Head of Pre-Entry Standards

Department Admissions and Enquiries Location Joseph Priestley Building Salary £52,462 to £60,842per annum Permanent Post Type Full Time Release Date 24 September 2026 Closing Date 23.59 hours BST on Thursday 01 October 2026 Reference M126029

Please note: this opportunity is only available to current employees of the University

At Birmingham City University, we are a diverse and inclusive learning community of over 31,400 students from more than 120 countries. We aim to become an exemplar anchor institution, creating and sharing knowledge for a better and more inclusive society. We are committed to providing a transformational educational experience, supporting world-class research, and fostering a collaborative and supportive working environment for our staff.

Recognised as one of the UK’s Top 250 employers (Financial Times & Statista), we pride ourselves on being a place where colleagues feel valued, supported, and able to grow their careers while contributing to the success of our students and communities.

Our student demographic reflects the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of Birmingham itself, with a significant proportion of students from minoritised ethnic backgrounds and the majority of our home students coming from the West Midlands. This diversity is a strength, and it calls for a workforce that is equipped to challenge deficit narratives and thinking — those assumptions that position students from underrepresented groups as lacking rather than recognising their assets, strengths and potential.

By embracing this perspective, we aim to create an environment where all students and colleagues can thrive, and where our work contributes positively to the social, cultural and economic life of Birmingham and beyond.

We are seeking a Head of Pre-Entry Standards to provide strategic and operational leadership for English language pathways, assessment and preparatory provision that support international student recruitment, transition and success.

In this role, you will lead the development and continuous improvement of English language entry requirements, internal assessment and preparatory and transition provision, ensuring these are high quality, compliant and aligned with University priorities. You will provide institutional leadership on English language standards, working closely with Schools, professional services, senior colleagues and international partners to ensure a coherent approach to English language assessment and support.

• Lead the strategic development and enhancement of English language pathways, pre-entry assessment and preparatory/transition provision, ensuring they meet the needs of international students and receiving programmes.
• Develop and oversee University-wide English language entry requirements, internal testing and quality assurance processes, ensuring assessment is valid, reliable, consistent and fit for purpose.
• Provide institutional leadership on English language standards and compliance, representing the University in relevant audits, reviews and regulatory or accreditation activity.
• Lead and manage staff, budgets and resources across English language pathways, while using data, evaluation and sector intelligence to inform strategic decisions and drive continuous improvement.
• Degree or equivalent professional qualification in TESOL, Applied Linguistics, English Language Teaching, Education or a related discipline, with significant experience leading English language provision, assessment or pre-entry programmes within higher education.
• Demonstrable experience of developing and implementing English language entry requirements, assessment policies and quality assurance processes, with a strong understanding of testing principles…