Transcript of ELTC and International Office Web Chat 15th May 2014 11.00-12.30 BST

International Office: Welcome to the ELTC Web chat - it will begin at

11am. Please ask questions here. There will be a small delay as we answer your questions.

International Office: But they will be answered as soon as possible. International Office: Welcome to the ELTC web chat. Please ask any

questions you have about courses and how to apply here.

International Office: And we will answer them as quickly as possible. Thanks!

hajir: I've got unconditional offer to study at Sheffield, but still want to take a pre-sessional English course (my supervisor advised me to take this course) . The problem is that you have only summer school that start in August and I can’t come to the UK before September Due to visa and other paper works, so I will lose the opportunity to take that course. I know that you have long autumn course, but my sponsor refused to pay me for this long course. I wonder if you could offer me special pre-sessional course that start in September (for 4-6 weeks study)?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Hajir, we can only offer courses between the term dates listed on our website (http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/eltc/courses/fees). Unfortunately no teaching takes place at our centre between September 6th and September 29th as most of our teachers are on holiday then.

Michael: At the end of pre-sessional English course, we only need to attend a English test? The final mark will not include project report？

Chris - ELTC: Hi Michael, during your pre-sessional course you will be asked to complete a project, however this is to help improve your academic English skills and the result from the project will have no bearing on entrance to your chosen academic course at the University. You will take the University of Sheffield English Proficiency Test (USEPT) at the end of your course, and if you pass this test with a high enough result, you will be able to proceed directly onto your academic course after completing your English language studies.

yunhao gao: Hi, i want to know how many lessons each week Chris - ELTC: Hello! You will have 21 hours of lessons a week on

our full-time courses. On Monday and Tuesday and

Thursday there will be 3 lessons per day. On Wednesday there will be two lessons in the morning plus an afternoon lecture, and on Friday there will be two lessons. Lessons are 90 minutes in length.

NINA: How can we graduate from the ELTC? Which kind exam should we take？

Chris - ELTC: Hi Nina, You will take the University of Sheffield English Proficiency Test (USEPT) at the end of your pre-sessional course. The exam is similar to IELTS, and if you pass it with a high enough result you will be able to begin your academic course at the University.

yunhao gao: and what is the form of the final exam(pre-sessional course)?likes IELTS?

Chris - ELTC: Yes, it is similar to IELTS. Our teachers will be able to give you more information about the test when you start your studies with us

Michael: I see, I wonder how many students could pass the final exam normally. For example, how many students who studied pre-sessional course did not pass the exam last year? If I cannot pass the exam, do I have a chance to re-sit?

Chris - ELTC: The majority of students joining our courses successfully pass the USEPT with the mark they require. We work with the International Office to find alternative courses for students who have been unable to pass the test with the required mark, and very few students have to return home after attending our pre-sessional courses. If you attend all your classes and practice English outside of class, you should find it possible to achieve the mark you require in the USEPT.

keisuke katafuchi: Hi, my question is as follows; During the ELTC, could I have a language exchange mate at the University? If possible, can I contact them before I will go to ELTC and how?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Keisuke, we run a conversation club on Tuesday afternoons where you can take part in a discussion with native English speakers. The Students' Union (voted #1 in the country!) also can help you to find a language partner.

Mark: I want to know the opening day of accommodation Chris - ELTC: Hi Mark, if you contact the University's

Accommodation Office they can advise you further about this - http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/accommodation/contact

shengyanzhao: when I take part in the pre-sessional English courses, how do I apply for accommodation?

Chris - ELTC: You can apply for University of Sheffield accommodation for the duration of our pre-sessional courses here - http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/accommodation/prospective/apply/eltc

Rasha Tarbal: Hi, I've got a conditional offer to study for MSc degree at Sheffield University, and I'd like to join your pre-sessional course

Chris - ELTC: Hi Rasha, you can apply for our pre-sessional courses by following the instructions here - http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/eltc/courses/apply You will need to ensure you meet the entry requirements for your chosen course, which can be found here - http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/eltc/courses/summerschool/entrylevels

yunhao gao: ty International Office: : ) ZHAO PENGYUAN: hello I have got the 6 weeks English course offer

and also have paid the tuition fee, after that i will join the MSC course(i have received a conditional offer), i want to ask you can i apply my accommodation of my MSC course

Chris - ELTC: Hi Zhao, you will need to contact the University's Accommodation Office to ask about applying for accommodation during your MSc course. Their contact details can be found here - http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/accommodation/contact

