Pre-Master's Certificate - Study Skills

Study modules

The course consists of:

• Modules to develop your research and study skills to enable you to succeed in postgraduate-level study
• Subject modules to increase your knowledge of the area you wish to study in the future, and give you the experience of studying at a UK university.

Compulsory modules

Advanced Reading and Research Skills

This module will widen your research skills and develop the necessary reading skills as preparation for writing and seminar assignments at a master’s level. You will learn to apply your reading to a specific issue or question and to evaluate and summarise secondary sources for use in writing assignments. You will also develop your knowledge of quotation, paraphrasing and citation techniques, and write a bibliography following academic conventions.

Extended Writing Project

This module gives you the opportunity to carry undertake a research project leading to an extended research paper in your own subject area, and to a reflective essay on the process followed. The research can be undertaken using only secondary sources, or both secondary and primary sources. It is a double module, ie 6 hours a week (2 x 3 hours) to enable you to get practice and support with writing through classes, tutorials, lectures, workshops and online discussion forums.

Subject specialism modules: you will take 2 subjects modules of your choice

Optional modules

Built environment subject specialism module

If built environment is your area of interest, you can choose from:

• Introduction to Architectural History and Theory
• Essential skills in the built environment
• Economics of the built environment
• Sustainability and development
• Environmental Decision Making

Business, marketing, accounting and hospitality management

If this is your area of interest, you can choose from:

• Accounting and Financial Information
• Raising Individual Financial Awareness
• Management Accounting
• Accounting information systems
• Corporate and business law
• Corporate Finance
• E-business
• Applied financial skills
• Foundations of Business
• Business Strategy for Competitive Advantage
• International Business
• Microeconomics 1
• Macroeconomics 1
• Business Economics and Financial Markets
• International finance
• Management in International Hospitality and Tourism
• Operational Finance for Hospitality and Tourism
• Festival and Cultural Events Management
• Revenue management and pricing
• Foundations of Marketing
• Customer Relationship Management
• Managing Business Projects
• Purchasing and Supply Chain Management
• Context of International Tourism
• Global Business Communications
• Introduction to people management
• Organisational behaviour and management

Computing specialism module

If Computing is your area of interest, you can choose from:

• Foundations of computation
• Web Technology
• Basic Mathematical Methods I

Humanities, education and publishing

If Humanities, education and publishing is your area of interest, you can choose from:

• Key Issues in Film
• Publishing Principles
• Publishing Business
• Museums and Society
• The social world of childhood and youth
• Psychology and education
• Comparative and international perspectives on education
• Understanding language: systems and use
• Language acquisition
• Understanding Communication
• Understanding Media

Independent Study module

Students studying part-time will take an independent study module instead of a subject specialism module in the summer semester.

Science, nutrition and public health

If Science, nutrition and public health is your area of interest, you can choose from:

• Physiology for human movement
• Physical activity and health
• Scientific skills for health scientists
• Psychology of food
• Motivating health behaviour

Social sciences, international relations and law specialism module

If Social sciences, international relations and law is your area of interest, you can choose from:

• Legal Method
• Commercial Law
• Corporate and business law
• Introduction to Politics
• Introduction to International Relations 1: Perspectives
• Introduction to International Relations 2: Themes and Issues
• Global governance and civil society
• Foundations of developmental psychology
• Learning from influential papers in psychology
• Personality and individual differences
• Biological psychology
• Social differences and divisions
• Foundations of social theory

The Pre-Master's Certificate is a recognised qualification. Most students who successfully complete the course with required grades go on to study for a Master's degree.

You can progress to one of the following Master's degrees after your pre-masters.

• Arts, Publishing and Humanities
• Biological and Medical Sciences
• Business
• Computing and Information Technology
• Education
• Environmental Science and Management
• Health and Social Care
• Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure
• Law
• Real Estate, Construction and Built Environment
• Social Sciences

You must reach the level entry requirements of the Master’s programme. Normally, you can progress to your chosen Master by achieving an average grade of 60% (55% for business/hospitality degrees) on the Pre-Master's Certificate: Study Skills.