Programme content

The Graduate Diploma is divided into three distinct sections comprising English language tuition, study and research skills, and academic subject-specific content.  All students will study a combination of modules to a total value of 120 credits and will be advised which modules to follow during their academic induction.

Academic English language support

English is a critical part of the programme and allows students to develop the necessary English language competence for successful postgraduate study in the UK. It covers reading, writing, listening and speaking. At the end of the programme, the English language component is internally assessed and students will need to achieve an English language level comparable to IELTS 6.5/7.0 to progress to a Master’s degree (as required by the particular MA/MSc programme).

Study and Research Skills

The Study and Research Skills module is an essential preparation for postgraduate university life and will help students develop the necessary skill set for postgraduate-level study. This will include: working effectively in groups, presenting ideas in a logical manner, managing time, taking lecture notes, and developing research and dissertation skills.

Academic modules

The programme also provides students with the opportunity to improve their understanding of key academic subjects through studying subject-specific modules that relate to the academic content of their chosen postgraduate degree programme.