Joey: Hello, Is that easy to take IELTS test in UK and could U tell me how muck it will cost?(actually, I’d like to get higher level of IELTS)

Chris - ELTC: Hi Joey, you can take an IELTS exam at the ELTC. The cost is currently £140 and you can find out how to apply on our website here - http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/eltc/englishtests/ielts

takuma: Dear officer, I'm going to take pre-sessional English course, and my current ielts score is 6, and my requirement is 7. I want to know whether the students who have same final requirement language score (7) will study in the same class?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Takuma, we usually place students in classes based on the academic course they are going on to study (e.g. Management / Engineering / Journalism etc.). We also place students in a class with other students who have a similar ability level. You will

find out your class on the second day of your course.

Xu Chaoyu: How should we arrange our accommodation

during the pre-sessional course? Chris - ELTC: Hi Xu Chaoyu, you can apply for University of

Sheffield accommodation during our pre-sessional courses here - http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/accommodation/prospective/apply/eltc

Rasha Tarbal: I've already applied for 10 weeks Chris - ELTC: Hi Rasha, your application has now been passed to our course director, and you should hear the outcome of your application in the next few days.

Mark: I will arrive at July 26，could I live in the

accommodation？

Chris - ELTC: You can book University Accommodation which allows you to move in on July 26th here - http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/accommodation/prospective/apply/eltc

hajir: If I apply for the pre-sessional course that start in August ( 4 weeks)and could not attend it , is there any consequences for this ??

Chris - ELTC: Hi Hajir, no you are welcome to cancel your application at any point if you cannot attend. We will not penalise you if you are unable to join the course you have applied for!

keisuke katafuchi: Thank you for reply. I would like to ask another question. I haven’t decided yet where I live and would like to live a share house. I arrive at Heathrow 27th June and have a few appointments to do a viewing but bit afraid how it is going to be. Do you believe that if I will be struggling to find my room, student UNION will help me to make an appointment to do viewing?

International Office: Hi Keisuke, Yes we have two excellent facilities in the Students Union that can help you find private accommodation, like shared housing. Feel free to contact them before you arrive. Student Advice Centre - http://www.shef.ac.uk/union/student-advice-centre/housing/ - advice@sheffield.ac.uk . Property with us - http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/propertywithus - propertywithus@sheffield.ac.uk

Riona: hello, is USEPT easier than IELTS? Chris - ELTC: Hi Riona, USEPT and IELTS are similar in their

format.

NINA: I wonder whether we will have a Chinese tutor in ELTC or not？

Chris - ELTC: Hi Nina, our teachers are all English speakers, however we do have some staff members who are able to speak Chinese

CUI HONGLIANG: when I get to our school what i need to do to make a register

Chris - ELTC: Hi Cui Hongliang, on your first day you will need to bring your passport in order to register. It will help if you have your Sheffield address written down or saved on your phone. We will e-mail you 1 week before your course begins to explain in more detail how the registration process will work on your first day.

Jiashu Li: Hello, this is Jiashu LI. I have applied for the 6 weeks lesson, so when shall i arrive Sheffield? As my writing skill is poor, can i get more practice on writing then?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Jiashu, if you explain to your teacher when you arrive that you need to improve your writing skills they will be able to provide additional help and resources for you to improve your writing!

Xu Chaoyu: Thank you a lot, and can I ask you some questions about my application for Visa? For example, since the pre-sessional courses fee is 1560 for me, how should I arrange the fund certification if I want make my application a success?

International Office: Hi Xu, Please contact international.students@sheffield.ac.uk for advice regarding your visa.

takuma: Hi, could I ask about the pass rate of the pre-sessional course in the past?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Takuma, most students who join our pre-sessional courses are able to successfully obtain an unconditional academic offer afterwards. If you attend all your classes and practice English outside of class you should be able to successfully pass the USEPT with the scores you need.

Xu Chaoyu: Or should the certification contained the whole cost (MA courses included) or just the pre-sessional courses?

International Office: The staff in the International Student support team - international.students@sheffield.ac.uk are trained visa advisors. : )

Joey: Hi, could U tell me some details about the registration? Should I enrol on the Internet? And when should I register?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Joey, you should receive (or have already received) an e-mail asking you to complete a number of pre-registration tasks. You can try to complete as many of those questions as you can before your course begins. Please do not worry if you cannot answer any pre-registration questions as we can help you to register in person on the first day of your course, and will e-mail you with more information about the registration process 1 week before your course begins.

