Key facts

Overview

University of Oxford Pre-Master's Course 2013-2014

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Gaining a place on a Master's degree course at a prestigious British university is no mean feat. To prepare yourself fully for the challenges that lie ahead you need an uncompromisingly rigorous pre-Master's preparatory course.

Our long-running and highly successful Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in British and European Studies course offers pre-Master's students a unique opportunity to prepare for graduate entry to leading British universities.

From your very first day as a student on the Advanced Diploma in British and European Studies course you follow a full programme of academic study across a number of disciplines including the Humanities (History, Literature, Art History), Politics and International Relations and the Social Sciences which you combine with classes in academic writing and advanced English language development.

You will study in small seminar groups and will also receive individual weekly language tutorials. Additionally, in your second and third terms, you have the opportunity to focus on a subject of special interest to you on which you write a 5,000-word tutorial essay. You will also benefit from the advice and support of a personal tutor during weekly academic tutorials.

The Oxford pre-Master's course would be ideal for you if…

• you graduated from a university outside the UK
• you need to improve your academic English skills
• you are looking for a challenging and stimulating pre-Master's course
• you need to improve your critical thinking and develop strong analytical skills
• you would like to optimise your potential for success in a British university environment
• you intend to apply for a Master's course in a subject that is different from your undergraduate degree

You will benefit from approximately 15 contact teaching hours per week.

The Oxford pre-Master's course lasts a full academic year and consists of:

• A pre-sessional orientation course
• An academic module
• An English language module

Oxford pre-Master's Minimum English Language Requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English require a minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5 at entry. You must have taken your IELTS test before you make your application.

Native or near-native English-speaking students

We also accept applications for the pre-Master's/Advanced Diploma in British and European Studies course from students with native or near native speaker proficiency in English. In such cases, the English language module may be waived and students follow an additional academic module . Students choose from a wide range of lectures in subjects of their choice relating to British and European Studies, e.g. history, literature, politics. This allows them to study an area (or areas) of specific personal interest in depth.

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Description

Orientation Course

Your introduction to the pre-Master's UG Advanced Diploma in British and European Studies programme, and to your year at the University of Oxford, takes the form of an intensive two-week course of language practice, academic study skills and cultural orientation.

You will experience a rigorous and intellectually stimulating academic programme in British & European civilisation and culture taught through a wide range of academic subjects (approx 6 contact hours per week) over 3 terms.

Academic Module - British Studies

• Political, Economic & Social History of Britain 1918-2010
• The Face of the Nation? British Politics Today
• British Society Today
• Writing Now: Contemporary Literature in English
• Religion in Britain Today
• From Heritage to Cool Britannia: British Cinema since the '80s

Academic Module - European Studies

• Project Europe? A History of Unity (& Division) 1792-1992
• European Integration
• European Politics 2000-2013
• European Art

In your second term, you will choose a topic of special interest to you for an extended essay which you submit at the end of the third term. You will also benefit from the support of an academic tutor who will advise you and supervise your work in weekly one-to-one tutorials.

English Language Module

A team of highly experienced and well-qualified expert language tutors will help you rapidly improve your language skills by teaching you in small seminar groups for maximum progress. Additionally, you will also benefit from a weekly one-to-one academic writing tutorial.

You take the following English classes (approx. 10 contact hours per week):

• Academic Writing
• Contemporary Britain in Focus: reading
• Contemporary Britain in Focus: listening
• English Grammar
• Speaking Skills
• Word Study
• Writing Skills

You will also maintain a personal language portfolio in which you will set individual learning objectives, as well as record and monitor your progress and achievements throughout the year.

Course Books and Materials

All course books and study materials for both academic and English language modules are included in your course fees.

British Heritage & Culture

During your year at Oxford University, to help you discover the real Britain, we include a series of study visits at no extra cost such as:

• St Paul's Cathedral
• London Theatre visit
• Houses of Parliament
• Ashmolean Museum
• National Gallery
• A Shakespeare play in Stratford-upon-Avon

Please note that places visited may change from year to year.

Course Dates 2013 - 2014

The Advanced Diploma in British and European Studies requires a full academic year of study:

• Pre-sessional course (23 September – 4 October 2013)
• Term 1: Michaelmas (7 October – 13 December 2013)
• Term 2: Hilary (13 January – 14 March 2014)
• Term 3: Trinity (21 April – 20 June 2014)

A typical teaching day starts at 9.15 a.m. and ends at 3.30 p.m. during which you take up to three 90-minute classes. You also benefit from small study groups and individual weekly tutorials.

Each day, during your daily morning break, we invite you to relax in our Common Room and enjoy complimentary tea/coffee and biscuits.

Course aims

The Oxford pre-Master's UG Advanced Diploma in British and European Studies course aims to...

