English and Study Skills (including Summer School)
COURSE INFORMATION (2013 ENTRY)
One, two or three semesters full-time
Arts, Design and Social SciencesSquires Building, Newcastle City Campus
Who is the course for?
This full-time programme is ideal if your academic qualifications meet the requirements for your chosen undergraduate or postgraduate course, but your English language level falls below the entry requirements of the academic course you wish to join.
What will I learn?
The programme will provide you with the language and other academic skills necessary for you to gain the maximum benefit from your future academic course. You will develop these skills in a content-based approach to learning involving critical thinking, questioning, discussion, reflection and analysis. You will also develop the ideas and concepts necessary to participate in the global academic community. By the end of the course you will feel confident to research your subject, deal with a range of academic texts, attend lectures, take part in seminars and tutorials, and produce extended written academic assignments.
How long will I need to study?
You will be tested on arrival and will join one of three courses depending on your language level and your proposed course of study (undergraduate or postgraduate). You will study for one, two or three semesters.
How will I study?
Teaching and learning takes place in seminars, lectures, tutorials and workshops. In addition, students engage in independent study involving directed and self-directed learning and can use our Language Resource Centre which offers a multimedia facility for language development.
You will study in groups averaging no more than 16 in number (maximum 18). Each class will have 18 50-minute sessions each week Monday to Friday including individual and group guidance tutorials and one-to-one academic tutorials. You will also be expected to do at least an equal amount of out-of-class study. Most learning materials will be supplied; however, you may be required to buy one textbook (£15-20). Each week classes focus on a topic of global importance and include a lecture and a seminar based on assigned readings as well as other skills classes in speaking, listening, reading, writing and grammar based on the topic and the reading texts. A particular emphasis is placed on reading and writing academic English and you will be supported in producing extended writing as part of your assessment. Pre-Masters students also work in teams to engage in research projects using a range of methodologies and present their findings both orally and in the form of a written research report.
You will be assigned your own Guidance Tutor who will provide academic and pastoral support and be your first point of contact if you have questions or problems.
How will I progress?
Progress to the next level or onto your chosen academic course depends on a mix of continuous assessment and end- of-semester examinations (not IELTS).
The Summer Semester (Summer School)
In the summer we run an 11-week (10 weeks of study plus one week of assessment) or a 6-week (5 weeks of study plus one week of assessment) programme. The 11-week course is as described above with 2 additional teaching sessions per week. The 6-week course is similar but is only suitable for students who have already achieved, or are very close to, the English language entry requirement for their chosen degree course. We strongly urge only such students to apply for this course. Please contact us for further information.
Please note that if you start the course in June you must enrol for 11 weeks. There is no mid-point assessment.
Both courses offer you a programme of social, cultural and sporting events run in conjunction with Northumbria University Students' Union. We also offer a programme of visits to key tourist attractions such as Edinburgh, York, Hadrian’s Wall, and Northumbrian castles. The countryside and coast of Northumberland is extremely beautiful and has a rich heritage while Newcastle is a vibrant city famous for its culture and nightlife. There is no charge for these trips but you may need to pay entrance fees to castles and museums etc.
OTHER INFO
Course Dates
Students must arrive at the Centre on the first date shown for testing, enrolment and induction. Teaching begins on the second date shown.
Semester 1 (12 weeks including assessment week)
Enrolment – Friday 14 and Saturday 15 September 2012
Induction Week – Monday 17 September to Friday 21 September
Teaching Starts – Monday 24 September
Assessment Week – week commencing Monday 10 December
Semester 2 (12 weeks including assessment week)
Induction/Enrolment – Monday 14 January to Friday 18 January 2013
Teaching Starts – Monday 21 January
Easter Break - 24 March to 12 April
Teaching Resumes - 15 April 2013
Assessment Week – week commencing Monday 29 April
Summer School Block 1 (11 weeks including assessment week)
Induction/Enrolment – Monday 10 June to Friday 14 June 2013
Teaching Starts – Monday 17 June
Last date of entry – Friday 24 June
Assessment Week – week commencing Tuesday 27 August
Block 2 (6 weeks including assessment week)
Induction/Enrolment – Monday 15 July to Friday 19 July 2013
Teaching Starts – Monday 22 July
Late date of Entry – Friday 29 July
Assessment Week – week commencing Tuesday 27 August
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Northumbria University has taken reasonable care to ensure that the information published is accurate at the time of publication. However, the University gives no warranty or representation as to the quality, accuracy or completeness of the information.