CUI HONGLIANG: I apply for the course that start in the end of June (10w), i want to know when the accommodation is available for us in our school

Chris - ELTC: Hi Cui Hongliang, you can move in to University Accommodation for the 10 week course from June 28th. To apply, follow the instructions here - http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/accommodation/prospective/apply/eltc

Rasha Tarbal: could you advise me on what to do to get a tier 4 visa if I get an offer for the course.? As I said I've got a conditional offer

International Office: Hi Rasha, Please email international.students@sheffield.ac.uk for Visa Advice. Please see the upcoming webchat dates, including the visa webchat here: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/international/help/international-online-chats

hajir: What will we study in the 4 weeks pre-sessional course since there isnt any information about it in the website?? do we also required to submit a project?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Hajir, information about what you will study on our 4 week pre-sessional course can be found here - http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/eltc/courses/summerschool/presessional

I do not know if you will be required to complete a project on the 4 week course, however if you ask your teacher when you begin the course they will be able to advise you further!

Jiang Jun: excuse me, I want to know which kind of certificates should i get before i go to Sheffield? Because i do not receive any one till now

Chris - ELTC: Hi Jiang Jun, do you mean English certificates? Most students who apply to our courses take IELTS, but you can also apply using Pearson PTE (Academic) certificates. TOEFL iBT certificates

from April 17th onwards are no longer accepted by the British Government for visa applications.

wen: I want to know whether my application have been accepted or not

Chris - ELTC: Hi Wen, if you e-mail eltc@sheffield.ac.uk my colleagues will be able to advise you on your application's progress.

Jiashu Li: Thanks, got it. And can you tell me how many students will study together in one class? How many Chinese students? How many countries student will study together?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Jiashu Li, our classes usually contain around 12 to 16 students. We have a lot of Chinese students studying at our centre, but we also have many students from other countries (Iraq, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Colombia to name a few!)

NINA: May I get support from school if i want to find a house outside the college?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Nina, the University runs a service called propertywithUS which can help you to find private accommodation - http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/propertywithus

Yuyang Yan: Hi, this is YUYANG YAN, and I want to know whether the university will help us continue visa in the UK because now we only have the visa for pre-sessional courses? and what are the helps from you for details ?

flora: Hi Yuyang Yan, yes, SSiD department from University will help you all for visa extension. When it's closer to the date, you will receive relative information through emails, and there will be staff helping you to check all the materials that you need to submit as well, so don't worry, you will be led step by step.

Xu Chaoyu: Thank you! Last question, will I receive the picking-up service at Manchester airport when I arrive on 23 or 24 July?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Xu Chaoyu, we can book a taxi to pick you up from Manchester Airport on July 23rd or 24th. If you send an e-mail to eltc@sheffield.ac.uk asking about our Airport Pick-up service we will send you more information on how to book a pick-up.

liyi guo: hi Chris - ELTC: Hi there Gaolingjie: hello, this is Gaolingjie. I would like to ask a

question. I will arrive at 5pm on 26th June, i

wonder if it is easier for me to find my accommodation address, which is O2 in university.

Chris - ELTC: Hi Gaolingjie, if you mean Opal 2 then you can find directions to the building here - http://goo.gl/maps/YJVPy

Waheba Ibrahim: Hello ? International Office: Hi Waheba - ask your questions here and we will

answer them as soon as possible. Your question will not appear until we answer it : )

Waheba Ibrahim: chatt flora: Hi Waheba, yes, this is web chat. How can we help

you? liyi guo: I have booked an accommodation through online

store, and I want to know what time I will get the offer from it.

flora: Hi liyi, regarding accommodation, please contact the accommodation staff directly, as they all vary from each other. Please contact them at http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/accommodation/contact

Mark: when we arrive at the school , what should we do at first?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Mark, you will be required to register for your course on your first day. We will send you a timetable for the first day and week of your course around 1 week before your course is due to begin, so please check your e-mail around that time!

Hany Zinad: Hi flora: Hi Hany. How can we help? Hany Zinad: I am sorry to be late International Office: Hi Hany, Don’t worry! Please ask questions here

and we will answer them as soon as possible. : ) salih: hello, can we select our teacher during our pre-

sessional course? Chris - ELTC: Hi Salih, it is not possible to select your teacher.

We will place you in a class with students of a similar ability level.

Riona: hello , whether ELTC will organize some activities on weekend？

flora: Hi Riona, yes, please check our social programme link: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/eltc/courses/summerschool/social

hajir: how many days does the processing of an application take??

