Studying successfully at postgraduate level at a British university requires the ability to follow academic lectures and take notes, to contribute to debates and seminars, to read critically, to select reading appropriately, to analyse, synthesise and criticise arguments or points of view, to write, structure and reference essays, a dissertation or a thesis. This course provides you with the English language skills and the academic study skills and confidence to embark successfully on postgraduate university studies. Every four weeks you complete an academic assignment which tests your development and provides a tangible mark of progress.

The course is structured to enable you to study for as long as you require to achieve IELTS 6.5. In the last 8 weeks of the  course the programme includes a Critical Analysis session to hone and develop your critical thinking and research skills. You  focus on the following areas:

Week 1: Introduction to critical analysis and research skills
Week 2: World Politics
Week 3: Business
Week 4: Arts
Week 5: Social Sciences
Week 6: Humanities (Geography / History)
Week 7: Environment
Week 8: Science

Personal tutorials

Your personal tutor monitors your work and helps to motivate you, ensuring that you stay on track to achieve IELTS 6.5.

To apply you must:

- Have a first degree or equivalent
- Have an intermediate level of English (equivalent to IELTS 5.0 or TOEFL 153)

Sample Timetable Preparation for Masters

09.00 - 10.00 Skills Training: Study Skills for Higher Education

10.00 - 10.15 Break

10.15 - 11.15 Language Input: Grammar and Language Structure

11.15 - 11.30 Break

11.30 - 12.30 Critical Analysis: Case Studies and Research

12.30 - 13.30 Lunch

13.30 - 14.30 IELTS Exam Preparation

14.30 - 14.45 Break

14.45 - 15.45 Spoken Academic Performance

All timetables are samples and may be subject to change.

Progress guide

Your present level	Your target level	Course length required
IELTS 4.0	IELTS 6.5	36 weeks
IELTS 5.0	IELTS 6.5	24 weeks
IELTS 5.5	IELTS 6.5	16 weeks
IELTS 6.0	IELTS 6.5	8 weeks

Course start dates and fees 2012

Start dates: 01 January, 29 January, 26 February, 25 March, 22 April, 20 May, 17 June, 12 August, 09 September, 07 October, 04 November, 02 December

Fees: 25 hours per week + one tutorial session per month

	Bournemouth, Brighton and Cambridge
8 weeks	£2528
16 weeks	£4736
24 weeks	£6864
36 weeks	£10296

Examination fees: IELTS £130

> See accommodation fees