Our Language and Cultural Studies Programme provides an opportunity to develop your English language and academic skills over a nine-month period, while located in the historic city of Canterbury. This course is ideal for you if you are an undergraduate university student who has completed at least one year of a degree.

In addition to the focus on improving your English Language and academic skills, you’ll have the opportunity to take undergraduate modules based on your own interests as well as a module that focuses on developing your understanding of cultural aspects of life in the UK.

What you will study

The programme is made up of three elements: our General English Course, Pre-sessional Course in Academic English Skills, and a semester of study in year one or two of an undergraduate degree, depending on your language ability.

During the semester you will study alongside other degree level students taking the same modules. Before you start the semester, you will be asked to choose modules from the below subject areas:

  • English language and communication
  • Business
  • Creative arts and media
  • History
  • Tourism
  • Education studies
  • Special needs education.

Entry requirements

You are required to have IELTS 4.0 (minimum 4.0 in all elements) to enter the programme. Find out more about our English language requirements

Please note that if you require a Student Route visa, you must gain an IELTS for the UKVI test in order to be accepted to the course.

Tuition fees for 2025

This course costs £11,900 for all international applicants. 

How to apply

You will need to be formally nominated by your institution or study abroad office via email by 31 October 2024. Please email improve.your.english@canterbury.ac.uk to be considered. 

Once we receive your nomination you will be asked to complete a short application form. We can help you with your visa application, your accommodation application, and your pre-departure queries. In fact, we are with you every step of the way.

Timetable of study

March-December 2025

Arrive

22/23 March 2025

General English Course starts

Monday 24 March 2025

Holiday

Monday 14 April – Friday 25 April 2025

(2 weeks)

General English Course ends

Friday 13 June 2025

Holiday

Monday 16 June–Friday 27 June 2025

(2 weeks)

Pre-sessional Course in Academic English Skills starts

Monday 30 June 2025

Pre-sessional Course in Academic English Skills ends

Friday 5 September 2025

Holiday

Monday 8 September–Friday 12 September 2025 (1 week)

Introduction to semester 1

Monday 15 September–Friday 19 September 2025

Semester 1 teaching starts

Monday 22 September 2025

Semester 1 teaching ends

Friday 12 December 2025

Accommodation

We highly recommend staying with a homestay family from March to September. From September, you can choose to remain in homestay or you will have the option to move into University student accommodation until the programme ends in December.

All the information you need to make the right accommodation choice, including costs, is available on our accommodation pages.

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