Entry requirements (10-week & 6-week courses)
To be eligible for our summer Pre-sessional courses (10-week (July) and 6-week courses), you must hold an offer for a degree programme at the University of Manchester. The academic school which has given you an offer for your degree course will also add an offer for you to take a Pre-sessional course. If you do not see this offer on your student portal, or have any queries about entry onto these programmes, please contact the Admissions Office for your chosen degree programme. You can find their details on the University study pages.
If you have an offer to study at the University of Manchester, you will usually be required to meet one of our English Language entry profiles. You can find the details of our entry profiles, along with level of english required to apply for a Pre-sessional course in the table below:
| Profile | Direct entry requirements | PS10 entry requirements | PS6 entry requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | IELTS 7.0 overall with no sub-skill below 7.0 | IELTS 6.0 overall with minimum 6.0 in each sub-skill | IELTS 6.5 overall with minimum 6.5 in each skill |
| B | IELTS 7.0 overall with 7.0 in writing, and 6.5 in each other sub-skill | IELTS 6.0 overall with minimum 6.0 in each sub-skill | IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and no more than one sub-skill of 6.0 |
| C | IELTS 7.0 overall with no sub-skill below 6.5 | IELTS 6.0 overall with minimum 6.0 in 3 sub-skills and 5.5 in no more than 1 sub-skill | IELTS 6.5 overall with minimum 6.0 in each sub-skill |
| D | IELTS 6.5 overall with no sub-skill below 6.5 | IELTS 6.0 overall with minimum 5.5 in each sub-skill | IELTS 6.0 overall with minimum 6.0 in each sub-skill |
| E |
IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing, and 6.0 in each other sub-skill |
IELTS 5.5 overall with minimum 5.5 in each sub-skill | IELTS 6.0 overall with 6.0 in writing and 2 other sub-skills and no more than one sub-skill of 5.5 |
| F | IELTS 6.5 overall with no sub-skill below 6.0 | IELTS 5.5 overall with minimum 5.5 in each sub-skill | IELTS 6.0 overall with minimum 5.5 in each sub-skill |
| G | IELTS 6.0 overall with no sub-skill below 6.0 | Not eligible | Not eligible |
You can find further details for your chosen degree programme below.
Entry requirements 4 week course
To study on our 4 week Pre-sessional course, you must hold an unconditional offer for a programme at the University of Manchester. You must also have a minimum of IELTS 6.5 overall, with no individual skill below 6.0. If you have already met your english language requirements, but would like to study for longer than 4 weeks, please contact presessional@manchester.ac.uk for advice.
You can find details of the Pre-sessional entry requirement for each academic school in the University below. The entry requirements are based on IELTS test scores, however, we can accept a number of alternative tests. Please contact us for further information.
Faculty of Humanities:
Alliance Manchester Business School
Undergraduate degrees
Course requirements: 6.5 overall, with no sub-skill below 6.0
10-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Not accepted.
6-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 6.0 overall with no skill below 5.5
Masters Degrees (not including PGR or MBA programmes)
Course requirements: 7.0 overall, with no sub-skill below 6.5
10-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: 6.5 with no sub-skill below 6.0
6-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and speaking, and 6.0 in listening and reading OR 7.0 overall with 6.5 in writing or speaking, and 6.0 in the other sub-skills.
School of Arts Languages and Cultures
Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes (PGR not included)
Course requirements (excluding HCRI programmes): 7.0 overall with 7.0 in writing and 6.5 in all other sub-skills
10-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 6.0 overall with no sub-skill below 6.0
6-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing, no more than one skill of 6.0 and no sub-skills below 6.0
HCRI Course Requirements: 6.5 overall with 6.5 in each sub-skill.
10 Week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 6.0 overall with no sub-skill below 5.5
6-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 6.0 overall with no sub-skill below 6.0
School of Environment, Education and Development
Undergraduate Programmes
Course Requirements: 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and 6.0 in all other sub-skills
10-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Not accepted
6-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Not accepted
Postgraduate Programmes (PGR not included)
Course Requirements: 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and 6.0 in all other sub-skills
10-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 5.5 overall with no sub-skill below 5.5
6-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 6.0 overall with minimum 6.0 in writing, no more than one subskill of 5.5 and no subskill below 5.5
Please note that the following programmes will only accept applicants who are eligible for a 6-week course:
- MSc Development Finance
- MSc Digital Development
- MSc Development Economics and Policy
- MSc Human Resource Development (International Development)
- MSc Human Resource Management (International Development)
- MSc International Development: Public Policy and Management
- MSc Management and Implementation of Development Projects
- MSc Management and Information Systems: Change and Development
- MSc Organisational Change and Development
- MSc Real Estate Asset Management
- MSc Real Estate Development
Applicants to the following programmes must meet their English Language offer condition by submitting an official test score. Pre-sessional results are not accepted:
- MSc International Development: Development Management
- MSc International Development: Environment Climate Change and Development
- MSc International Development: Globalisation, Trade and Industry
- MSc International Development
- MSc International Development: Politics, Governance and Development Policy
- MSc International Development: Poverty Conflict and Reconstruction
- MSc International Development: Poverty, Inequality and Development
- Med Psychology of Education
School of Social Sciences
Undergraduate Programmes
Course entry requirements vary depending on the programme that you have applied to. You should check your offer letter for confirmation of the level that you require.
