Graduates holding graduation caps and smiling

Gain the competitive edge

Prepare for Success

Your free online preparation course

Improve your academic expectations, skills and readiness on our free online preparation course – ahead of starting your academic programme. This online course is designed to provide you with practical advice, guidance and support, so that you are ready to succeed from day one of your academic programme.

Why study Prepare for Success?​

This specialist course is designed to empower you, as an international student, with the confidence, skills, and knowledge needed to thrive academically and culturally in your new environment.

You’ll benefit from:

  • Developing life skills to help boost personal and social confidence ahead of arriving in your new study destination
  • Practical advice about life in your new study destination
  • Understanding what it takes to become a successful learner with practical advice about academic study

Your course

Depending on when you are starting your academic programme, you will enjoy a version of Prepare for Success that is tailored to your preparation needs.

Choose your intake to find out what to expect from your Prepare for Success course:

Prepare for Success start date: Monday 3rd February 2025/Monday  24th February 2025

Your Prepare for Success course will include:

  • the ability to access the course content in your own time and at your own pace.
  • an immersive learning experience through interactive modules and quizzes.
  • access a wealth of resources including language tools and practical tips to enhance your academic and cultural readiness.

Prepare for Success start date: Monday 12th May 2025

Your Prepare for Success course will include:

  • the ability to access the course content in your own time and at your own pace.
  • an immersive learning experience through interactive modules and quizzes.
  • access a wealth of resources including language tools and practical tips to enhance your academic and cultural readiness.

Prepare for Success start date: Monday 18th August 2025

Your Prepare for Success course will include:

  • live sessions with expert tutors who will help you understand what it takes to be a successful learner when you arrive.
  • sessions with International Study Centre staff to ask your questions and get a better understanding of your study destination.
  • access a wealth of resources including language tools and practical tips to enhance your academic and cultural readiness.
  • a vibrant community of international students preparing to start their academic programme, just like you! Share insights, tips and build a network that extends beyond the course.

What will I learn on the course?

The Prepare for Success online preparation course will prepare you for your academic studies by focussing on three essential areas:

  • Life: Learn more about intercultural skills, your study destination, and preparing for life and study in the UK.
  • Language: Improve your English through language and skills modules with interactive activities to practise your learning along the way.
  • Learning: Develop confidence as a learner, and understand what it takes to become successful.

Why I joined Prepare for Success

How to access Prepare for Success

Getting started with your Prepare for Success course is easy. To access this course, all you need to do is confirm your place with us and begin paying towards your tuition fees.

1. Confirm your place

It’s important that you confirm your place on your academic programme in order to gain access to the preparation course. To secure your place, you will need to pay a confirmation payment made up of £1,000 security deposit and £260 non-refundable administration fee.

2. Make your advance tuition fees payment and get your CAS

You will need to pay your advanced tuition fees as stated in your offer letter and receive your CAS so you can access this online preparation course. Find out more about your confirmation payment and tuition fees on our fees page.

3. Start studying

After you have confirmed your place and paid your advanced tuition fees, you will receive further instructions about how to access the course from our Central Student Support team.

Highly rated by students

Rated 4.7 out of 5 by students
(Prepare for Success Survey 2023)

93% of students felt better prepared for arriving at their study destination having completed Prepare for Success.
(Prepare for Success Survey 2023)

91% of students agreed/strongly agreed they would recommend Prepare for Success to their friends.
(Prepare for Success Survey 2023)

Toqa from Egypt

Prepare for Success was super helpful to help me know what to expect before moving abroad. I felt more at ease knowing more about the city and the University before starting and I believe it allowed me to adapt to the new environment quicker.

Toqa from Egypt

Chukwuemeka from Nigeria

How to apply

Ready to apply? Discover how to submit an application and learn more about fees, semester dates and entry requirements.

Join us
Students outside campus

University of Sheffield International College

The University of Sheffield International College helps you improve your English, develop your academic skills, and grow the confidence needed to succeed in a degree at the University.

Prepare for your degree
Students studying in class

English Language courses

Our English Language preparation courses will help you develop your English language skills to the level required to begin your chosen pathway programme.

Boost your English

Ready to join us?

Our student enrolment advisors are here to help with your application and answer any questions you have about studying with us.