Pre-sessional English
Before you study your degree, you should consider taking a Pre-Sessional Academic English programme (PSE). Our pre-sessional programmes are the best way to bring your English up to the level required for university study and develop the study strategies to enable you to perform to the best of your ability on your degree. Successful completion* of one of our pre-sessional programmes at the required level will guarantee you direct entry to your chosen degree.
*Other institutions accept the outcomes for the Heriot-Watt pre-sessional course. Please check with the admissions team for the university and degree you wish to study.
Accreditation
Heriot-Watt's pre-sessional English programme is accredited by BALEAP, the British Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes.
The BALEAP Accreditation Scheme (BAS) is designed to establish and sustain the standard required of specialist English for Academic Purposes provision to enhance the student experience.
Programme structure and dates
We offer both online and on-campus pre-sessional English programmes.
The length of your pre-sessional English programme will depend on your current English level and the demands of the degree you plan to study. We offer 14-week, 10-week and 6-week pre-sessional programmes.
For the 14-week programme, the first 4 weeks of the course are delivered online, and final 10 weeks are taught and assessed either online or on campus. Students wishing to transfer to campus have a week between weeks 4 and 5 (1 – 5 June) to do that.
For the 10-week programme, students can study either online or on campus.
For the 6-week programme, students can study online or on campus.
| Programme | Duration | Start Date | End Date | Results Date | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSE14 | 14 weeks | 04 May 2026 | 14 August 2026 | 21 August 2026 | £6,344 |
| PSE10 | 10 weeks | 08 June 2026 | 14 August 2026 | 21 August 2026 | £4,528 |
| PSE6 | 6 weeks | 06 July 2026 | 14 August 2026 | 21 August 2026 | £2,728 |
| PSE6 | 6 weeks | 19 October 2026 | 20 November 2026 | 27 November 2026 | £2,728 |
PSE entry requirements
| PSE | IELTS | TOEFL | New TOEFL | PTE Academic | Oxford ELLT | LanguageCert Academic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 week | IELTS 5.0 (no component below 4.5) | 44 (R6, L6, S13, W10) | Overall score of 3.5 with no component lower than 3 | 53 (no element below 48) | 4 with no component lower than 3 | 50 overall with no component below 40 |
| 10 week | IELTS 5.0 (writing 5, no component below 4.5) | 44 (R6, L6, S13, W13) | Overall score of 3.5 with writing at 3.5 and no component lower than 3 | 53 (Writing 53, no element below 48) | 4 with writing at 4 and no component lower than 3 | 50 overall with writiing at 50 and no component below 40 |
| 6 week | IELTS 5.5 (no component below 5) | 59 (R12, L10, S14, W17) | Overall score of 4 with no component lower than 3.5 | 59 (no element below 53) | 5 with no component lower than 4 | 60 overall with no component below 50 |
Aims of the programme
The aim of the PSE is to improve your use of English for Academic Purposes, build your confidence in using English and equip you with the academic study skills you will need to be successful in your chosen degree. The PSE is also designed to develop your awareness of your chosen discipline through a range of subject specific ESAP (English for Specific Academic Purposes) course materials and assessments.
| LO1 | Demonstrate detailed understanding of a wide range of lengthy, complex texts, reading with a large degree of independence, adapting style and speed of reading to different texts and purposes. |
| LO2 | Research and plan written tasks effectively, by identifying and incorporating reliable and relevant source materials. |
| LO3 | Communicate complex ideas effectively in writing using an appropriate structure and showing awareness of purpose, style, register and audience. |
| LO4 | Express ideas and opinions with precision, by presenting and responding to complex lines of argument convincingly and providing relevant explanations, arguments and comments. |
| LO5 | Produce work that demonstrates an understanding of good academic practice and scholarship, including strategies to avoid plagiarism. |
| LO6 | Follow and take effective notes on academic lectures, talks, reports and other forms of academic/professional presentations which are propositionally and linguistically complex. |
Assessment and progression
Your English Language reading, speaking, writing and listening skills are assessed through four integrated skills assessments. You will be assessed in the final weeks of the 6-week course and each assessment is based on authentic learning activities and types of assessments students encounter at university.
