For Summer 2021, Royal Holloway is providing online and on campus courses for students who require support in meeting the English language requirements of their offer.

The online 12, 8 and 4 week courses will be delivered  through a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) using a mixture of both synchronous and asynchronous delivery to provide a supportive and engaging experience.

The on campus courses will follow an approach where students will be taught face to face as well undertaking some work online.

Both the online and on campus courses are aimed at students holding a conditional offer who need to improve their academic English and study skills before they start their degree programme.

Please note: A decision will be made six weeks prior to the start of each programme regarding to the viability of the on-campus offering of the programme.

Activities will include:

• Giving presentations
• Taking part in discussions
• Writing summaries and academic essays
• Listening to lectures and talks.

You’ll study for 40 hours a week and 40% of this time will be teacher-led. You’ll also have regular one-to-ones or small group discussions. By the end of your course, you should have:

• Improved your English.
• Developed strategies for learning on your own.
• Become familiar with our virtual learning environment - Moodle.
• Gained a better understanding of the key skills and language you need to study successfully at university.

What will you study?

Both the online and on campus Pre-sessional English courses will fully prepare you for your degree at Royal Holloway and will help you to develop the academic skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

How will you study?

The online course

Working independently (asynchronous delivery):

A significant part of the course will be delivered as independent study via the VLE.  The content will include:

• Online quizzes and tasks
• Reading to support and extend content knowledge
• Forums to discuss ideas and deepen understanding
• Links to external resources
• Activities to promote critical reflection and to prepare you for the live sessions.

Live (synchronous) delivery:

For the online courses, your tutor will meet you live using Microsoft Teams to discuss and consider the work you are doing, and these sessions will provide an opportunity to ask questions, work with other students in your group and help create a sense of community. During the course, such sessions will typically involve the whole group, and smaller break-out groups.

The on-campus course

Working independently (asynchronous delivery):

You will be working independently to prepare for participation and interaction in class sessions as well as working towards the different assessment that you will take on the course. This aspect of the course is important as it will prepare you for the independent study that will be essential to your degree at Royal Holloway.

Activities carried out independently will prepare you for your face-to-face session in class. These will be conducted following the most up to date government guidance on social distancing. As above,  the materials for the course will also be available via the VLE.

Live (synchronous) delivery:

The face to face classes will be conducted following the most up to date government guidance on social distancing. As above,  the materials for the course will be available via the VLE.

Teaching and learning

Both the online and on-campus courses are intensive in nature with 40 learning hours per week (approximately 40 per cent of these hours will be teacher - student contact time). All students are provided with the following:

• a timetable allowing you to concentrate on core academic skills while ensuring there is time for independent study (an important aspect of university level study in any subject)
• regular contact with a staff member either through face-to-face teaching or online.
• extensive supporting materials and learning resources in the College library, including the e-resources.

How will I be assessed?

Whether you are studying online or on campus, you will be assessed in the four skills areas and at the end of the course will have the following assessments:

Students on the 4, 8 and 12-week courses must fulfil the course attendance requirements and pass the course at the required level in order to progress. Individual assessment weightings are as follows:

• an essay based on research of academic texts which assesses reading and writing skills (65%)
• an oral assessment where both presentation and discussion skills are assessed (20%)
• a lecture comprehension assessment (15%).

Who will be teaching me?

You will be taught by Royal Holloway teaching staff. The staff are both qualified and experienced with many of them having taught on pre-sessional courses, including Royal Holloway’s, for many years.

* Teaching and assessments end. Accommodation moving day is likely to be on 9/9/2021 but this will need to be confirmed

PELP Progression Scholarship

All students who successfully proceed on to Royal Holloway degree programmes from any of  the Royal Holloway Pre-sessional English Language Programmes (PELP) will qualify for the PELP Progression Scholarship. The Scholarship is 25% of the total PELP tuition fee paid by the student and will be taken off the first year of degree tuition fees. Terms and conditions apply, please see below.

Terms and Conditions for the Royal Holloway and Bedford New College Pre-sessional English Language Course (“PELP”) Scholarship 2021 (“the Scholarship”)

1. The Scholarship will apply automatically to undergraduate and postgraduate students who have successfully completed the online or on-campus  4, 8 or 12 week PELP 2021 and who thereafter commence a degree course at the College during the academic year 2021/22.
2. The Scholarship will amount to an automatic 25% of the total PELP tuition fee paid by the student being taken off the degree tuition fees for the academic year 2021/22.
3. The Scholarship will be applied only for the academic year 2021/22

Once you have accepted an offer to study at an undergraduate or postgraduate level, you can then apply for one of our pre-sessional programmes through your Applicant portal.

