Overview

The Academic Development and Training for International Students section of the Language Centre runs two main academic communication and language skills programmes as well as bespoke workshops/short courses for Departments and Colleges.

All programmes provide tailored support using authentic materials directly relevant to students’ degree courses. The face-to-face teaching is complemented with specifically designed online courseware and focuses on helping the student to improve both their English language and their academic skills.

The two main taught programmes are:

1. Pre-Sessional Support
   This is a five-week intensive course which consists of lectures, seminars, workshops and individual supervisions. The course runs annually from mid-August to mid-September. Accommodation is provided.
2. In-Sessional Support
   This support is offered over the course of the academic year and consists of one-to-one supervisions and workshops. It is only open to students and staff registered at the University.

Attendance on either course (Pre-Sessional or In-Sessional) can be a condition of postgraduate entry to the University of Cambridge. However, this is not an alternative to taking an English test. (For details on the minimum levels required and which English language proficiency tests are accepted, please refer to the Competence in English section in the Postgraduate Studies Prospectus.)

The Pre-Sessional course is at levels C1-C2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

If your language condition is still outstanding, read the Language Condition information under Assessments Procedures.