Sheffield Academic Essentials

Overview

• Who:  Anyone preparing to study at the University of Sheffield at any level (undergraduate, master's or PhD)
• Cost: £1,100 (£550 per week) in 2026 - includes all tuition and course material
• Level: CEFR B2 to C1
• Hours: 15 hrs + 20 minute tutorial per week
• Time: 31 August to 11 September 2026
• 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 by Monday 10 August 2026

Sheffield Academic Essentials is your essential head start to university life in Sheffield, equipping you with the knowledge, skills and resources you need to succeed before your degree begins. Additionally, you will immerse yourself in the English language to significantly upgrade your written and spoken English proficiency before the start of your degree.

This short, intensive course is ideal for incoming University of Sheffield students at all levels of study who hold a conditional or unconditional offer to study a degree course beginning in September or October 2026. Students completing one of our pre-sessional English (PSE) courses can also enrol onto Sheffield Academic Essentials following completion of their PSE course.

Over two weeks, you'll familiarise yourself with life in Sheffield and get to know the University, along with its award-winning facilities and resources. You won’t just get to know the local area; our expert tutors will help you to sharpen your academic skills, including critical thinking and research, ensuring you are ready for academic success when your degree course begins. Former students tell us this programme is the best way to feel confident, settled and ready to excel in their university studies.

Course Content

Sheffield Academic Essentials is focused on academic literacy and university culture. By the end of the two weeks, you will be able to:

• Master the academic language and literacy skills essential for your degree programme.
• Understand UK higher education and the university culture at Sheffield.
• Apply the academic conventions required for success in your degree.
• Boost your speaking and writing skills with individual feedback sessions.
• Discover the variety of opportunities available from both the English Language Teaching Centre (ELTC) and wider University support services.

Small class sizes (typically no more than 16 students) ensure a tailored learning experience. You will have 15 hours of in-person (or virtual) contact time each week, in addition to a 20-minute weekly tutorial. 

Assessment and progression

There are no formal assessments for this programme. Since you have already met your entry requirements for your degree course, the focus of this programme is on your personal and academic development. 

You can expect:

• Regular 1-to-1 tutorials with your personal tutor.
• Formative feedback on your writing and speaking to help you grow your communication skills.

Fees and payment

2026 programme cost: £1,100 (£550 per week)

This fee includes:

• All tuition and course materials
• ELTC Student Exclusive Social Programme (in-person and online activities)
• Your UCard for accessing University facilities and securing discounts in shops and on public transport
• Access to our 24-hour library and computing facilities
• Membership to our award-winning Students' Union (Voted number one in the UK by StudentCrowd and National Student Survey 2025)

Paying your tuition fee is an essential part of registration at the University of Sheffield. Before you start your course, make sure you read and understand some important information regarding paying tuition fees correctly, and the things you need to look out for.

How to pay your ELTC tuition fee

The tuition fee does not include accommodation or travel costs. There are a range of accommodation options and airport transfers available at an additional fee for students joining our summer programmes.

Entry requirements

The programme is open to students at all levels of study who hold a conditional or unconditional offer for a degree beginning in 2026 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, we recommend you apply for one of our pre-sessional English courses instead.

Further information about this programme's entry requirements can be viewed on our Term 4 entry requirements webpage:

Term 4 entry requirements

Visa information

There are two main visa options available, depending on your degree offer status:

1. Combined CAS (Single Student Visa): if you hold an unconditional offer, you may be eligible to attend this programme and your degree 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 we can accept. 

Accepted English Language Tests for combined CAS

• 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 TOEFL iBT 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.

2. Separate Student Visa: If your degree offer is still conditional but you have already met the English language requirements in full, you will need to apply for a separate Student Visa for this programme and then extend it in the UK before starting your main degree. This option requires a UKVI approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) at CEFR Level B1 or higher.

Accepted Secure English Language Tests (SELTs) for non-combined CAS

• 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

Example timetable

This is a full-time programme taught face to face in Sheffield. The programme begins on Monday 31 August and runs until Friday 11 September 2026. This 2-week programme includes 15 hours of taught sessions, plus an individual tutorial on one afternoon each week.

Example Timetable - Summer 2026

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.

How to apply

To apply for the Sheffield Academic Essentials programme you need to submit your application through our online form. Before submitting your application, please take a look at our how to apply page and take note of the following information:

Deadline for applications: Monday 10 August 2026

Supporting documents

Please read our Terms and Conditions before submitting your application.

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.