Course requirements: 6.5 overall, with no sub-skill below 6.0
10-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 5.5 overall with no skill below 5.5
6-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 6.0 overall with no skill below 5.5
Course requirements: 7.0 overall with no sub-skill below 6.5
10-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 6.0 overall with at least 3 skills of 6.0 and no more than one skill of 5.5
6-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 6.5 overall with minimum 6.0 in each skill
Postgraduate Programmes (PGR not included)
Course requirements: 7.0 overall with 7.0 in writing and 6.5 in all other sub-skills
10-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 6.0 overall with no sub-skill below 6.0
6-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing, and no sub-skills below 6.0
Faculty of Science and Engineering:
School of Engineering
Department of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science
Undergraduate programmes
Please contact the relevant admissions office for advice on whether you are eligible for a Pre-sessional course.
Postgraduate programmes (not including PGR)
Course requirements: 6.5 overall, with no sub-skill below 6.0
10-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 5.5 overall with no skill below 5.5
6-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 6.0 overall with no skill below 5.5
Department of Computer Science
Undergraduate programmes
Please contact the relevant admissions office for advice on whether you are eligible for a Pre-sessional course.
Postgraduate Programmes (not including PGR)
Course requirements: 7.0 overall, with no sub-skill below 6.5
10-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 6.0 overall with at least 3 skills of 6.0 and no more than one skill of 5.5
6-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 6.5 overall with minimum 6.0 in each skill
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Undergraduate programmes
Please contact the relevant admissions office for advice on whether you are eligible for a Pre-sessional course.
Postgraduate programmes
Course requirements: 7.0 overall, with no sub-skill below 6.5
For all Electrical & Electronic Engineering programmes, only the 6-week Pre-sessional course will be offered.
6-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 6.5 overall with no skill below 6.0.
Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering
Undergraduate programmes
Please contact the relevant admissions office for advice on whether you are eligible for a Pre-sessional course.
Postgraduate programmes
The following programmes are not offering Pre-sessional courses in 2022:
- Commercial Project Management
- Construction Project Management
- Engineering Project Management
- Management of Projects
- Structural Engineering
For applicants to the following programmes:
- Advanced Manufacturing Technology & Systems Management
- Aerospace Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering Design
- Reliability Engineering and Asset Management
- Renewable Energy and Clean Technology
- Thermal Power & Fluid Engineering
Course requirements: 6.5 overall, with no sub-skill below 6.0
10-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 5.5 overall with no skill below 5.5
6-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 6.0 overall with no skill below 5.5
School of Natural Sciences
Department of Chemistry
Undergraduate programmes
For advice on whether you are eligible for a Pre-sessional course, please contact the admissions office for advice.
Postgraduate Programmes
Course requirements: 6.5 overall, with no sub-skill below 6.0
10 Week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 5.5 overall with no skill below 5.5
6-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 6.0 overall with no skill below 5.5
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Undergraduate programmes
For advice on whether you are eligible for a Pre-sessional course, please contact the admissions office for advice.
Postgraduate Programmes
Course requirements: 6.5 overall, with no sub-skill below 6.0
10-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 5.5 overall with no skill below 5.5
6-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 6.0 overall with no skill below 5.5
Department of Materials
Undergraduate programmes
For advice on whether you are eligible for a Pre-sessional course, please contact the admissions office for advice.
Postgraduate Programmes (not including distance learning)
Course requirements: 6.5 overall, with no sub-skill below 6.0
10 Week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 5.5 overall with no skill below 5.5
6-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 6.0 overall with no skill below 5.5
Department of Mathematics
Undergraduate programmes
Not eligible for a Pre-sessional course.
Postgraduate Programmes
For applicants to the following programmes:
- MSc Actuarial Science
- MSc Applied Mathematics
- MSc Pure Mathematics
Course requirements: 6.5 overall, with no sub-skill below 6.0
10-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Not eligible
6-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 6.0 overall with no skill below 5.5
For applicants to the following programmes:
- MSc Mathematical Finance
- MSc Statistics
Course requirements: 6.5 overall, with 6.5 in writing with no other sub-skill below 6.0
10-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Not eligible
6-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 6.0 overall with minimum 6.0 in writing, no more than one subskill of 5.5 and no subskill below 5.5
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Undergraduate programmes
Not eligible for a Pre-sessional course.
Masters Degrees (not including PGR)
Course requirements: 7.0 overall, with no sub-skill below 6.5
10-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 6.0 overall with minimum 6 in writing 6.0 and no more than one subskill of 5.5
6-week Pre-sessional entry requirements: Minimum 6.5 overall with minimum 6.0 in each skill
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
For students within FBMH please check the individual course profile page or contact your School.
Visa requirements
If you are studying our Pre-sessional course here in Manchester, you will usually require a Secure English Language test to be eligible for one of our Pre-sessional courses. We can accept:
- IELTS Academic SELT UKVI
- Pearson SELT UKVI
If you are studying fully online, we can accept non-SELT tests such as:
- IELTS Academic
- Pearson PTE
- TOEFL iBT
Please note that LanguageCert International - non SELT test is not accepted.
If you have an English Language test not listed, please contact your admissions office for advice.
Please note if you have previously studied in the UK, you may not be eligible for a visa for our Pre-sessional course. Please email us before applying.