English for academic purposes (EAP) Pre-sessional courses

These courses can help you not only raise your English language level, and also develop the specific communication and academic skills needed for your Master’s degree at the RCA.

Our courses are specifically customised for the unique learning activities and requirements of art and sesign postgraduate programmes. They will help you communicate at the appropriate level and prepare you with effective academic skills for your chosen RCA programme.

Key benefits

• Specialised focus: All materials, tasks, and discussions use authentic texts and themes from Art and Design disciplines across the College.
• Academic skills: You will practise skills crucial for postgraduate study, including critical reading, reflective thinking, research, planning writing, and dialogic speaking.
• Expert tutors: You will work in a small class group (12–14 students) with an experienced EAP tutor who provides regular personal feedback to help you identify and meet your learning needs.
• Authentic tasks: The coursework is designed to reflect the learning outcomes of your main MA programme. For example, you will learn how to critically evaluate ideas and express your position on relevant issues.
• Online learning: The courses are delivered online via Zoom, Monday to Friday, and include integrated independent study tasks. You will also take part in a weekly webinar with invited speakers from the RCA research community.

BALEAP accreditation

Our pre-sessional courses have been accredited by BALEAP, the national industry body. They noted that the course is ‘exemplary in its design, reflecting the academic discourse needs of receiving Arts & Design disciplines.’

We offer two main types of pre-sessional courses for 2026, depending on your current English language scores.

1. The ten-week course

This intensive course is designed for students who have not yet reached the required English language level for their main RCA programme and need to boost their score.

Who it's for: Students who need to raise their English language level to meet the main programme entry requirements.

Minimum entry requirement: IELTS: 5.5 or equivalent - all skills 5.5

Course fees: £6,300

Assessment: You must complete all coursework and maintain 95% attendance to pass the course and continue to your RCA programme. There is no final exam.

2. The six-week course

This shorter course is for students who have This intensive course is designed for students who have not yet reached the required English language level for their main RCA programme and need to boost their score.

Who it's for: Students who have already met their main programme’s English language requirements, but want extra academic skills practice.

Minimum entry requirement: Overall IELTS 6.0 or equivalent - all skills 5.5

Course fees: £3,800

Assessment: You must complete all coursework and maintain 95% attendance to pass the course and continue to your RCA programme. There is no final exam.

*See English language requirements for accepted English language tests and equivalent scores.

Class schedule

• Live sessions: Monday to Friday, 9am – 12 noon UK time.
• Format: Taught via Zoom, including one-to-one tutorials and collaborative tasks.

Time commitment: You must also spend at least 12 hours per week on integrated self-study tasks outside of the online teaching sessions.

You register for a Pre-sessional course as part of your admissions process. The Admissions team must confirm your language test results and your eligibility for either the six-week or ten-week course.

1. Complete the 'Request to Join' form: You must complete the RCA EAP Pre-sessional Request to Join form 2026 by the stated deadline for your chosen course.
2. Check eligibility: Ensure you meet the entrance requirements for your chosen course option.
3. Upload language test certificates: Make sure you upload your language test certificates to the applicant portal
4. Confirm and pay: Once your eligibility is confirmed, you will receive a 'Confirmation of Joining the Pre-Sessional course' email and information about payment for the course: check 'Pre-Sessional Terms and conditions' for payment timings. 

Contact

If you have any questions, please email admissions@rca.ac.uk

Terms and conditions

A link to the external webpage containing the EAP Pre-Sessional Terms & Conditions will be provided shortly.

The Academic skills team continues to support students with their academic skills development once they start their main RCA programme. This is known as In-sessional support.

• Academic and professional skills workshops: For all students, these workshops run online and in person weekly throughout the academic year. We aim to introduce strategies to support the development of effective research, communicative and reflective academic and professional skills.
• Programme-embedded workshops: The Academic Skills team works closely with Programmes to deliver workshops and support to all students which link directly to the skills and assessment needs of programmes
• One-to-one tutorials: Our team can offer supportive advice and a chance to talk through academic skills development. Current students can refer to our Moodle pages for more details.

Most of these courses are open to all students at the College; some of them are delivered through your programme.