Doing a pre-sessional course overseas 唸先修課程

What should I do if I get a conditional offer?
收到學校給的條件式入學許可時，該怎麼辦？

OK. You've applied to different universities and one of them says, “OK we’ll let you do this course but you have to get a 7 first. But if you only get a 6 or 6.5 you have to join our pre-sessional course.” Congratulations! You've received a conditional offer!

This sounds like a good deal but before you accept there are two things you should do.

1. Check that doing the pre-sessional course results in guaranteed admission. 
確認唸完先修課程即可保證入學

In other words, make sure that you do NOT have to take another language test or the IELTS test again.

Believe it or not, some universities seem to be a little unscrupulous about money. By unscrupulous I mean they are trying as hard as they can to make as much money as they can without caring if it is ethical or not.

Take the following case for example. We sometimes hear about students who have gone overseas to do a pre-sessional course with the belief that they would be able to enter into the university. However, what they did not know was that after the pre-sessional course, the university required them to do the IELTS test again! Of course, they still failed to reach the required “unconditional” score of 7 and therefore had to leave the country.

So that’s the first thing. Check that completing the pre-sessional course will allow you to enter the university.

2. Consider the cost. 
考量費用

Studying English in England, America or Australia is expensive. Here is a rough summary of some costs. Remember, you have to add on the cost of living, insurance and other costs as well!

Costs of doing a pre-sessional course in Britain and Australia
在英國、澳洲唸先修班的學費

University of Southampton 英國南安普頓大學 (Standard British University) Course fees for 10 weeks: £2,500.00 Accommodation 10 weeks: £1,267.50 Ten-week total:  £3,767.50

Imperial College 倫敦帝國理工大學 (Elite British University) Course fees for 12 weeks: £2,760 Accommodation for 12 weeks: £1,200 (in a dormitory) 12-week total: £3,760

Deakin University 澳洲迪肯大學 (Average Australian University) Course fees for 10 weeks: A$ 3700 Accommodation for 10 weeks: A$ 2500 (Homestay) Ten-week total: A$ 6,200

University of Melbourne 澳洲墨爾本大學 (Excellent Australian University) - Through the Hawthorn School Course fees for 10 weeks: A$4100 Accommodation for 10 weeks: A$2750 (Homestay) Ten-week total: A$ 6,850

So, it looks like you’ll have to pay about $NT 200,000 - 250,000 for your pre-sessional English course.

In conclusion, don’t just accept an English program offered by a foreign university. It is possible to improve your English in Taiwan quickly and effectively and at a much lower price!