Here you can find information about your course and your modules.
There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning.
Jiddu Krishnamurti
The University Preparation course is designed to give you the skills and knowledge not only to enter a UK university but to succeed once you are there.
Modules
The programme includes Core modules in English Language and Academic Skills as well as Specialist modules designed for your specific pathway.
This module will help you to develop your language skills and learn how to use grammatical structures and vocabulary appropriately in an academic context. You will improve your skills to read and write more accurately and effectively. This will build the core language skills needed for success in your academic studies. You will also become more familiar with some of the task-types and themes commonly found in the IELTS exam.
All students take this module in their first term.
This module will give you the key skills to be effective in academic writing. It will help you to understand the exploratory process of extended writing. You will begin to develop your critical thinking skills for writing academic essays. You will become more familiar with academic register and style. You will learn to work with academic sources and to integrate them into your writing through literature searching and evaluation, coupled with reading and note-taking skills. You will learn about plagiarism and how to avoid it through referencing and paraphrasing.
All students take this module in their first term.
This module will introduce you to the UK university system and help you to prepare your application. You will reflect on your academic journey and application choices so that you can make the best decisions for you. You will also gain an insight into university culture in the UK. In this module, we will support you with the essential administration and writing of a university application so that you can complete it on time and to the highest possible standard.
All students take this module in their first term.
In this module, you will prepare for your IELTS exam. You will study the vocabulary and grammar that will help you to improve your score so that you can meet your university entrance requirements. You will develop your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills, as well as becoming familiar with exam techniques and strategies. You will also gain the skills to allow you to discuss a wide range of topics at examination and at university. We will also help you to book your exam so that you can complete it during your course.
All students take classes to prepare for the IELTS exam in their second term.
This module will introduce you to the key concepts and procedures of primary research. You will learn what research is, the theory behind it and how to do it effectively and rigorously. You will even design and conduct a small practical research project yourself. You will study both qualitative and quantitative methods, giving you a solid foundation to understand and conduct research in most fields.
In their second term, Pre-Masters students take a more advanced version of this module which explores these issues in more depth for postgraduate level study.
University Foundation students take this module in their second or third term.
In this module, you will learn how to analyse, evaluate and construct logical arguments. You will understand what an argument is and how its different elements fit together to support its conclusion. You will learn how to evaluate the credibility of different sources so that you can select the best material to support your essays. You will expand on the principles of EAP to construct persuasive, logical and supported arguments. You will also continue to develop your skills in the process of academic writing from reading to planning to producing a finished, polished essay.
All University Foundation Year students take this module in their third term.
This module will support your personal and academic development throughout your course and give you further insight into university culture in the UK.
Through a series of presentations and workshops, you will develop day-to-day academic, administrative and personal skills to help you to be successful on the university preparation course and at university. This includes visiting speakers, insights from staff about their university experiences and workshops to support you in achieving the key milestones of the course in your lessons, exams, coursework and university applications.
All students will have one session of the Academic Cultures programme per week throughout their course.
This module will give you the necessary foundations in mathematical concepts, terminology and procedures for success in the numerical and quantitative components of scientific and business subjects in the UK. You will learn to analyze mathematical problems, both abstract and in real-world contexts, and select and evaluate methods to solve them.
This module will allow you to meet the equivalent of GCSE Mathematics for entrance to university programmes in business and the sciences which require it.
All students on Business or Science pathways study this module in their first term, as do Architecture students.
Psychology students are encouraged to study this module in their first term in order to meet university entrance requirements for clinical and scientific psychology programmes.
This module will give you the necessary foundations in artistic concepts, terminology and procedures to succeed in the formal study of art. You will be able to explore and experiment with different artistic disciplines and techniques. You will also learn the importance of sketchbooks and portfolios to develop, record and present your ideas and inspiration.
This module will also support you in creating your portfolio, which will be an essential part of your application to university for all art subjects.
All students on the Art pathway study this module in their first (Autumn) term.
In these modules, you will develop your understanding of core artistic concepts, using a range of media, materials and techniques. You will develop your ability to inform your own work through visual and contextual research methods, and to present this development clearly and engagingly.
The three modules of the Art programme build on each other, encouraging you to grow in independence and develop your specialism. Over the course, you will build up and organize a portfolio of suitable work to support your university application. The course culminates in an exhibition of your final work at the end of the Spring Term.
All students on the Art pathway study these modules in the Winter and Spring Terms.
This module will introduce you to the key issues facing the world of International Business today. You will develop your understanding of business in its global context by learning about such core business concepts as globalization, international trade and financial markets.
All students on the Business pathway study this module in either the Winter or Summer Term.
This module will introduce you to the nature and roles of financial accounting in organizations. You will develop an understanding of accounting conventions and learn how to record business transactions and make the relevant adjustments. This is a very practical module in which you will learn how to complete and understand the essential types of financial records for a working business.
Most students on the Business pathway study this module in the Spring Term. Students who begin their Foundation Year in April study this module in the Winter Term.