To progress to your degree at university you must achieve a minimum grade C (50%) equivalent to CEFR B2.*
* Other institutions accept the Heriot-Watt pre-sessional course. Please check with the admissions team about the university and the degree you wish to study.
Frequently asked questions
Application
What intake am I eligible for?
Please review the ‘entry requirements’ section above which is listed by intake and destination degree type. We offer a 14-week, 10-week and 6-week programme.
Can I enrol on Heriot-Watt’s PSE then study at another university?
Yes, we welcome Pre-Sessional English applicants with a destination university of Heriot-Watt University or other Higher Education Institution. Please check that your destination university accepts Heriot-Watt University’s Pre-Sessional English programme before applying.
What is the deadline for applying?
We typically close On-Campus programmes 3 weeks before the start date and Online programmes 2 weeks before the start date. Please note that this information is correct at the time of writing and may be subject to change.
My student number isn’t showing on my offer letter
In some circumstances, your student number can take 48 hours to generate on your offer letter. If after this period it is not showing on your offer letter then please email us at englishadmissions@hw.ac.uk.
I’ve achieved grades just below the entry requirements, can I get an offer?
Every application is considered on its individual merit. If you do not meet the entry requirements and would like to discuss this with us, please email englishadmissions@hw.ac.uk.
Enrolment
How do I enrol?
- Your welcome email will be generated when you have an Unconditional Firm offer status and the start date is approaching.
- The welcome email that you receive will include your unique HW Username. This, in combination with the email address you applied with, will be used to create a password for your new student account. This is Step 5 of the New Students webpage. https://www.hw.ac.uk/students/new-students/uk/welcome-to-heriot-watt-university
- Once you have set up your student account you will register for your courses. This is Step 6 of the New Students Webpage https://www.hw.ac.uk/students/new-students/uk/welcome-to-heriot-watt-university
What courses do I select when I enrol?
- When you enrol you will be required to register on courses. The required courses are listed below. If you have any issue with your enrolment please email academicenglish@hw.ac.uk.
- 14-week: C68EB,C68EC and C68ED
- 10-week: C68EC and C68ED (choose courses relating to semester 3 only)
- 6-week: C68ED (choose courses relating to semester 3 only
I’ve received a higher test score, can I change intake?
Prior to the start of the programme we will endeavour to accommodate a change of intake, but this is subject to availability. Please email englishadmissions@hw.ac.uk with your change of programme request.
Results
When do I get my results?
Results for the May-July programmes will be released on 21 August 2026.
What do I need to achieve?
Please see details on Heriot-Watt University PSE Assessment Grades below:
- Grade A - 70-80%,
- Grade B 60-68%,
- Grade C 50-58%,
- Grade D 40-48%,
- Grade E 30-38%
Note: These assessment grades are used to refer to coursework and examinations set and marked internally at this University as part of the Pre-sessional English Programme.
Heriot-Watt University accepts an average of Grade C (55%+) across the programme, indicating that the student has a level of B2+ on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). For comparison, Cambridge English equates B2+ with IELTS 6.0-6.5. For degrees which require CEFR C1, the recommended outcome is an average of Grade B.
In terms of mapping to IELTS, the following scale is recommended:
- 50%+ = IELTS 5.5 = B2
- 55%+ = IELTS 6.0 = B2
- 60%+ = IELTS 6.5 = B2
- 65%+ = IELTS 7.0 = C1
- 70%+ = IELTS 7.5 = C1
- 75%+ = IELTS 8.0 = C1/C2
What does the certificate show?
The certificate will show the student’s overall grade and individual grades for each of the four components, which are equally-weighted - Reading (25%), Writing (25%), Listening (25%) and Speaking (25%). It will also provide an IELTS equivalency statement.
How to apply
Find out how to apply for Pre-sessional English.
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