Academic Literacy & University Culture Programme
A 4 week full-time introduction to life as a student at the University of Sheffield in August 2025. Designed to familiarise you with academic methods and British university culture, this programme offers you a head-start to university life before you begin your degree course.
Course Overview
- Who: Anyone preparing to study at the University of Sheffield at any level (undergraduate, master's or PhD).1
- Cost: £1,836 (£459 per week) in 2025 - includes all tuition and course material
- Level: CEFR B2 to C1
- Hours: 15 hrs + 20 minute tutorial per week
- Time: 18 August to 12 September 2025
- Minimum age: Adult learning environment. Minimum age 18 years (some exceptions considered).
- Maximum class size: 16 students
- Social programme: A combination of in-person and some online activities are available
- Apply: Apply now
Our unique 4 week Academic Literacy and University Culture programme is designed to give incoming University of Sheffield students the best possible start to life in the city and will equip you with the knowledge, skills and resources needed to succeed on your degree course.
We've created this programme to enable you to enjoy the benefits of familiarising yourself with life in Sheffield before your university degree, while becoming familiar with the university, it's facilities and resources. Experience and feedback from students indicates that studying with us before your course will allow you to settle into university life and experience what the university and city have to offer. Alongside becoming familiar with the local area and city, our tutors will enable you to develop your academic language and literacy skills, such as critical thinking and research skills which will set you on the path for academic success in your degree.
Course Content
This is a varied programme which concentrates on familiarisation with and understanding of academic life while developing key academic language and literacy skills. By completing this programme you will:
- Develop academic language and literacy skills appropriate for your degree programme at the University of Sheffield.
- Explore a variety of topics around university culture in UK higher education and the University of Sheffield.
- Become familiar with the academic conventions of the University of Sheffield and your own degree programme.
- Have opportunities for individual feedback in writing and speaking in order to evolve your communication skills.
- Discover the variety of opportunities available from the ELTC and university services available to you throughout your academic studies.
Opportunities for feedback
There are no formal assessments as part of this programme as you will already have the entry requirements for your degree programme. We do offer opportunities for formative feedback and personal development in writing and speaking.
Progression to University
As you already have your entry requirements for your degree programme at the University of Sheffield. After completing this Academic Literacy & University Culture programme you will progress onto your degree course.
Course Dates and Example Timetable
This is a full-time programme taught face to face in Sheffield. The programme begins on Monday 18 August and runs until Friday 12 September 2025. This 4 week programme includes 15 hours of taught sessions, plus an individual tutorial on one afternoon each week.
- Example Timetable - Summer 2025
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Please note these are example times and may be subject to change before or during the course.
All times are UK local time (BST)
Monday
09:30 - 11:00 - Lesson 1
11:30 - 13:00 - Lesson 2
Tuesday
09:30 - 11:00 - Lesson 1
11:30 - 13:00 - Lesson 2
Afternoon (after 2pm) - Library tour
Wednesday
09:30 - 11:00 - Lesson 1
11:30 - 13:00 - Lesson 2
Afternoon (after 2pm) - History tour of the campus
Thursday
09:30 - 11:00 - Lesson 1
11:30 - 13:00 - Lesson 2
Friday
09:30 - 11:00 - Lesson 1
11:30 - 13:00 - Lesson 2
Tutorial
You will have a personal tutor assigned to you who you will meet regularly to discuss your work and progress on the course. Tutorials will be scheduled on Monday, Thursday or Friday afternoons.
Guided Independent Study
There will typically be 60 minutes per day of required guided independent study, including readings, lectures, language practice activities, writing tasks and preparation for speaking tasks.
Tuition Fees, Payment and Accommodation
Tuition Fees
The standard tuition fee for our Academic Literacy and University Culture programme in Summer 2025 is £1,836 (£459 per week).
