Which Presessional Course is Right for You?
The length of Presessional English for Academic Purposes (PEAP) course you will need depends on the entry requirements of your degree course and your current English language skills.
Please follow these instructions to determine which course you should take:
- Look at the boxes below for standard courses or specialist courses and choose the information that is relevant to your degree requirements
- Identify your current IELTS* score, this will give you the length of PEAP course you need to take
- Follow the links or use the menu to go to the relevant course page for detailed information regarding what you will learn and how you will be assessed
- Then visit the course details page for important information regarding course dates, application deadlines and fees. You will need the details of the length of your CELE course when you apply.
*Alternative qualifications
If you are unable to take an IELTS test while coronavirus restrictions are in place, we will accept alternative qualifications for entry to PEAP courses starting in June, July and August 2021.
Please note that if you study on campus in Nottingham, you must have a SELT recognised qualification to be eligible to apply for a visa to enter the UK.
If you are studying your PEAP course online, we will accept non-SELT recognised qualifications. You will not be issued with a CAS until you have successfully completed your CELE course and you cannot therefore apply for a visa or make travel arrangements until your CAS is issued.
Standard PEAP Programmes – open to students in all schools and departments
Our presessional courses are split into 10-week blocks (apart from the shorter courses in the summer) and each block is referred to as a PEAP. If you need to study with us for 30 weeks, you will therefore study PEAP 2 3 and 4. If your current level of English and the required level for your degree programme allow you to take a shorter presessional course, you will study a reduced number of PEAP blocks.
Your degree course requires IELTS 6.0 (with no score lower than 5.5)
IELTS scores
| Your current IELTS score | Course length needed | Level of PEAP course you need |
|---|
| Overall |
No score lower than |
| 4.5 |
4.0 (with 4.5 in writing) |
30 weeks |
PEAP 2, PEAP 3 and PEAP 4 |
| 5.0 |
4.5 |
20 weeks |
PEAP 3 and PEAP 4 |
| 5.0 |
5.0 |
20 weeks |
PEAP 3 and PEAP 4 |
| 5.5 |
5.0 |
10 weeks |
PEAP 4 |
| 5.5 |
5.5 |
6 or 10 weeks |
PEAP 4 |
| 6.0 |
5.0 (with 5.5 in writing) |
6 weeks |
PEAP 4 |
Your degree course requires IELTS 6.5 (with no score lower than 6.0)
Your degree course requires IELTS 7.0 (with no score lower than 6.0 or 6.5)
IELTS scores
| Your current IELTS score | Course length needed | Level of PEAP course you need |
|---|
| Overall |
No score lower than |
| 5.5 |
5.0 |
30 weeks |
PEAP 2, PEAP 3 and PEAP 4 |
| 5.5 |
5.5 |
30 weeks |
PEAP 2, PEAP 3 and PEAP 4 |
| 6.0 |
5.0 (with 5.5 in writing) |
20 weeks |
PEAP 3 and PEAP 4 |
| 6.0 |
5.5 |
20 weeks |
PEAP 3 and PEAP 4 |
| 6.0 |
6.0 |
20 weeks |
PEAP 3 and PEAP 4 |
| 6.5 |
6.0 |
10-week subject specialist course or PEAP 4 |
| 6.5 |
6.0 (with 6.5 in reading and writing) |
6 weeks |
PEAP 4 |
| 6.5 |
6.5 |
6 weeks |
PEAP 4 |
Specialist courses
You have an offer to study an undergraduate or postgraduate business degree
We offer a 10-week course for students holding an offer for an undergraduate or postgraduate business programme, which has been designed in collaboration with the Nottingham University Business School (NUBS).
If you do not meet the PEAP business course requirements, you can first study on one of our standard 20 or 30-week programmes and then move on to the 10-week business PEAP course in the summer. For more information, click on the relevant section of the standard PEAP programmes, based on the IELTS score required for your NUBS degree (for example: overall 6.5 or 7.0).
Find out more about the PEAP - Business and Management course.
You have an offer to study a postgraduate law (LLM) degree
We accept applicants who are going to study for an LLM course, but we are not running a specialist law course. All students applying will join the standard courses.
Entry requirements
If you have an offer to study for a postgraduate LLM course, but have not met the minimum requirements of IELTS 6.5 (no less than 6.5 in writing and reading, and 6.0 in speaking and listening), you may be able to join the 10-week standard summer course.
To enter this course, you must have achieved IELTS 6.0 (no less than 6.0 in writing and reading, and 5.5 in speaking and listening) or equivalent. If you do not meet these requirements, you may need to study with CELE for longer, or take another IELTS test (where possible).
If you have met the required IELTS scores, but your reading or writing score is a 6.0, you may be able to join the 6-week standard course. Please note that this is not a dedicated English for law course.
If you need more information, please contact presessional enquiries.