Pre-sessional English and Academic Study Skills (PEASS) are specialist courses which aim to prepare international students for study in UK higher education. They can also be of benefit to students with unconditional offers who have already met the requirements for entry onto their course but would like to familiarise themselves with the conventions of academic study at a UK university. The University offers 10 and 5-week courses in summer (July and August) and a 5-week course in winter (January) for eligible undergraduate and postgraduate applicants. If students do not meet the University’s English language requirements, they will be made an offer to join the relevant PEASS course.
Course Content
PEASS courses are designed to help students:
The course includes 18 hours of teaching per week and a personal tutorial. Students will be expected to supplement this with additional study in their own time.
The course will focus on developing a student's academic English skills, including presentation and seminar techniques, using sources and essay writing skills. Support and advice will also be given on applying for visa extensions and accommodation options before the end of the course.
PEASS course fees also include the following:
Entry Requirements
| English language requirement for main course | English language requirements for 10 week PEASS course | English language requirements for 5 week PEASS course |
|---|---|---|
|
IELTS 6.0 or equivalent |
IELTS 5.0 with no band lower than 4.5 or equivalent |
IELTS 5.5 with no band lower than 5.0 or equivalent |
|
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent* |
IELTS 5.5 with no band lower than 5.0 or equivalent |
IELTS 6.0 with no band lower than 5.5 or equivalent |
|
IELTS 7.0 or equivalent* |
PEASS not available |
IELTS 6.5 with no band lower than 6.0 or equivalent |
Course Dates and Fees
| PEASS course | Start | End | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Winter 5 weeks |
Monday 6 January 2020 |
Friday 7 February 2020 |
£1,650 |
|
Summer 10 weeks |
Monday 29 June 2020 |
Friday 4 September 2020 |
£3,300 |
|
Summer 5 weeks |
Monday 3 August 2020 |
Friday 4 September 2020 |
£1,650 |
For summer courses, there is a full week transition for all Pre-sessional English and Academic Study Skills students prior to Welcome Week. The transition week takes place from Monday 7 to Friday 11 September 2020. Welcome Week begins on Monday 14 September 2020.
CAS Deadlines
| PEASS Course | Outside the UK | Inside the UK |
|---|---|---|
|
Winter 5 weeks |
Thursday 5 December 2019 |
Thursday 2 January 2020 |
Priority visa CAS deadline Friday 13 December 2019
Super Priority CAS deadline Tursday 19 December 2019
Please note, CAS deadlines are subject to change if visa processing times demand.
Assessment is composed of a combination of the work you do throughout the course and end-of-course assessments. You will be given clear guidance throughout the course to prepare you for these assessments. Students will undertake five assessments in the final week of their PEASS course which will be used as evidence of English language ability:
Students must pass these five elements in order to progress to the degree programme with the following scores:
In addition to the summative assessments above, there will be formative assessment throughout the PEASS course which provides the opportunity to develop learning in a variety of tasks.
If you have a conditional offer for a programme which is dependent on your level of English, you will need to pass assessments at the end of the PEASS course. When you have successfully passed the PEASS course we will assist you in enrolling on your degree programme.
If you have an unconditional offer for a programme and you are taking the PEASS course to improve your English, your offer will not be affected. However, you will still be expected to complete all assessments within the PEASS course.
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 period | Accommodation Fees |
|---|---|---|
|
Winter 5 weeks |
Saturday 5th February to Sunday 10th February 2019 |
TBC You will be required to pay your full accommodation fees in advance |
|
Summer 10 weeks |
Saturday 29th June to Sunday 8th September 2019 |
TBC You will be required to pay a deposit towards your accommodation in advance |
|
Summer 5 weeks |
Saturday 3rd August to Sunday 8th September 2019 |
TBC You will be required to pay your full accommodation fees in advance |
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.
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
1. 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.
2. 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 writing support 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.