The PGR Pre-sessional Programme is aimed at international and EU PhD applicants who have reached IELTS 6.0 (with at least 4.0 in each sub-score) by September 2016. The course is designed to enable students to reach an English level equivalent to IELTS 6.5 in order to meet the conditions of entry to their chosen PhD at Cardiff University in January 2017. As such, the programme is only open to students with offers for PhD study at the University.

As well as improving general linguistic competence and fluency, students will receive tuition in English for academic purposes and study skills, including presentation skills and English for research writing. Entry to the programme with IELTS 6.0 followed by successful completion of the course* will meet entry requirements for PhD programmes at Cardiff with IELTS 6.5 minimum entry, allowing students to enrol on PhD programmes in January 2017 without needing to re-take IELTS.

Successful completion of the course is defined as submission of all assignments/assessment, attendance of 90% or above and scores at 40% or above.

In order to obtain a Tier 4 visa for a pre-sessional programme, students must take IELTS for UKVI (academic) rather than an ordinary academic IELTS certificate.