Summer at Sussex

Find out about our English language courses over the summer break.

Why study English language over the summer at Sussex?

These courses are for you if:

you are aged 18 years or over
you are not an English language beginner but want to spend part of your summer hoilday improving your English
you want to spend between one and seven weeks studying abroad in the UK during July and August.

About the course

Classes take place over a period of five weeks in July and August. There are 21 hours of tuition per week.

Course dates
Possible start dates/Course length:
- 4th August 2025 / 3-4 weeks
- 11th August 2025 / 3 weeks
Fees

£395 per week.

For group enquiries, please contact englishgroups@sussex.ac.uk

Course structure

The components of the core programme are:

listening and speaking skills
vocabulary development
grammar
reading skills
writing skills
British life and culture.

Sample timetable

See an example timetable for a week studying an English language course over the summer at Sussex.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
09am-10.30am	Vocabulary	Grammar	Vocabulary	Grammar	Vocabulary
11am-12.30pm	Listening and speaking	Reading skills	Listening and speaking	Writing skills	Listening and speaking
2pm-4pm	British life and culture	British life and culture		British life and culture

Learning outcome

The course aims to provide an overall improvement in language proficiency and communication skills and to increase knowledge and understanding of British life and culture.

The main emphasis will be on extending your vocabulary and developing your speaking and listening skills. You will also revise and consolidate your grammar and work on your reading and writing skills.

You will be introduced to a variety of aspects of British life and culture through a wide range of media.

Entry requirements

We expect you to have achieved IELTS in the 4.0-6.5 range, or equivalent. All English tests are accepted e.g. TOEIC, TOEFL, Duolingo, university level test.

If you are slightly above or below this please contact us to evaluate if we could still accept you on the course.

We do not accept Beginners or Advanced (above IELTS 7.0) students on this course.

How to apply

There are two ways you can apply for an English language course over the summer:

online (you will be asked for a pre-payment), or
by downloading, and emailing a completed form of our application form to us [PDF.159KB] Email it to: englishgroups@sussex.ac.uk. (This must be accompanied by either proof of a bank transfer or proof of scholarship such as a financial guarantee letter).

If you are a scholarship holder, or a sponsored student, you must apply for the Summer at Sussex course via our online shop. You will need to show evidence of your scholarship or sponsorship.

Already applied?

If you've already been accepted on to a English language course, you can pay the remainder of your fees, including the rest of your tuition and accommodation fees. If you pay by bank transfer you must email the receipt to englishgroups@sussex.ac.uk.

Visa information

Some nationalities can stay in the UK as a student for up to 6 months without a visa, but they must meet the Standard Visitor eligibility requirements.

Check if you need a visa to study in the UK.

Accommodation

We have a limited number of single study bedrooms on campus (self-catering). Contact us at englishgroups@sussex.ac.uk for more information.

Social programme

There will be a social programme during the course offering a variety of activities on and off campus.

During the summer you will meet and socialise with students on other language courses, as well as having access to University facilities such as the library and Sussexsport.

Onward study

If you have achieved IELTS of 6.0 and would like to study an undergraduate academic subject over the summer after your English course, visit our Summer School.