University Preparation Courses in Newcastle, UK

Northumbria University, Newcastle:
Northumbria University is one of the UK's largest and most respected modern universities and offers a range of undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees to UK-based students and international students from around the world. Located in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in north-east England, we welcome students from a wide variety of countries including Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South East and East Asia, Latin-America and the Indian Sub continent. We offer two university preparation (pre-sessional) courses for international students whose English language skills or academic qualifications fall below the entry requirements for their course at Northumbria University.

University Preparation Courses in Newcastle, UK:

- International Foundation Programme:
Offered by the Northumbria Language Centre, this is a full-time course that begins in September and lasts for two semesters with final assessment taking place in June. It has been carefully designed to meet the needs of students whose qualifications and English language skills fall below the entry requirements for their chosen Bachelors degree. You will have 15 hours of class contact per week, in addition to tutorials and independent study. 

This programme offers you the opportunity to develop your English language and study skills, combined with the study of academic subjects, which will meet the entry requirements for a degree course of your choice. It helps you to participate fully in lectures, seminars and project work and develop your independence. It also specifically develops your awareness of intercultural issues to enable you to integrate well into student life within a UK university.  Teaching and learning is carried out through seminars, lectures, tutorials and workshops. In addition, students are given time for independent study through self-directed learning.

Students will study modules in: English Language; Intercultural Communication; Study Skills; Applied Mathematics; Information Technology (IT)

On successful completion, you will receive a Higher Education Foundation Certificate which is nationally recognized in the UK and achieve access onto a 3 or 4 year undergraduate course of your choice (depending on entry requirements). You will have reached an academic level beyond a school leaving certificate and will have developed your English language and study skills to a level that suitably prepares you for undergraduate study.

- English and Study Skills Course:
Our English and Study Skills course is a full-time course that can be taken for one, two or three semesters. It is an ideal choice 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. 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 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. 

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 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. 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. 

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. 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):
The English and Study Skills course is also offered in summer for either 11 weeks (10 weeks of study plus one week of assessment) or 6 weeks (5 weeks of study plus one week of assessment). 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.

For further information on our university preparation courses for international students, please email us via our Contact Page.