University pathways - Bell English

UNIVERSITY PATHWAY COURSES

Be your best at university.

Your commitment to succeed and our excellent track record of Bell students progressing to top universities in the country, will make great partners.

We will work together to create a solid foundation – of subject knowledge, language confidence and academic skills – designed to maximise your potential for success at university.

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Student taking a picture of King's College in Cambridge

Get ready for university online

Sometimes you don't have time to wait. Let us support you with online 1-to-1 university counselling advice so you can maximise the impact of your university application.

Also, starting in January 2021, our two-week online courses introduce you to the academic skills you need to succeed at undergraduate and postgraduate level study.

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Prepare for undergraduate study

Start face-to-face lessons in June, September or January, and from day one, we will focus on advancing your skills in preparation for your chosen undergraduate degree.

Get a guaranteed place at a UK university when you successfully complete your University Foundation course.

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Pre-undergraduate study at Bell Cambridge

Get ready for postgraduate study

Expertise matters and studying at postgraduate level allows you to do the extraordinary - become a specialist.

Let our highly-experienced teachers support you to develop the advanced-level academic skills and language fluency you will need to succeed on our face-to-face programme.

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Floriane, Belgium
Master's Preparation
SOAS, University of London

I didn't learn English in Belgium so my language was elementary level. But I’m so impressed with myself. I’m now C1 and I passed the IELTS with a 7 score. Teachers help you a lot to achieve your goals and focus on what you need.

Sandro, Italy
Business Foundation
Cass Business School, London

I loved the school, the atmosphere, how professional it is. My University Foundation prepared me to study and work in a very international and diverse environment. I would recommend Bell to anyone!

Yaltah, Germany
Humanities Foundation
Lancaster University

I love this school, my friends and everything about Cambridge too! I won’t forget my time here. When I visited Bell Cambridge before I fell in love with everything and decided to go. Best decision I’ve ever made!

Nada, Saudi Arabia
Master's Preparation
UCL (University College London)

I wanted to do an academic intensive courses so I could improve my academic skills. I loved the 1-to-1 feeling you get in class, you can ask whatever you want, and you have more chances to talk to the tutor. I've already recommended Bell to my friends.

Jieyin, China
Humanities Foundation
University of Westminster

My English was not good enough to keep pace with university studies. The course here is totally different to what I have done in China. Bell helped me connect with the university and learn what they expect.

Kevin
Hong Kong

Bell gives you a lot of support with your university application. They invite speakers from different universities to talk to students and you can ask them questions. I found the talks really helpful as I learned more about different universities and university life in the UK.

Student learning academic skills for university

MAKING YOUR DECISION

Connecting with universities.

Choosing a university is a big decision. We exclusively host our own on-campus fair – University+You – where you can meet and discuss your plans with potential universities from across the UK. You will also visit a number of universities so you can get useful insights of university life.

Of course, as you look to make your critical decisions for the future, our dedicated 1-to-1 Higher Education Advisory Service will be here to support you every step of the way.

Our approach to learning Advisory service

Why study with Bell?

Here are just a few reasons why we think Bell is the right school for you.

Guaranteed place at university

On successful completion of your University Foundation programme, we guarantee you will be offered a place on an undergraduate degree course at a UK university.

Moreover, 86% of our 2018/19 student cohort received offers from top 30 universities, based on the Guardian University Guide 2019.
On-campus residences

All our university pathways programmes take place at our flagship school, Bell Cambridge. This stunning location proudly has two on-campus residences, The Frank Bell Residence and Bell Garden House – only seconds away from the main school.

With no travel time before and after classes, you can take full advantage of on-campus study facilities and student community, including your Learning in Action programme.
Students as individuals

At Bell, you may be joining a diverse student community, but we get to know our students as individuals. We will always take time to understand your learning capabilities, the ways you like to learn, and your strengths as well as your difficulties. Our staff to student ratio guarantees you personalised and responsive teaching so that you can exceed your goals, not just achieve them.

But we do more than that. We are interested in getting to know the real you – your individual interests, your hobbies, your stories from back home and your ambitions for the future.

You are an individual. And we would be honoured to welcome you to the Bell family.
Personal advice and support

Applying to university can sometimes feel overwhelming. We have a dedicated Higher Education Advisory service that offers regular 1-to-1 guidance, advice and support to help you at every step of the process – from finding a course and researching universities to writing personal statements and applying.

Our Higher Education Advisory Service offers independent and impartial advice. Sarah Pettit, our University Counselling Manager, has been advising Bell students on higher education for over 10 years. Before joining Bell, she has worked in international student recruitment for University College London and Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge.
Teaching expertise
Our teachers have extensive teaching experience, with top qualifications in their fields of expertise, including:
- Ian Chitty, University Foundation Programme Manager
  40 years of teaching experience and ensures academic excellence across all Foundation courses
- Jane Sealy-Thompson, Academic Skills Tutor
  Over 25 years of experience teaching English and Business English, as well as a Cambridge English examiner for 17 years
- Robert Mathews, Law Tutor
  University of Oxford graduate, and has worked at Bell since 1979
- Ken Bateup, Master’s Preparation Tutor
  Over 12 years of experience as an IELTS examiner and was the Centre Manager at the University of Bath
- David Csernovicz, Business Tutor
  Extensive senior-level experience in the business world, bringing in his insights from commercial sector into his lessons
- Peter Holmes, Politics Tutor
  University of Oxford graduate, and has taught at Bell for over 13 years and is a published author in politics.
Exclusive access to universities

You will have the opportunity to connect with over 30 of our partner universities through various events, activities and university visits. We also exclusively host the University+You fair at Bell Cambridge, where students meet with universities from across the UK.

A regular programme of talks led by visiting speakers and lecturers from universities also give students an insight into university academic life.
Learning the Bell Way

Each student’s learning is guided by the 6 principles of The Bell Way. A learning approach model that we developed alongside an Emeritus Professor from the University of Cambridge.

The Bell Way is core to everything we do at Bell, enhancing student’s progress and success in achieving their goals.