Chris - ELTC: Hi Hajir, at the moment we are processing a very high volume of applications, so it may take around

2 to 3 weeks for your application to be processed and an offer letter to be sent to you after applying. We do try to prioritise applications to our courses starting soon (e.g. our 10 week course at the moment)

hiba mohammed jaafar: I want to submit to your pre- sessional course , I've

got 4 at ILETS test Chris - ELTC: Hi Hiba, you can apply for our courses by following

the instructions here - http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/eltc/courses/apply

NINA: I want International Office: Hi Nina, please ask full questions - they will only

show up once we have answered them : ) Yuyang Yan: Thanks for your reply, and I want to know that

where is the specific location of my language courses (6 weeks) and I am from the management school?

flora: Hi Yuyang Yan, you will know the location of your classes at the beginning of you study, and all the classes are located in main University campus.

Rasha Tarbal: Could you tell me please, where I can find accommodation for me and my partner. Because I'm not living alone.

International Office: Hi Rasha, Please contact the Student Advice Centre regarding accommodation for you and your partner. You will need to make sure you have the correct visa information for yourself and your partner. They will be able to guide you on accommodation as well. http://www.shef.ac.uk/union/student-advice-centre/housing/

Hany Zinad: this is hany .i would like to ask a question, I have 5 in IELTS so I am asking that how many week I need in ELTC? Because I have conditional offer to getting 6.5

Chris - ELTC: Hi Hany, if you need to improve by 1.5 IELTS bands we would advise you to apply for a 3 term course at our centre (approximately 28 weeks). You can view our term dates here - http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/eltc/courses/fees

Jiang Jun: i have apply 6 weeks ELTC courses two months ago, and school do not receive me till now, should i apply that one more time?

NINA: Sorry。I want to know should I send an email to

ensure we can enter the accommodation during the pre-sessional course ？I will arrive Manchester

at 8pm 。

flora: Hi Nina, please contact accommodation staff directly regarding your question, and they will give you more accurate response. Please contact them at http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/accommodation/contact

Rasha Tarbal: How many weeks should I study if my IELTS score is 6.5?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Rasha, if your IELTS score is 6.5 overall, and you need to reach IELTS 7.0 overall then you can apply for our 6 week pre-sessional course (as long as you have achieved a minimum of 5.5 in each component)

Riona: hello，will ELTC help us to apply for a debit card

when we arrived Sheffield？

Chris - ELTC: Hi Riona, during your first week you can attend a bank fair where representatives from UK banks will visit the University. They will be able to help you open a bank account and obtain a debit card

wen: I received an email from ELTC team, said that they were considering my application ,but I want to know when will the result be announced

flora: Hi Wen, generally speaking, after the application is processed, you will receive the decision within 2 weeks.

salih: i have got 60 in USEPT, how many weeks should i take? i have conditional offer already and i must get 7 in IELTS to make it unconditional,

Chris - ELTC: Hi Salih, it sounds like you may be able to apply for our 10 week pre-sessional course - but it depends on your minimum component scores for both your academic course entry requirements and your USEPT individual component scores as to whether your application will be accepted.

Daniel: Hello, this is Daniel! I am looking at the accommodation for ELTC students, but just found currently, it only available for the students starting in April. Isn't it the time for applying accommodation for later study?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Daniel, you can apply for University Accommodation for our courses starting later in the Summer here - http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/accommodation/prospective/apply/eltc

Yuyang Yan: sorry, your answer is not sufficient to my question as you see, there are S3, IC and other places for language courses. because of this , i need to know

the location of my classes, which leads me to arrange my accommodation easier. Thank you

flora: Hi Yuyang, the specific plan of locations hasn't come out yet. However, the transportation in Sheffield is very convenient, so as long as you live near University main campus, there won't be trouble for you to get to the classes.

Joey: Thanks. When it comes to the pre-sessional course, I'd like to know, how to divide the class? How many students are taking part in one class? Are they from other departments or both of us are the same department? THX

Chris - ELTC: Hi Joey, there will be around 12 to 16 students in your class. Your classmates will have a similar level of English ability to you, and it is likely we will place you in a class with students who are going on to study a similar academic course.

yvonne: Hi, my friend Yajie Chen has many questions to ask, but she is not able to get access to the webchat, so could I ask on behalf of her?