This module will introduce you to a range of essential marketing theories and practices which you will need for studying business subjects at university. You will learn how to conduct and understand market research and analysis, and how businesses can target their products and services to potential customers. You will learn about publicity strategies and how these interact with cultural context.
Most students on the Business pathway study this module in the Spring Term. Students who begin their Foundation Year in April study this module in the Winter Term.
In this module, you will develop essential knowledge and understanding of different areas of chemistry and how they relate to each other. You will learn about how subatomic particles and molecules interact in chemical reactions, and how to express these reactions through equations and formulae. You will learn how to understand and to write reports on scientific research.
You will also develop practical laboratory skills and experience the reactions you study firsthand by conducting experiments in our on-site laboratory.
All students on the Science pathway (both Technology and Life Sciences) study this module in either the Winter or Summer Term.
In this module, you will expand your understanding of mathematical concepts, terminology and procedures for the study of scientific subjects at UK universities. You will extend your range of mathematical skills and techniques to use them in more complex, unstructured problems. You will develop your understanding of algebra and functions, as well as some elements of calculus.
All students on the Science pathway (both Technology and Life Sciences) study this module in the Spring Term, as do Architecture students.
In this module, you will develop essential knowledge and understanding of key aspects of biology. You will learn about the structures and physiology of organisms from the cellular level to essential mechanisms of exchange and development. You will also study the evolution and classification of species and the significance of ecology and conservation.
Students on the Science pathway (Life and Medical) study this module in the Spring Term.
In this module, you will gain an overview of the core concepts and terminology of Physics. This will prepare you for studying technology and engineering subjects at university by introducing you to the essential content of the A-level Physics syllabus. You will develop your applied mathematical and problem-solving skills by solving real-world problems using scientific principles and methods. You will learn about the operation of energy, forces and waves and their applications in the real world.
Students on the Science pathway (Technology) study this module in the Spring Term.
In this module, you will develop your analytical and critical skills to understand and use texts effectively. This will prepare you for studying the social sciences and humanities at university level. You will learn how language is used in society and how society shapes the language it uses. You will gain an understanding of why the texts used in different subjects and contexts take particular forms and develop the skills to identify their purpose and how they achieve it. You will develop your reading and writing skills to handle longer texts and to write essays synthesizing different ideas.
Students on the Social Science pathway study this module in the Autumn Term.
This module will enhance and broaden your knowledge of human nature and the psychological principles and mechanisms behind it. You will learn about significant psychological theories and experiments and the different branches of psychology. You will develop an understanding of psychological methodology in both research and clinical practice. You will place your studies in their real-world context and explore how Psychology underpins and informs the Social Sciences and Humanities more broadly.
All students on the Social Science pathway study this module in either the Winter or Summer Term. Psychology students take this module in these terms regardless of whether they are on the Social Science or the Life Science pathway.
This module will give you a general understanding of how communication and culture operate and interact in contemporary society. You will explore the roles of the individual and the media, of cultures and subcultures in building identities and portraying cultural phenomena. You will learn about cultural and communication codes and the theoretical frameworks for analyzing them. These concepts will be placed in the real-world context of the media.
All students on the Social Science pathway study this module in the Spring Term, as do Art and Design (not Architecture) students.
This module will introduce you to the English system of Common Law, including the institutions of the English legal system and the principles of case law. In the process, you will gain a better understanding of the general principles and processes of law creation and implementation. This module will also give you an introduction to the key theories and issues facing the world of International Relations today, and the skills and knowledge to understand and analyze them.
All students on the Social Science pathway study this module in the Spring Term.
In this module you will reflect on your academic and professional journey to support your planning and decision-making. This will support you in making the transition from undergraduate to postgraduate study, whether you are continuing in the same field or ‘pivoting’ into a different subject. You will build critical reflective and management skills for development in academic and professional contexts.
All Pre-Masters students take this module in their first term.
This module will prepare you to think critically at postgraduate level. You will develop key skills for essay writing, argumentation and for your Masters thesis/dissertation. You will learn how to analyse, evaluate and construct logical arguments. You will understand how the different elements of an argument fit together to support its conclusion. You will learn how to evaluate the credibility of different sources so that you can select the best material to support your case. You will expand on the principles of EAP to construct persuasive, logical and supported arguments. You will also continue to develop your skills in the process of academic writing from reading to planning to producing a finished, polished essay.
All Pre-Masters students take this module in their second term.
If your level of English is too low to begin your University Foundation Year immediately, you can take an additional term of general English language classes before you start the Foundation Year. This will give you a four-term, 11-month programme in total. These will be in the general English classes of the language department and you will be placed in the appropriate level for your English. This will allow you to develop your grammar, vocabulary and language skills so that you are ready to succeed on the Foundation Year and beyond.
This course is only available for University Foundation Year students.
Use the buttons below or choose from the Main Menu to find out more about the programmes and pathways, assessment and grading, or to look up key words in the glossary.