Language for Social Science and Arts: Politics and Society

Course overview

Improve your academic English language skills to the level needed to study a Masters degree, whilst adapting to life in the UK and at the University of Leeds.

You’ll have the chance to:

• study academic English directly relevant to sociology, social policy, politics and international studies

• experience and adapt to study in the UK ahead of your degree

• become familiar with the University facilities such as libraries, study spaces and learning platforms

• settle into Leeds before your Masters begins

• meet other students and build a community of peers.

You’ll learn how to use academic reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in the context of your subject area.

During this pre-sessional course you’ll be taught by expert language teachers who will introduce you to the language, texts and practices that you’ll engage with during your Masters degree.

Dedicated facilities

To support your learning, you’ll have access to our Language Zone – a study and resource centre for independent language learning equipped with a computer cluster for personal study, books and magazines, audio and video resources. You’ll also be able to take part in workshops, language groups and language advice drop-ins to get the most out of your studies.

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Accreditation

Course accredited by BALEAP

Course details

The curriculum for this pre-sessional course is developed in collaboration with your academic faculty and is informed by research in English language teaching.

During the first four weeks of your course, you’ll improve your academic English language ability for postgraduate study in the field of social science and arts.

As your course progresses, in the final six weeks you’ll focus more closely on the skills you’ll need for your subject area, studying with students progressing to sociology, social policy, politics and international studies degrees. You’ll have the chance to listen to introductory academic lectures, exploring different themes over six weeks. You’ll work on understanding this content and the language used, along with core texts, through a series of language classes and seminars.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Language for Social Science and Arts: Politics and Society in the course catalogue

Learning and teaching

You’ll learn how to use language appropriate for your degree to express your thoughts and ideas effectively.

To prepare you for study at a UK university, you’ll be taught in classes, lectures or practical sessions and group seminars. You’ll work individually and with others. Independent study is an important element of this course, allowing you to practise your skills, deepen your knowledge and prepare for your degree. Throughout the course, you’ll be encouraged to think critically.

You’ll also have dedicated time with your tutor to address questions you may have about your language and learning.

Classes normally take place between 9am and 5pm from Monday to Friday (find out when the University will be closed). Teaching will take place on the University of Leeds campus.

Teaching staff at the Language Centre contribute to academic research in language teaching. This research informs our course content, which means you’ll receive high quality teaching designed to help you get the most out of your studies.

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

We use a range of assessment methods, which may include written assignments, speaking assignments, presentations and research projects.

Applying

Entry requirements

The entry requirement for this pre-sessional English course depends on the IELTS requirement of your Masters course. Please check your Masters course page alongside the requirements below:

If your Masters requires an overall IELTS score of 6.5
To apply for this pre-sessional course you'll need:

• a minimum overall IELTS score of 6.0
• two components below 6.0 allowed
• no components below 5.5

If your Masters requires an overall IELTS score of 7.0
To apply for this pre-sessional course you'll need:

• a minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5
• two components below 6.5 allowed
• no components below 6.0

If you have an English qualification that isn’t IELTS, see our entry requirements page for other English qualifications we accept.

The minimum age for students studying on this course is 18 years old.

How to apply

For application deadlines and important dates, please see our deadlines for pre-sessional courses page.

The ‘Apply’ link at the top of this page will take you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.

If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

If you need a Student visa to study in the UK and have met the academic conditions of your Masters course, we may issue one Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), which will cover your pre-sessional and your Masters course so that you only need to apply for one visa. Find out more.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025

This course is taught by

The Language Centre
Faculty of Education, Social Sciences and Law

Contact us

The Language Centre

Email: pre-sessional@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: n/a

International: £5,733 (Total)

Read more about how to pay.

Additional cost information

All learning materials are included in the tuition fee. The Language Centre provides a weekly programme of optional social activities during this course. Some of these are free, and some have a cost, normally no more than £30.

Accommodation is not included in the tuition fee.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

For further information on University of Leeds funding for degree courses, please visit our fees and funding for international students page.