International Office: Hi Yvonne, we can give general advice here, so do ask your question! : )

yvonne: I applied for a 6 week language course 3 weeks ago and haven’t heard back, just wondering when I can get a reply. Does the University of Sheffield provide airport pick-up service for international students? After language course, do I need to attend an exam? If I pass the exam, do the university help with the visa extension? Do I need to provide fund evidence again for that?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Yvonne, we're sorry you haven't heard about your application yet. If you can send me your full-name and date of birth I can check for you. You can book an airport pick-up service from either Manchester or London Heathrow Airports by sending an e-mail to eltc@sheffield.ac.uk (we will then provide you with more information on how to book). You will take the University of Sheffield English Proficiency Test (USEPT) at the end of your course, if you achieve a high enough result you can begin your academic studies. We will arrange visa extension sessions to help you extend your visa after your English course finishes, and information about the fund requirements will be provided then.

Jiashu Li: Hi, how about the living condition of En suite room ,Opal 2?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Jiashu Li, I used to live in Opal 2 myself. It's a nice place to live, and the rooms and en-suites are of a very high quality!

CUI HONGLIANG: do we need to book the accommodation in advance please , we cannot have a position if we book the accommodation when we get there isnot it?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Cui Hongliang, you do not need to book accommodation in advance, but it is advisable to do so as we cannot guarantee any University Accommodation will be available when you arrive, and it can take a few days or weeks to find private sector accommodation.

Mark: i wanna to know fees of living? Chris - ELTC: Hi Mark, you can find more about the living costs

in Sheffield here - http://www.shef.ac.uk/studyabroad/overseas/prospective/costs

Jiang Jun: thank you! International Office: : ) Tae Hyun JANG: Hello, i'm student, who got a conditional offer from

postgraduate school of International relations. I want to apply ELTC as soon as possible. However, my problem is i only have TOEFL score(R:28 L:26 S:20 W:20) of last year, and i also know recently changed British visa policy, which is not admit TOEFL score anymore. Can i apply to ELTC with my TOEFL score? or Should i take IELTS newly?

flora: Hi Tae, you can still use your valid TOEFL result as long as 1) it was taken outside the UK 2) it was taken on or before 17th April.

flora: Hi Tae, it's 17th April 2014. Hany Zinad: I have another Question... I have overall 5 as fallow

(L=5, W=5, S=5, R=4) how many weeks approximately I need in you centre?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Hany, it depends on the entry requirements for your academic course. If you need to achieve 7.0 overall, we would advise you to apply for a 4 term (40 week) course with your current IELTS result.

Yuyang Yan: well, thanks for your answers. You said "main campus " in your reply, and can I understand it in this way: main campus is equal to western bank, Sheffield (S10,2TN)?

flora: Hi Yuyang, yes, that's correct. Tae Hyun JANG: Oh, it's really good news to me. Can link me page of

the score requirement to apply? Chris - ELTC: We don't have a page which lists our TOEFL iBT

entry requirements, however you can use the chart

on the following webpage to convert your TOEFL iBT score into an IELTS equivalent score - http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/eltc/englishtests/toefl-ielts You can then view our IELTS entry requirements here - http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/eltc/courses/summerschool/entrylevels

Tae Hyun JANG: can you link sorry flora: Hi Tae, here's the link can help you to transfer your

TOEFL score to IELTS http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/eltc/englishtests/toefl-ielts, and here's another link regarding entry level http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/eltc/courses/summerschool/entrylevels

Jiashu Li: thanks to hear that, and how many roommates will i live with?

Chris - ELTC: Opal 2's flats usually have around 6 rooms in them, so you should have around 5 roommates (although this may slightly vary depending on the flat you are placed in)

salih: i have applied for pre-sessional course for 10 days from now but they didn’t answer yet and I’m from Iraq usually when we apply for visa it takes more than 40 days I’m afraid i cant come when the course start what should i do?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Salih, unfortunately this is our busiest period of the year and it can take a few weeks for new applicants to hear the result of their application. We are sorry about this, but please be assured we try to process all applications as quickly as we can. Depending on the course you have applied for, it may be possible to arrive after the start date of your course if there is a delay during your visa application.

Hany Zinad 2: I have another Question... I have overall 5 as fallow (L=5, W=5, S=5, R=4) how many weeks approximately I need in you centre?

flora: Hi Hany, if you need to improve by 1.5 IELTS bands we would advise you to apply for a 3 term course at our centre (approximately 28 weeks). You can view our term dates here - http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/eltc/courses/fees

wen: HI , if the 10 week course are full , I will probably be rejected right?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Wen, our 10 week course still has places remaining on it. As long as you submit your application before the deadline on May 30th, your application will be considered by our course director.

