Pre-Sessional English Language Course

If you are an RNCM offer holder and your first language isn’t English, you are required to meet our language requirements as part of your offer conditions.

Our Pre-Sessional English Language Course is designed for students whose English is slightly below our English Language requirements and who need additional time to develop their language skills before embarking on their studies with us.

The RNCM Pre-Sessional Course will help to:

• Introduce students to different aspects of studying in Britain
• Develop and build confidence in using English language skills through listening, speaking,
  reading, and writing
• Develop musicology skills
• Prepare students for independent learning at the RNCM

The course is divided into the following areas:

Introduction to Studying in Britain
These sessions will focus on referencing your work, writing a bibliography, and the importance of using your own words and ideas in an essay/presentation. You will discuss studying and living in a new country with tutors and peers

Grammar and vocabulary in context
You will revise your grammar skills and expand your vocabulary, whilst developing strategies for dealing with unfamiliar words. You will enhance your reading skills to help you become an efficient reader and you will practice structuring an essay, organising your argument, sequencing your ideas, and writing in an academic style. You will advance your listening and speaking skills through online discussions with your tutors.

Musicology
You will be introduced to an academic approach to music, looking at how you can begin researching and writing about musical works. You will study recordings and examine scores and editions to understand what they reveal about the development of a piece of music. You will build on your vocabulary skills to help describe musical processes and techniques.

Study project
You will use the skills you have learnt during your English and musicology classes to complete a study project, giving you practice in drafting an academic essay. Your developed speaking skills will be utilised in a short presentation of your work at the end of a course.

Assessments
There are two types of assessment on the course: continuous and final.

Continuous assessment
Takes place on a weekly basis. Tutors will discuss your progress with you during your course.

Final assessment
Will be based on the written work and presentation you give for your Study Project; alongside this you will also complete an Oxford Placement Test.

Please note: 

• The 2024 Pre-sessional English Language Course lasts for eight weeks. The first two weeks will be delivered online (in June) and the remaining six weeks of the course will be delivered in-person at the RNCM. 
• Progression on to your main programme of study at the RNCM is subject to your continuous and final assessments and successfully completing the course to the required level for your programme of study. *
• Eligibility for the pre-sessional English language course will depend on your chosen course of study. All applicants will be assessed by the RNCM admissions team and the English Language Support Tutor, Professor Jean Ammar.

Date and Fees

*Not inclusive of accommodation

2024 Course dates

Online induction and introductions

In person teaching

Pre-sessional Webinar – 31 January 2024 at 10am
If you have any questions about the pre-sessional language course, you can register for the Pre-sessional Language Course webinar with the course leader Professor Jean Ammar and the admissions team

Click here to join the webinar.

How to Apply
Should you wish to apply, please submit the application form below with copies of your English Language qualifications before 26 April 2024.

We will contact you via email regarding the decision of your applications shortly after this deadline. Successful applicants will receive an offer letter to the pre-sessional English Language Course with joining instructions and details of how you should pay for your course.

Please Note: Spaces are limited, and we recommend that you apply as soon as you are able to.