You must already hold an internationally-recognised English qualification at a level that will enable you to benefit from a pre-sessional programme. See ‘How to work out which Pre-Sessional English Language Programme to take’ below.

Please note - the precise accommodation halls that will be allocated are still to be confirmed. This page will be updated as soon as that information is available.

For information regarding quarantine and self-isolation regulations, please go to https://intranet.royalholloway.ac.uk/students/where-i-live/guidelines-for-self-isolation.aspx.  

The deadlines for applying for a pre-sessional programme are:

When applying for a Student you must have sufficient funds in your bank account for 28 days prior to the date you make you application. You need to show you have the living costs plus the tuition fees (unless you have already paid all your tuition fees to the College).

Below is a guideline on how much you should have in your bank account consistently for 28 days before you apply for your visa.

Students on the 12 week PELP both on-line or on-campus are required purchase the following:

• Skillful Second Edition Level 3 Listening and Speaking Premium Student's Pack
• Skillful Second Edition Level 3 Reading and Writing Premium Student's Pack

The books are published by Macmillan Education and can be purchased online. The books are available on a variety of sites with a range of prices but should cost in the region of £30 each for the Reading & Writing and Listening & Speaking versions.

Students on the 8 and 4 week courses are not required to purchase books.

To find out which pre-sessional English language programme (PELP) you need to take, look at the table below:

• Select the relevant heading showing the English language test you’ve taken or are planning to take eg IELTS or Pearson.
• Then select the English language requirement for your chosen degree

The table will then show you whether you need to take the four, eight or twelve-week PELP programme depending on your current English language level.

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4-Week PELP programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.0 with no lower subscore than 5.0

8-Week PELP programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 5.5 with no lower subscore than 5.0

12-Week PELP programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 4.5 with no lower subscore than 4.0

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4-Week PELP programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

8-Week PELP programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 5.5 with 5.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

12-Week PELP programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 5.5 with 4.5 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4-Week PELP programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.0 with 6.0 in reading and writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

8-Week PELP programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in reading and writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

12-Week PELP programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 5.5 with 5.0 in reading and writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4-Week PELP programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

8-Week PELP programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.0 with 6.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

12-Week PELP programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 5.5 with 5.5 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4-Week PELP programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

8-Week PELP programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.0 with 6.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

12-Week PELP programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 5.5 with 6.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4-Week PELP programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.5 with no subscore lower than 5.5

8-Week PELP programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.0 with no subscore lower than 5.5

12-Week PELP programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 5.5 with no subscore lower than 5.0

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4-Week PELP programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 5.5

8-Week PELP programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.0 with 6.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 5.5

12-Week PELP programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 5.5 with 5.5 in writing and no other subscore lower than 5.0

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

8-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

12-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.0 with 5.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 7.0 with 6.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

8-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

12-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

IELTS 6.0 with 6.0 in writing and no other subscore lower than 4.0

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 46, with 41 in Writing and no subscore lower than 36

8-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 41, with 38 in Writing and no subscore lower than 36

12-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 38, with 36 in Writing and no subscore lower than 36

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 54, with 46 in Writing and no subscore lower than 36

8-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 46, with 41 in Writing and no subscore lower than 36

12-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 46, with 38 in Writing and no subscore lower than 36

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 54, with 54 in Writing and no subscore lower than 36

8-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 54, with 46 in Writing and no subscore lower than 36

12-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 46, with 41 in Writing and no subscore lower than 36

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 54, with 54 in Reading and Writing and no subscore lower than 36

8-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 54, with 46 in Reading and Writing and no subscore lower than 36

12-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 46, with 41 in Reading and Writing and no subscore lower than 36

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 61, with 54 in Writing and no subscore lower than 36

8-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 54, with 54 in Writing and no subscore lower than 36

12-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 46, with 46 in Writing and no subscore lower than 36

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 61, with 54 in Writing and no subscore lower than 51

8-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 54, with 54 in Writing and no subscore lower than 51

12-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 46, with 54 in Writing and no subscore lower than 41

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 61, with 54 in Writing and no subscore lower than 36

8-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 54, with 54 in Writing and no subscore lower than 36

12-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 46, with 54 in Writing and no subscore lower than 36

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 61, with 54 in Writing and no subscore lower than 36

8-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 54, with 46 in Writing and no subscore lower than 36

12-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 54, with 41 in Writing and no subscore lower than 36

If your course requires this English language level, you can attend:

4-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 69, with 54 in Writing and no subscore lower than 36

8-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 69, with 54 in Writing and no subscore lower than 36

12-Week PELP Programme if your English level is currently:

Pearson 54, with 54 in Writing and no subscore lower than 36