Orientation sessions
Course dates include compulsory orientation sessions on Thursday 6 August and Friday 7 August 2026.
Why study this course?
This full-time pre-degree course is for users of English as an additional language who are considering postgraduate study at an English-medium institution. This could be in the UK or another country.
You will get to participate in lectures and experience academic, social and cultural life at a leading UK university.
This intensive course will help you to:
- enhance your academic English
- develop your academic skills
- learn about postgraduate study at a UK university
- experience living and studying in the UK
- meet English language requirements to study a postgraduate degree at the University of St Andrews or another institution
You will follow the same course of study as students taking our 4-week Academic English pre-sessional course for postgraduate or undergraduate offer-holders, which is accredited by The British Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes (BALEAP). You will have opportunities to interact with this group, who intend to continue directly onto degree programmes at the University of St Andrews, during the course.
After completing the course assessments, you will be issued with a certificate of performance. This can normally be used as evidence of your English language ability if you apply for a postgraduate degree programme at the University of St Andrews within the following 25 months. Other institutions may also accept an Academic English Qualification Course (AEQC) certificate as evidence of English language ability on a case-by-case basis.
Learning outcomes
Students who complete this course with an overall score of 14 or higher should be able to:
- Write clear, well-structured texts on complex topics in an appropriate style for their field, using supporting evidence and examples from sources as required.
- Contribute meaningfully to discussions on complex subjects in their field, expanding and supporting points of view with appropriate reasons and examples.
- Demonstrate detailed understanding of a wide range of lengthy, complex texts where stated opinions and implied points of view are discussed, given time to reread where necessary.
- Demonstrate sufficient understanding to follow extended speech on abstract and complex topics of academic relevance.
- Produce work that demonstrates an understanding of good academic practice and scholarship, including strategies to avoid plagiarism.
Information about all courses from previous years of entry can be found in the digital prospectus archive.
Success rate
In summer 2024, more than 97% of students who studied on a pre-sessional course at the University of St Andrews achieved the scores required to progress onto their intended degree programmes within the University.
Teaching format
The course combines English for Academic Purposes (EAP) classes with a series of academic lectures and seminars. These sessions will help you to enhance your academic reading, writing, listening and speaking skills, as well as your understanding of good academic practice in higher education.
Assessment
You will be tested across the four skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking using assessments that are benchmarked to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Support
The University’s Student Services team can help students with additional needs resulting from disabilities, long-term medical conditions or learning disabilities. More information can be found on the students with disabilities webpage.
What it will lead to
You will be awarded an overall grade on the University of St Andrews 20-point scale to reflect your performance on course assessments, as well as individual scores for each of the four skills.
Overall grades and individual skill scores are benchmarked to CEFR levels as follows:
- a score of 4 to 6 is equivalent to CEFR B2- level
- a score of 7 to 10 is equivalent to CEFR B2 level
- a score of 11 to 13 is equivalent to CEFR B2+ level
- a score of 14 to 16 is equivalent to CEFR C1- level
- a score of 17 to 20 is equivalent to CEFR C1 level
You can see how these grades and scores compare with those on other tests using our English language requirements for postgraduate students.
Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews must achieve at least 7.0 on the St Andrews 20-point grade scale to pass a module. To gain access to Honours-level modules, students must achieve the relevant requisites as specified in the policy on entry to Honours and in the relevant programme requirements.
To find out the classification equivalent of points, please see the common reporting scale.
Certificate of performance
If you complete all the assessments on the course, you will be issued with a certificate of performance. This describes your performance overall and in the four skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking, with scores that are aligned to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Evidence for St Andrews
Your certificate can normally be used to meet English language entry requirements for postgraduate degree programmes at the University of St Andrews. You will need to meet the performance thresholds for your intended subject as stated on the English language requirements for postgraduate students page.
Required performance thresholds may change from year to year, and AEQC can only evidence English language levels from CEFR B2- to C1, as shown on our CEFR benchmarking table.
Your certificate will be valid for use at St Andrews for 25 months.
Evidence for other universities
AEQC certificates may be accepted on a case-by-case basis by other universities as evidence of English language ability. Please contact the relevant institution directly to confirm.
Meet us
Whether you have questions about your application or student life, or you would like to meet a member of staff from the School you wish to study in, you can do so no matter where you live. Meet us in St Andrews, your country or online.
Careers
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.
Why St Andrews?
IELLI staff have a wealth of teaching and leadership experience in education, in a range of locations globally. They are active in using their international networks and experience to support and advise students on future career development.
Current teaching staff have taught, or held educational leadership roles, in Australia, Bulgaria, China, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, New Zealand, Nigeria, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, UK, USA and Vietnam.
Awards
Members of IELLI staff and previous students have been awarded various awards and prizes reflecting the quality of teaching offered.
Entry requirements
- You must be studying on or have already completed an undergraduate degree programme.
- You must provide evidence of English language ability equivalent to B1+ level or higher on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This evidence can be from any English language test score, or a university transcript showing performance on English language or English-medium modules. Other forms of evidence may be considered, but we want to ensure you have sufficient English language ability to benefit from the course.
- Applicants will need to have a laptop computer that they can use both in class and for out-of-class assignments.
A limited number of AEQC places are offered each year, and these are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Applicants should apply as early as possible to be sure of securing a place.
Fees and funding
£2,480
- To reserve your place on this course a non-refundable deposit of £500 must be paid within two weeks of accepting your place.
- Fees must be paid in full by Friday 26 June 2026.
- You can pay your deposit and your fees by international bank transfer or credit card through the online payment portal.
- When making a deposits and balance payments by bank transfer or credit card, choose the Tuition fees option and enter the relevant amount.
Information on our tuition fees can be found on the postgraduate fees and funding page.
Accommodation
Students can apply for University accommodation for the duration of the course.
Accommodation will be available from Wednesday 5 August 2026. Students will have to move out of their allocated room on Friday 4 September 2026.
To apply, you must complete the online accommodation application form. When you complete the online application, you must ensure you check the box for the 4-week pre-sessional course.
If you do not wish to apply for University residential accommodation, please be aware that you are responsible for making your own alternative arrangements. Find out more about private accommodation in St Andrews.
Contact us
International Education and Lifelong Learning Institute (IELLI)
University of St Andrews
Kinnessburn
Kennedy Gardens
St Andrews
KY16 9DJ
Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2255
Email: presessional@st-andrews.ac.uk
Start your journey
Legal notices
Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our Admissions policy
Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the course archive.
Curriculum development
As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online.
Tuition fees
The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online.
Page last updated: 23 December 2025