• improve your academic English writing and study skills
• enhance your critical thinking skills
• deepen your knowledge of British and European culture and civilisation
• boost your English language communication skills
• prepare you for further study at Master's degree level in the UK

FAQs - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Certification

Upon successful course completion, students will be awarded a University of Oxford Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in British and European Studies.

Assessment methods

Assessment for the Oxford pre-Master's UG Advanced Diploma in British and European Studies consists of continuous assessment in the form of coursework assignments and seminar presentations for both English and academic subjects, as well as an extended academic essay on a specialist subject of your choice. When researching and writing your extended essay, you will benefit from individual academic tutorials.

Michaelmas Term 2013
Two academic essays each of 1,500 - 2,000 words
English Language portfolio of 3,500 words max

Hilary Term 2014
Three academic essays each of 1,500 - 2,000 words
One English language essay of 1,500 - 2,000 words
English Language portfolio of 2,000 words max

Trinity Term 2014
Two academic essays each of 1,500 - 2,000 words
One extended academic essay of 4,000 - 5,000 words
English Language portfolio of 2,500 words

Teaching methods

Teaching Resources, Methods & Study Support

Our teaching and learning facilities are first class with modern tutorial and seminar rooms, libraries and reading rooms, and dedicated student IT facilities.

Your tutors will adopt a range of teaching methods that will include lectures, group discussion, critical thinking and problem-solving tasks, and role play in order to encourage independent learning and to develop your intellectual and analytical skills.

• You will receive a minimum of 15 contact teaching hours each week
• You will study in small seminar groups for academic subjects
• You will follow academic lectures
• You will actively participate in communicative English language classes
• You will receive one-to-one academic writing tutorials throughout your year
• You will receive one-to-one specialist academic tutorials in Terms 2 and 3

Teaching outcomes

By the end of your Advanced Diploma in British and European Studies course, you are expected to be able to demonstrate:

• sustained improvement in all four English language skills
• the ability to write well-structured and accurately-referenced essays
• the ability to apply your knowledge of how language works to the analysis of a wide range of primary texts
• enhanced knowledge of the structure, levels and discourse functions of English
• a developing ability to read critically
• a developing ability to participate in intellectual debate, both orally and on paper
• knowledge of essential and precise critical and linguistic terminology
• an awareness of how language produces and reflects cultural change

You will also be expected to have developed a range of transferable skills including:

• the discipline of independent study
• the ability to write clearly and literally
• the ability to think clearly
• the ability to evaluate and critically analyse secondary sources
• skills in note-taking, the use of libraries, and the location of learning resources
• confidence in the use of oral and written arguments
• the ability to interact effectively within a learning group
• effective presentation skills

What our former students say about the course

'Fantastic experience....it's a very enjoyable and beneficial course.' (Student, China)

'A wonderful academic experience. I'll never forget it.' (Student, Azerbaijan)

'An unforgettable programme! The holistic combination of interesting classroom learning and exciting field trips made the subjects taught come alive. Overall a thoroughly recommended course!' (Student, Singapore)

'I had a fantastic time on this course...The academic study skills I gained have benefitted me enormously...The course will have a life-long influence on me.' (Student, China)

'I learned a lot and the experience in Oxford was definitely the turning point in my life...The Advanced Diploma course has given me a great advantage over other students on the Master's course I'm now taking.' (Student, Japan)

Accommodation

Accommodation & College Facilities

As an associate student of Oxford University you will be ‘attached’ to one of the University’s 38 colleges. This means that you can enjoy the social life of your college and meet many British students with whom you can practise and improve your English.

Normally, colleges will reserve single-study bedroom accommodation for you (mostly en suite) with shared kitchen facilities and which costs approximately £130 a week. This entitles you to use a wide range of facilities which naturally vary from college to college, but will usually include:

• Common Room
• Dining Hall
• Library (some offer 24-hour access)
• IT facilities
• Café/Coffee shop
• Gym & sporting facilities
• TV room
• Bar
• Laundry

Accommodation type varies from college to college and can either be in the college itself or elsewhere in Oxford. Alternatively, you may rent private accommodation in the city.

Our students have enjoyed attachments to: Green Templeton College, Lady Margaret Hall, Linacre College, Mansfield College, Merton College, St. Anne’s College, St. Cross College, St. Hilda's College, St. Hugh’s College, The Queen’s College and Wolfson College.

Please note that college accommodation fills up very fast. We would, therefore, advise you to apply as early as possible as it becomes increasingly difficult to secure accommodation from late spring onwards.

Libraries

Students on the pre-Master's UG Advanced Diploma in British and European Studies course have access to a number of libraries across the University including the unrivalled resources of the renowned Bodleian Library.

Payment

The per person fees for the nine-month British and European Studies programme are:

• Tuition fees: £13,354
• College fee: £2,556

Successful students will be invoiced on offer of a place for a deposit of £1,000. This non-refundable deposit MUST be paid within four weeks to hold your place. After 28 June 2013, successful students will be invoiced in full.

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