Ameer Al-Juboory: Hi International Office: Hi Ameer, ask your questions here and we will

answer them as soon as possible - your questions will only show when we have answered it : )

Hany Zinad 2: no I just need to get 6.5? Chris - ELTC: Hi Hany, in that case you can apply for a 3 term

course at our centre (approximately 28 weeks). You can view our term dates here - http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/eltc/courses/fees

Riona: hello， now my IELTS score is 6，but the language

requirement is 7，so I should attend 10 weeks pre-

sessional course，I'am afraid that I cannot pass the

USEPT finally。：（

flora: Hi Riona, What's your scores in each component? what's your required score in each component? We need to take scores in each component into account when processing application. However, if you have been approved to study for 10 weeks course, and you make the most of it, there should not be problem for you to pass the USEPT at the end.

CUI HONGLIANG: thank you International Office: : ) Yuyang Yan: well, thanks to your answers. I want to know is

there any discount on fees of language courses if I pay it at one time, not the normal courses?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Yuyang Yan, we do not offer any discounts on our pre-sessional English language course fees if you pay the full fee all at once I’m afraid.

Gaozeflare: hi，what should I prepare for the pre-sessional

classes before we get there in order to adapt to the teaching environment？

Chris - ELTC: Hi there! We would just advise you to continue practising English at home before you come to Sheffield. If you want to take a look at our teaching environment, you can take a virtual tour of our centre here - http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/eltc/aboutus/tour

LU JIE: hello, I want to know that during the spare time we study there can we go to other countries? I mean is it possible for us to get the visa?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Lue Jie, to visit other European countries you will need to apply for a Schengen Visa. You are welcome to visit other countries outside of term time! More information about Schengen Visas can be found here - http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/international/immigration/schengen-visas

Hany Zinad 2: thanks flora International Office: : ) Sami Alruhaily: Hi Good Afternoon International Office: Hi Sami, ask your questions here and we will

answer them as soon as possible - your questions will only show when we have answered it : )

Tae Hyun JANG: Very thanks for your response. Another question is, if i apply to 6weeks' pre-sessional course now, could i join to there? i mean isn't it full now? and plus, if i take 4weeks pre-sessional course, could i get the unconditional offer from postgraduate course after passing test? Sorry for bunch of questions: )

flora: Hi Tae, there are still places for 6 weeks PS course, but we would suggest you to apply as soon as possible. 4 weeks PS course is for students who have got unconditional offers already, so if you have a conditional offer, you are not eligible to apply for 4 weeks PS course, I'm afraid.

Ameer Al-Juboory: I have 4 term course start on 30/6/2014. Is there any test after the course or just pass the course ?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Ameer, you will take the University of Sheffield English Proficiency Test (USEPT) during your course. You will need to pass the USEPT with a high enough mark before you can begin your academic studies at the University

Jiashu Li: Is there any volunteer work in school or community? How can i join it?

flora: Hi Jiashu, yes there are plenty of them in Sheffield. You can go to volunteering office in Student Union, and the staff there will help to find out suitable volunteering projects for you. There are currently more than 200 projects in volunteering office database.

salih: shall we pay the course fee during the course or before it?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Salih, you should arrange payment before your course begins. If you choose to join a longer course at our centre (2 terms+), you can set up a payment

plan which will allow you to pay for your course in instalments throughout your time studying with us.

Yuyang Yan: That's OK. As you see, when we come to Sheffield first time, all the surroundings are not familiar to us, whether will we have a round the city by the helps from ELTC?

Chris - ELTC: During your first week our social organisers will arrange campus tours to show you around the University and the city centre. Joining these tours will help to familiarise you with Sheffield!

suleiman hudu abdullahi: Hello! I have a conditional offer of admission for MPH upon IELTS of 6.5 and have alredy booked for the test scheduled on 28/6/2014. however I need your advice on what to do if Icouldn't get upto the required score. is there any pre-course lessions. How do I register for it. Thanks you.

Chris - ELTC: Hi Suleiman, we offer pre-sessional courses for students who have been unable to meet the entry requirements for their academic course. The deadline for applying to our courses this summer is June 27th unfortunately, so if you are unable to meet the requirements you may need to defer your academic course and study with us at a later date.

