Studying in a different country and different language can be challenging, especially if the teaching and assessment style is different to that of your own country. To help you prepare for your studies at the University of Lincoln, our Pre-sessional English and Academic Study Skills (PEASS) courses are designed to help you develop a wide range of essential skills.
Our PEASS courses, which take place during the summer and winter, are designed for students who do not meet the University’s English language requirements. The courses are also helpful for students who have already met our English language requirements but would like to learn more about the academic environment at a UK university before starting their undergraduate or postgraduate degree studies.
PEASS courses will not only teach you English for Academic Purposes but also prepare you for study at your course in Lincoln. The course includes work on all four skills needed for studying at a UK university (reading, writing, speaking and listening) and an introduction to British culture and the University of Lincoln. You will be taught in small groups by a team of highly experienced tutors, and you will have a chance to work alongside other students from other countries.
Currently, we offer online courses (where you study from your home) and courses run on-campus.
Of the 139 students enrolled onto a University of Lincoln summer PEASS programme in 2020, 138 students successfully passed.
The University of Lincoln’s Pre-sessional English and Academic Study Skills (PEASS) courses are designed to help international students:
Support and advice will also be provided in areas such as applying for your visa, visa extensions, and accommodation options to enable students to progress onto their undergraduate or postgraduate degree programme, following successful completion of the PEASS course.
On both online and on-campus PEASS courses, you will be evaluated according to two general components:
Your e-portfolio will consist of:
To help support students during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, our summer and winter Pre-sessional English and Academic Study Skills (PEASS) courses can be studied online. You can join the online course from your home country.
| Online PEASS course | Start | End | Fees | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2021: 10 weeks | Monday 5 July 2021 | Friday 10 September 2021 | £3,300 | Friday 18 June 2021 |
| Summer 2021: 5 weeks | Monday 9 August 2021 | Friday 10 September 2021 | £1,650 | Friday 23 July 2021 |
| Winter 2021: 10 weeks | Monday 11 October 2021 | Friday 17 December 2021 | £3,300 | Friday 24 September 2021 |
| Winter 2021: 5 weeks | Monday 15 November 2021 | Friday 17 December 2021 | £1,650 | Friday 29 October 2021 |
| Accepted English qualifications | 10 Weeks PEASS online | 5 Weeks PEASS online |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS | 5.0/4.5 | 5.5/5.0 |
| IELTS indicator | 5.0/4.5 | 5.5/5.0 |
| TOEFL iBT | 45 (R7, L6, S14, W15) | 59 (R12, L11, S17, W18) |
| TOEFL iBT at Home | Same as TOEFL iBT | Same as TOEFL iBT |
| PTE Academic | 42/36 | 50/42 |
| LanguageCert ESOL SELT | B1 Pass | B1 High Pass |
| LanguageCert online | B1 Pass | B1 High Pass |
| Password | 5.0/4.5 | 5.5/5.0 |
| Duolingo | 80 (with no subscore below 70) | 90 (with no subscore below 80) |
| Accepted English qualifications | 10 Weeks PEASS online | 5 Weeks PEASS online |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS | 5.5/5.0 | 6.0/5.5 |
| IELTS indicator | 5.5/5.0 | 6.0/5.5 |
| TOEFL iBT | 59 (R12, L11, S17, W18) | 79 (R18, L17, S20, W20) |
| TOEFL iBT at Home | Same as TOEFL iBT | Same as TOEFL iBT |
| PTE Academic | 50/42 | 58/51 |
| LanguageCert ESOL SELT | B1 High Pass | B2 Pass |
| LanguageCert online | B1 High Pass | B2 Pass |
| Password | 5.5/5.0 | 6.0/5.5 |
| Duolingo | 90 (with no subscore below 80) |
100 (with no subscore below 90)
|
For courses that require IELTS 7, please contact englishlanguage@lincoln.ac.uk
Our on-campus PEASS courses take place on our Brayford Pool campus. We have courses that last for 5 weeks or 10 weeks. If you would like to join one of our PEASS courses, please apply as soon as possible using our usual online application form.
| On-campus PEASS Course | Start | End | Fees | CAS Request Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2021: 5 weeks | Tuesday 31 August 2021 | Friday 1 October 2021 | £1,650 | Tuesday 3 August 2021* |
| Winter 2021: 10 weeks | Monday 15 November 2021** | Friday 11 February 2022** | £3,300 | Monday 18 October 2021* |
| Winter 2021: 5 weeks | Monday 10 January 2022 | Friday 11 February 2022 | £1,650 | Monday 6 December 2021* |
**There will be a 3-week break during the holidays from Saturday 18 December 2021 - Sunday 9 January 2022 (Inclusive)
*CAS request deadlines quoted are for standard visa applications. Please note that the deadlines may be subject to change, and are dependent on visa processing turnaround times and any special measures that may be in place as a result of Covid-19.