This fee includes:
- All tuition and course materials
- Regular 1 to 1 tutorials with your personal tutor
- Individual formative feedback on writing and speaking
- Access to online course materials and virtual learning environments
- ELTC Student Exclusive Social Programme
- Access to 24 hour Library and Computing facilities at The University of Sheffield
- A UCard which you can use to access University facilities and discounts in some shops and on public transport
- Membership to the No.1 Students' Union in the UK for seven years running
How to pay
Paying your tuition fees is a crucial part of your registration at University.
For information on how to pay your tuition fee correctly, as well as the things you need to look out for, visit:
Information about your ELTC tuition fee
How to pay your tuition fees and important information
We can also accept payments from sponsors:
Tuition Fees - Sponsored students
Accommodation
The programme tuition fee does not include accommodation or transportation costs. To discover the range of accommodation options and travel information we have for students joining our Summer programmes, please read our accommodation and travel information webpage.
Entry Requirements and Visa Information
Entry Requirements
This programme is for students who hold a conditional or unconditional offer to study a degree course beginning in September or October 2025 at the University of Sheffield. Applicants with a conditional degree course offer must have already met the English language requirements for their degree course to be eligible for this programme.
If you have not yet met the English language requirements for your degree course then we recommend you apply for a Pre-sessional English course instead of this programme.
Further information about this programme's entry requirements can be viewed on our Term 4 Entry Requirements webpage:
Term 4 (Summer 2025) Entry Requirements
Visa Information
If you hold an unconditional offer for your degree course then you can attend both the Academic Literacy and University Culture programme and your degree course on a single Student Visa obtained with a combined CAS. If you meet the eligibility requirements for a combined CAS then there are additional English language tests that we can accept. The following tests can be if you will be joining this programme using a combined CAS:
- Accepted English Language Tests for combined CAS
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- IELTS for UKVI (Including One Skill Retake)- SELT
- Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) taken in the UK - SELT
- Pearson Test of English Academic UKVI (PTE Academic) - SELT
- LanguageCert Academic - SELT
- IELTS (Academic)
- IELTS Indicator (taken after July 2020)
- Pearson PTE Academic (non UKVI, not online version)
- Cambridge English C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency
- TOEFL iBT and Special Home Edition
- NCUK English Language Test
If you do not meet the requirements for a combined CAS, or have missed the deadline to request one, you must supply one of the 4 UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests shown below to join this programme.
If your academic course offer is still conditional but you have already met the English language requirements in full (or miss the deadline for applying for a combined CAS) you can attend this programme using a separate Student Visa. You can then extend your initial Student Visa the UK between completing the Academic Literacy and University Culture programme and before starting your academic course at the University of Sheffield.
In order to do this you must provide a UKVI approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) at CEFR Level B1 or higher. The current list of SELTs we can accept is as follows:
- Accepted Secure English Language Tests (SELTs) for non-combined CAS
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- IELTS for UKVI
- Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) taken in the UK - SELT
- Pearson Test of English Academic UKVI (PTE Academic) - SELT
- LanguageCert Academic - SELT
Apply
To apply for our Academic Literacy and University Culture programme you need to submit your application through our online form. Before submitting your application please read and take note of the following information:
Deadline
The final deadline for applying to the programme in 2025 is Monday 21 July 2025 at 11:59pm (BST), 1 month before the course start date.
We recommend applying at least 6 weeks before the start of the course so you can complete the application process and obtain a visa if you need one.
Entry Requirements
Please check that you meet the entry requirements for this programme. See the 'Entry Requirements' section above for more information.
Supporting documents
You can find further information about how to complete an application to the Academic Literacy and University Culture programme on our how to apply webpage
4 Week Academic Literacy and University Culture Programme - How to applyPlease read our Terms and Conditions before submitting your application.
Information for Under 18s
Our courses are designed for adults. Applicants who are under 18 are subject to a number of restrictions and administrative procedures.
The standard minimum age for our courses is 18 years. However, we will consider applications from applicants who are under 18 in some circumstances, and subject to satisfactory guardianship arrangements being in place. Please contact us for more information.
For further information on under 18s at the university please visit our "Students under the age of 18" webpage".
For more information on how we hold and process your personal data, please see the University's Privacy Notice for prospective, current and former students.