Tae Hyun JANG: very appreciates flora, you mean i should attend at least 6weeks' pre-sessional programme, right?

flora: Hi Tae, yes, if your offer is conditional, you need at least attend 6 weeks. You may need longer, depending on the gap between your current English level and your department requirement.

yvonne: Thank you Chris Chris - ELTC: No problem Yvonne! Riona: many thanks ， flora ：）

Le He: hi, i received a 6 weeks international summer school offer about 6 weeks ago and i returned the attached acceptance form. Then i did not receive any reply’s till now, so i want to know when can i receive a confirmation of it?

flora: Hi Le, you should have received a reply, when your acceptance form was processed. Please could you tell me your name? I will have a look on our database.

nancy: hi, i have IELTS overall score 6 (R&S 6.5- L&W 5.5) and i need overall 7,but i cannot attend 10 week course because of my job contract, is it possible to attend 6 week course and then at the end have another IELTS test?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Nancy, unfortunately you would need to achieve IELTS 6.5 overall to join our 6 week course. We don't want to put you in a position where you might not meet your target English requirements for your academic course so we have to be strict about our entry requirements i'm afraid.

Daniel: Thank you! So what is the good time to book

accommodation? I mean how long will it generally takes for allocation, and is there a deadline of accommodation application for courses starting at the end of June?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Daniel, we would advise you to arrange accommodation as early as possible. You can apply now for University Accommodation, however I am not aware of any application deadlines. You can contact the accommodation office for more information about deadlines - http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/accommodation/contact

Joey: Hi, how could I pay the tuition fee(ELTC and academic course). Could I pay them though debit card and if that's available, should I take the card to the school to pay them OR our university will deduct money from our account?

flora: Hi Joey, we will send you a document regarding payment along with your offer letter. If you haven't received it, please email eltc@sheffield.ac.uk, and we will resend it to you. If you have more detailed questions after reading that document, please contact finance team at http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/finance/our_staff/external/existing_students/payment_details_and_refunds

Sami Alruhaily: when you are going to send me CAS Number please, and if you have any Idea how many days it will take??

Chris - ELTC: Hi Sami, it depends on which course you have applied for. The earliest we can send out CAS statements is 3 months before our courses begin, due to UK Government rules which state it is not possible to apply for a Tier 4 visa more than 3 months before starting a course in the UK. If you are joining one of our Summer courses your CAS will be sent ASAP, if you are joining a course starting in September onwards, your CAS will be sent 10 to 12 weeks before your course begins.

Rasha Tarbal: Thank you very much for your help. Kind regards, International Office: : ) Tae Hyun JANG: Thanks a lot Flora and Chris! Hope we can see each

other in the University of Sheffield ASAP! Many thanks!

flora: Look forward to meeting you. Le He: My full name is LE HE. Thanks a lot. Chris - ELTC: Hi Le He, your CAS will be sent in the next few

weeks (probably in about 1 to 2 weeks’ time) salih: thanks alot International Office: : ) suleiman hudu abdullahi: when precisely will be the later date? Chris - ELTC: Hi Suleiman, you can view our 2014-15 term dates

here - http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/eltc/courses/fees

Le He: Thank you very much! I'm so glad to hear that! Chris - ELTC: No problem Le He Hany Zinad: How many time the application to the ELTC take? Chris - ELTC: Hi Hany, at the moment it can take a few weeks for

applications to be processed and an offer letter to be issued as this is our busiest period of the year. Outside of Summer time, we can usually let students know the outcome of their application within 1 week of applying.

omar baban: hi sirs Chris - ELTC: Hello Omar! Sami Alruhaily: Thank you Chris, But I am applying for Tier 4, my

course will start on Jun 30 2014 for 4 terms, my worries that we are running of time

Chris - ELTC: Hi Sami, it looks like we were waiting for your academic course to be deferred to September 2015 before sending your CAS. Your academic course has now been deferred on the University's systems so we can now issue your CAS in the next few days

Ameer Al-Juboory: well, what is the minimum mark ( out of ) of USEPT require before begin the academic studies ?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Ameer, it depends on the IELTS entry requirements for your academic course. If you need to achieve 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component, you will need to score 70% overall with a minimum of 60% in each component to join your academic course.

Jiashu Li: As i will go to study MA Teach Chinese as a foreign language, so can I know the number and nation who will study with me in one class? And how can i

get the information of alumni's information of the same major? Thanks for your response.

Chris - ELTC: Hi Jiashu Li, unfortunately we do not have any information available about previous MA Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language students who have studied with us before. Your class will have around 12 to 16 students in it, and they may be going on to study similar English language and linguistics related academic courses, although we cannot guarantee this.

