Presessional English courses for international students In 'International student entry requirements' English for international studentsEnglish for international students Presessional courses are designed for students who wish to improve their knowledge of spoken and written English in preparation for academic study at the University of Birmingham. Students with conditional offers have the option of attending a presessional course instead of retaking IELTS. Please visit our overview of the programmes to read the latest updates. International entry requirements We welcome candidates with a range of overseas qualifications. See our international requirements for postgraduate entry to find out more. Postgraduates with conditional offers. Postgraduates with conditional offers should apply to study on the English for Academic Purposes Presessional. Students with unconditional offers Students with unconditional offers can apply to study on our 4-week intensive course.