| Test | Course Requirement | 10-week PEASS | 5-week PEASS |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic UKVI | IELTS 6.0 (min. 5.5) | IELTS 5.0 (min. 4.5) | IELTS 5.5 (min. 5.0) |
| IELTS Academic UKVI | IELTS 6.5 (min. 6.0) | IELTS 5.5 (min. 5.0) | IELTS 6.0 (min. 5.5) |
| LanguageCert ESOL SELT | B2 Pass | B1 High Pass | |
| Pearson PTE Academic UKVI | 50/42 | 58/51 |
For more details, and for courses that require IELTS 7.0, please contact the English Language Centre englishlanguage@lincoln.ac.uk
We offer PEASS students the opportunity to rent on-campus, self-catering accommodation for the duration of their course. Students can benefit from full access to University facilities during this time, including the Library and on-campus Sports Centre. Our accommodation is within walking distance of your classes and all local amenities, such as supermarkets. Apartments and rooms include weekly visits to undertake cleaning of all common areas, rooms, and bathrooms.
| PEASS Course Type | Accommodation Fees |
|---|---|
| Summer 10 weeks | £1,370 |
| Summer 5 weeks | £685 |
Whatever your start date, please email accommodation@lincoln.ac.uk if you require further information.
How to do I apply for a PEASS course?
To be eligible for a PEASS course, you must already hold an offer to study with the University of Lincoln. To apply for a PEASS course you need to complete the PEASS application form (click the blue 'Apply Online' button at the top of the page). Providing that you meet the necessary entry requirements, we will send you an offer for the PEASS course as soon as possible.
I have an offer for my main course which is conditional on 'successful completion of the PEASS course'. What does this mean?
This means that you have met all the conditions your main course except the English language qualification. You are required to pass the PEASS course before you can progress onto your main course.
A Step by Step Guide: Applying for your CAS and Student VISA
What do I need to apply for my visa?
You will need a Certificate of Acceptance of Study (CAS) to be able to apply for a visa. There are two different types of CAS available:
1. CAS for PEASS plus main course
2. CAS for PEASS only
CAS for PEASS plus main course
You can receive a CAS for PEASS plus main course if:
- Your offer for the main course is unconditional and you are taking PEASS as an introduction to UK study skills
OR:
- English is the only outstanding condition of your main course offer AND you currently have B1 in one or more element(s) of IELTS. At the end of the PEASS course, you must have progressed to at least B2 in all 4 elements to be able to progress onto the main course.
CAS for PEASS only
In all other cases, students must have a separate CAS for PEASS. Upon successful completion of the PEASS course and receipt of any outstanding documents, students will be issued with a new CAS for their main course.
How do I apply for an extension to my visa?
The University’s Advice Service has specialist advisors who will help you with your visa extension application whilst you are here at the University. The University’s Advice Service is based in the Student Support Centre and will be on hand to guide you through the process during the PEASS course.
How much will it cost to extend my visa?
Please go to the UKVI website for current costs
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration
How long will it take?
Postal applications usually take 2-3 months to return from UKVI. This can be longer during peak times.
Please note that you must submit your visa application to UKVI before your current leave to remain expires, so that you do not become an overstayer. It does not affect your application if your leave expires while the UKVI are processing your application.
‘In person’ applications are decided on the day. If successful your residency permit will be sent to you a few days after your application has been processed. You do need to pre book an appointment; at peak times the appointments can get booked up weeks in advance.
The University's Advice team will be on hand to guide you through the process during the PEASS course.
Is accommodation guaranteed for the PEASS course?
Yes, unless you tell us otherwise we will automatically reserve a place for you in our accommodation for the duration of the PEASS course and let you know when the booking system is open.
Do I have to stay in accommodation?
No, you do not have to stay in the on-campus accommodation. However, due to the intense teaching of the course we recommend that you do.
What is the accommodation like?
We provide modern, en-suite, self-catering accommodation on campus, with 24-hour security and access to University facilities, such as the Library and Sports Centre. The campus is in the centre of the city, so you do not need to use public transport to get to/from lessons.
Can I stay on in the accommodation after I finish the PEASS course?
On-campus accommodation is guaranteed for the duration of the course only. The University has many different options for accommodation which you can choose to live in after you have finished the PEASS course, including on-campus. You will be advised of your different options during the PEASS course.
Do I have to re-take the IELTS at the end of the course?
No, if you successfully pass the PEASS course you will have fulfilled your English language condition.
How do I progress onto my main course?
If you have a conditional offer for your main course, then you must successfully complete the PEASS programme in order to progress onto your main course.
If you already have an unconditional offer for your main course then you can progress onto your main course at the end of the PEASS programme.
What happens if I fail the course?
We will monitor your performance throughout the course and if we think that you need extra help to pass we will give you some advice about how to improve your English language. However, your success on the course depends upon how much work you put into it.
If you fail the course you will not have met the conditions of your main course and we will be unable to issue you with a CAS for your main course.
Can I continue to get help with my English after the PEASS course?
Yes. We strongly recommend that students continue to practice and improve their English language whilst studying in the UK. The English Language Centre (ELC) is a free support service for EU and international students studying at the University of Lincoln. We offer a wide range of support for international students including several courses each term and a one-to-one academic study skills service.
The English Language Centre team are available throughout the academic year, from Monday to Friday. Further details of our service can be found on the In-sessional Support page.