Hany Zinad: Thank you very much to flora and Chris.... Chris - ELTC: You're welcome Hany! Ameer Al-Juboory: I need 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each

component ? Chris - ELTC: You will need to achieve 65% overall with a

minimum of 60% in each component in USEPT Ameer Al-Juboory: Is there any practice for USEPT please ? Chris - ELTC: During our pre-sessional courses we offer Exam

Preparation classes, so these classes will help you to prepare for the USEPT

nancy: Thank you Chris, but i have another IELTS test in august 2, do i have enough time to apply for 6 week course after my test? Or do i have to apply for it now?

flora: Hi Nancy, I'm afraid August will be too late to apply for 6 weeks pre-sessional course, as the course will has been started by then. The official deadline for 6 weeks PS course application is 28/06/2014. Please apply as soon as possible, as application will stop if all places are filled.

Sami Alruhaily: sorry Chris you are going to send it electronic copy, or it should be via post??

Chris - ELTC: Hi Sami, I have sent you a new offer letter by e-mail just now. You need to return the acceptance form attached to it, and we can then send your CAS a few days after we receive your acceptance form. The CAS will be sent to you by e-mail, you will not require a paper copy of it in order to apply for a Tier 4 visa.

omar baban: Dear Sirs, I have a question please i will receive my visa Shortly and i hope that i will join my 17 weeks course soon, but as shown in my CAS the last date i can join my course is 12th May/2014 so please can i join my course?

Chris - ELTC: Hi Omar, have you received your visa yet? salpawuni: Could I apply for a waiver in English?

Chris - ELTC: Hello, you will need to provide evidence of your English language ability in order to join an academic course at the University. More information about English language requirements can be found here - http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/info/englang

Hunar Burhanalddin: Hello sir , I have 5 overall in IELTS , with a minimum 5 , How many weeks will i need, for beginning my MSC course ?

Chris - ELTC: Hello Hunar, it depends on the entry requirements for your MSc course. If for example you need to achieve IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component, you would need to apply for a 4 term (40 week) English course at our centre to meet your MSc entry requirements.

nouf: i sent back the offer letter but i really need the cas number to finish my papers in my university

Chris - ELTC: Hi Nouf, which of our courses have you applied for and when does it begin?

salpawuni: What is the estimated cost for taking ELTC at Sheffield? What is the duration too?

Chris - ELTC: Our course fees can be found on the following webpage - http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/eltc/courses/fees The duration of course will depend on your current level of English, and the level you need to reach in order to start your academic course. As a rough guide, we would advise you to apply for 1 term per 0.5 IELTS bands you need to improve by.

nouf: it is English language course and it will be start in 29 spt 2014

Chris - ELTC: Hi Nouf, we are looking into possibly issuing CAS statements earlier for Libyan students as we are aware it can take a long time to arrange a visa and financial support from the Libyan Government. Please be assured we will send your CAS as early as we can.

Sami Alruhaily: Thanks a lot Chris I will send it back now Chris - ELTC: Thanks Sami, I'll make sure it is processed quickly. omar baban: no, but i will receive it shortly as it completes from

the British embassy/Amman Chris - ELTC: Hi Omar, I will ask our course director whether you

can join the course after the latest arrival date and send you an e-mail once he has made a decision. If he approves your request we can send a report to the UK Visas & Immigration agency which states we will allow you to arrive late.

International Office: Hello - please finish asking your questions. International Office: The web chat will close in five minutes. Thank

you : ) Hunar Burhanalddin: Chris, i need 6.5 in IELTS with a minimum 6 , can

you tell me how many weeks will i need exactly ? Chris - ELTC: Hi Hunar, it depends on your current level of

English. We generally recommend students apply for 1 term per 0.5 IELTS bands they are away from their target requirement. For example, if you need to improve from IELTS 5.0 overall to IELTS 6.5, you should apply for a 3 term (approximately 28 weeks) course with us

nouf: if i were good , can i finish it early Chris - ELTC: If you achieve an unconditional offer before your

course finishes then you can apply to finish your course early

International Office: The web chat will close in two minutes. Thank you. International Office: : ) salpawuni: when would this chat be made available again,

please? International Office: We do not currently have another ELTC webchat

planned But you can email eltc@sheffield.ac.uk with any questions : )

Jiashu Li: Thanks all of you ,,, Chris - ELTC: You're welcome Riona: bye flora: BYE:-) International Office: For our upcoming webchats -

http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/international/help/international-online-chats

International Office: : ) Chris - ELTC: We'll be hosting a webcast next week with

Teaching staff from the ELTC. More information will be sent by e-mail early next week

International Office: The webchat is now closed. Thank you : ) International Office: : )