Pre-Sessional English Courses

Which Course Should I Take?

Your in-person Pre-sessional English course start date and duration will depend on:

  • Your current English language level
  • The English requirement for your chosen degree

All courses finish on 28 August, but your start date may be in January, February, March, May, June, or July, depending on the score you need to achieve.

 

Step 1: Check Your Degree Requirement

Refer to your offer letter to confirm the IELTS score (or equivalent) required for your degree.

 

Step 2: Check Your Current English Level

We use IELTS (International English Language Testing System) to determine your entry point. If your results are from a different English language test, please see our guidance on accepted tests and score conversions below.

 

Step 3: Find Your Start Date

In the calculator below, select the IELTS score you need to achieve, then enter your current score to see:

  • Your recommended start date
  • Course length
  • Application deadline
  • Course fee

If you are unsure which course is right for you, please contact us at arts-EAS@glasgow.ac.uk and we will be happy to advise.

Other Testing Systems (PTE, TOEFL & ELLT)

If you have a PTE, TOEFL, or ELLT certificate and are unsure which Pre-sessional course to apply for, please use the table below to convert your scores.

Visa Requirements:

  • If you need a Student Visa to study in the UK, you must provide a UKVI-approved Secure English Language Test (SELT), such as IELTS or PTE, at a minimum level of CEFR B1 to apply for a Pre-sessional course.
  • If you are applying for the June or July entry in-person course and are eligible for a combined CAS, you may use a SELT that is not UKVI-approved (e.g., TOEFL or ELLT), but your score must meet a minimum of CEFR B2.

For more information about combined CAS, please see our Frequently Asked Questions.

Pearson PTE Academic

The score conversions below apply to all Communicative Skills (Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing) as well as the Overall Score.

Applicants must meet a minimum CEFR B1 level for a single Pre-sessional CAS, or CEFR B2 if eligible for a combined CAS. Information about CEFR levels for PTE can be found here.

The PTE conversion table is intended for University of Glasgow Pre-sessional English course admissions only. Equivalent scores are subject to change at any time.

PTE ScoreIELTS Equivalent
73-78      7.5
65-72      7.0
59-64      6.5
51-58      6.0
43-50     5.5
35-42      5.0
30-34      4.5
0-33      4.0

TOEFL

TOEFL is a non-UKVI SELT and therefore cannot be used for visa applications unless a combined CAS is issued.

Applicants must be eligible for a combined CAS and achieve a minimum CEFR B2 level, as detailed here.

The TOEFL conversion table is intended for University of Glasgow Pre-sessional English course admissions only. Equivalent scores are subject to change at any time.

Reading Score       
TOEFL 27-28 24-26 19-23 13-18 8-12 4-7 3
IELTS equivalent 7.5      7.0      6.5      6.0      5.5      5.0      4.5     
Listening Score       
TOEFL 27 24-26 20-23 12-19 7-11 4-6 3
IELTS equivalent 7.5      7.0      6.5      6.0      5.5      5.0      4.5     
Speaking Score       
TOEFL 24-25  23  20-22  18-19  16-17  14-15  12-13 
IELTS equivalent 7.5      7.0      6.5      6.0      5.5      5.0      4.5     
Writing Score       
TOEFL 29  27-28  24-26  21-23  18-20  14-17  12-13 
IELTS equivalent 7.5      7.0      6.5      6.0      5.5      5.0      4.5     
Overall Score       
TOEFL 102-109 94-101 79-93 60-78 46-59 35-45 32-34
IELTS equivalent 7.5      7.0      6.5      6.0      5.5      5.0      4.5     

Oxford ELLT

ELLT is a non-UKVI SELT and therefore cannot be used for visa applications unless a combined CAS is issued.

Applicants must be eligible for a combined CAS and achieve a minimum CEFR B2 level, as detailed in the conversion table.

See the Oxford ELLT conversion table here.

The ELLT conversion table is intended for University of Glasgow Pre-sessional English course admissions only. Equivalent scores are subject to change at any time.