Pre-Master's Certificate - English Language and Study Skills

If you are a non-native speaker of English and want a short course to prepare you for your future Master's course, this course will suit you. You will develop your study skills, academic language level and subject knowledge in your chosen area. You will understand the demands of British postgraduate higher education so feel confident to start your degree.

Native and near-native speakers of English who would like to study in the summer semester (May-August) also have the option of taking this course. The individual needs of all students, including their language proficiency, will be taken into account in the programme.

All students who study in the summer semester will develop an independent study supervised by a subject specialist as part of their preparation for their Master's, in addition to modules in academic writing, reading and seminar skills. Please contact us if you would like to discuss this course and whether it is suitable for you.

Study modules

The course consists of three language and study skills modules, together with your chosen subject module. You can choose your module from a range of subjects that include business, tourism, hospitality and leisure, law, social sciences, arts, humanities, computing and technology.

Compulsory modules

Advanced Reading and Research Skills

This module enables you to carry out research for reports, essays, seminars and other presentations effectively and appropriately. 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 learn to employ correct quotation, paraphrasing and citation techniques, and to write a bibliography following academic conventions. You will widen your library research skills and develop the necessary extensive and intensive reading skills as preparation for writing and seminar assignments at the master’s level.

Extended Writing Project

This module offers the opportunity to undertake a research project leading to an extended research paper in your academic field (in the format of a report or essay), and to a reflective essay on the process followed, as preparation for postgraduate study. 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 a varied pedagogical approach of classes, tutorials, lectures, workshops and online discussion forums.

Advanced Seminar Skills

This module develops and practises advanced listening, seminar and presentation skills for academic purposes. The module includes the practice of listening to lectures with note-taking and summary writing activities. You will get varied speaking practice is given in the form of pair and group discussions, consensus activities and a formal debate. You will develop your presentation skills with a researched individual presentation in your own discipline.

Subject specialism 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
• The Human-Computer Interface

Independent study module (students starting in June)

Students starting in June take an independent study module instead of the subject specialism module.

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

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 complete the course go on to study for a Master's degree at Oxford Brookes or other universities. A Pre-Master’s Certificate enables you to progress to the subject areas listed below.

• Arts, Publishing and Humanities
• Biological and Medical Sciences
• Business
• Computing and Information Technology
• Education
• 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.