Kaplan International Tools for English) Minimum 440 overall (minimum 410 in all skill components). |
* Both the Written and Spoken International ESOL B2 Communicator tests must be taken. The International ESOL SELT B2 includes all 4 skill components.
Summer courses (on-campus) for September 2024 taught and research students
Please note these courses are for students joining our September 2024 intake.
We have alternative courses for March 2024 taught course students and our June 2024 research intake.
These courses are delivered face-to-face on-campus.
Some of our taught courses have higher English language requirements, and you may be required to attend a longer Pre-sessional EAP course to achieve the required level for entry. We assess each application individually against the course requirements, please check the or your offer letter.
10 week on-campus course
Start date | Monday 15 July 2024 |
End date | Friday 20 September 2024 |
Course fee | £3,500 |
Application deadline | Friday 31 May 2024 |
Entry requirements |
IELTS Academic UKVI Minimum 5.5 overall (minimum 5.5 in all skill components). Pearson - PTE Academic UKVI Minimum 59 total (minimum 59 in all skill components). |
5 week on-campus course
Start date | Monday 19 August 2024 |
End date | Friday 20 September 2024 |
Course fee | £1,750 |
Application deadline | Friday 5 July 2024 |
Entry requirements |
IELTS Academic UKVI Minimum 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in all skill components). Pearson - PTE Academic UKVI Minimum 62 total (minimum 59 in all skill components). |
Visa requirements
On-campus Pre-sessional EAP courses
You will need to apply for a Student visa to be able to attend the Pre-sessional EAP course. You must have met all conditions of your follow-on course offer before we can issue you with a CAS number for an on-campus Pre-sessional course.
We will issue a joint CAS number for both the Pre-sessional EAP course and the follow-on course. This means you will not need to apply for a new Student visa on completion of the Pre-sessional EAP course.
Online Pre-sessional EAP courses
You cannot apply for a Student visa until you have completed your Pre-sessional EAP course. You will need to make sure you have met all other conditions related to your follow-on course before the end of the Pre-sessional EAP course. This will allow us to process your CAS number promptly on completion.
How to apply
Click the 'Apply now' button below to start your online application.
You need to hold an offer for one of our postgraduate courses in order to make an application.
The form will ask you to confirm the details of your course offer and your previous English language experience, including any tests you have previously taken.