This two-year course combines Academic English and a Master’s course to offer an accelerated route for international students with an HND, or equivalent, in a subject related to their chosen Master’s degree.
The first year of the course develops English Language academic skills as well as the appropriate subject knowledge required to progress to a Master’s course. Students will study Academic English and become familiar with the conventions of study in a Higher Education environment in the UK during their first semester. In the second semester of level 6, they will study modules in the receiving faculty of their chosen Master’s course enabling them to be fully prepared to progress to the full Master’s course in their second year.
Aim of level 6 and of the International Master’s Framework:
to develop students’ ability in English language and knowledge in appropriate subjects to enable them to progress to a full Master’s course.
Objectives of level 6 International Master’s Framework:
develop academic skills and conventions to prepare students for postgraduate study;
give students a high quality learning experience based upon a coherent and integrated programme of study;
develop English language proficiency in social and academic contexts;
enable students to develop research skills to equip them for postgraduate study;
provide a supportive environment which helps students develop their oral and written communication skills and subject knowledge.
Aims and Objectives of the specific Masters’ awards will be identified in individual course documentation.
Employability and Professional Context
The level 6 Framework prepares students for study at Master’s level.
Schools offering the Masters’ awards will provide specific detail in their documentation.
36 Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
1 Communicate clearly in the English language in a range of situations for social, academic and business purposes to an appropriate level for postgraduate study.
2 Operate confidently and effectively within the context of British Higher Education using a range of appropriate study and key skills.
3 Manage their own learning and work to deadlines.
4 Carry out an independent study in English related to their subject area and develop the ability and critical thinking skills to evaluate and interpret qualitative and quantitative data.
5 Work with confidence in an inter-cultural environment and demonstrate appropriate intercultural awareness.
6 Work effectively in a group situation.
Graduate Attributes Global Outlook
This course develops the students’ global outlook not only through the study of a foreign language (English Language), but also through the comparative study of Britain’s social and cultural learning environments with the students’ own and each other’s countries
Every module that the student studies will be based on content which is largely based outside the experience of the students’ home country and culture. Students will be taught in multicultural groups as far as possible to foster cross-cultural awareness. There will be diversity on the course in terms of students’ backgrounds and this will used as a positive learning resource across all modules.
Digital Literacy
The course will develop digital literacy systematically and coherently. Students need to access a wide variety of digital resources for many of the assessment tasks they have to complete. Tailored sessions with the Tutor Librarian for Languages ensure that students learn to make full use of the Library’s many electronic and digital resources.
37 Enterprise
Enterprise is embedded within specific modules and assessed in some, these are identified in the table below. Where appropriate students will be encouraged to undertake a 2-week work experience or participate in volunteering.
Course Structure
Year 1 (Level 6) Semester 1 Research Skills
20 credits
Language Studies 20 credits
Cultural Studies 20 credits Semester 2
Independent Study 20 credits
Subject Module 20 credits
Subject Module 20 credits
Year 2 (Level 7)
Modules specific to each individual Master’s award (180 credits)
In the first semester of Level 6, students will study three language modules which are designed to help students develop academic and study skills of relevance to UK Higher education and to increase their English Language level from 5.5 to 6.0 or above.
In the second semester of Level 6, students will study two modules in the School of their chosen Master’s. The third module, Independent Study, will be studied in the School of Languages.
38 Assessment Arrangements
Subject modules will be assessed by the other School and will go to their Subject Examination Committees and the marks then received at the Examination Board in the School of Languages where their progression will be considered.
To satisfactorily complete level 6 and progress to their Masters’ awards, students will have:
pursued a programme of study of 120 credit points
satisfied the submission and attainment requirements for each module of study
achieved the overall learning outcomes by attaining or exceeding - an average of 40% or more across all modules
- a minimum of 40% or more in modules equivalent to 100 credits - an overall average of 30% or more in each module studied
In line with University regulations failure to achieve an average of 30% from all components of assessment of a module will mean that reassessment is required in that module.
Students will be eligible for reassessment in all failed modules (once only for any module during the level). The maximum mark achievable is 40%, and all reassessment will be on a component basis. Students who do not pass the level will be able to repeat once only.
Learning & Teaching Approaches
The Framework has been designed in accordance with the University Learning and Teaching Strategy:
www.leedsmet.ac.uk/Learning_and_Teaching_Strategy_Approved_28072011.pdf
Students are encouraged to reflect on their knowledge, experience and practice, particularly through a process of peer interaction.
Active learning will be used as the foundation of the learning process. Teaching methods used within the course are diverse and provide variety to the student learning experience.
Methods may include lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, seminars, practical work, online learning activities and directed study. The course will, where appropriate, embrace a blended learning approach in its delivery to exploit the full potential of the University’s VLE and other media.
The course team is committed to develop students’ cross-cultural capability and global perspective by facilitating students’ awareness, knowledge and understanding of the similarities and dissimilarities of those cultures or societies of the target language in comparison with their own.
39 Practically all language teaching and tuition takes place in seminars and tutorials, rather than through lectures, with normal maximum class sizes of 20 students. The teaching methods are learner-centred and develop students’ language skills, learning strategies and independent learning. The classes concentrate on the use of language for communication using real-life tasks wherever possible. Pair and group work is used extensively to maximise the amount of time the language is used in class. Teaching methods used within the course are also diverse and provide variety to the student learning experience. These include a combination of formal and informal seminars, individual and group tutorials, digitally-supported learning, independent, pair and group tasks, individual research and presentations. All the teaching methods deployed match the aims and learning outcomes of each module. In addition, guided independent learning tasks and regular feedback are given to support work done in class and to prepare for later classes.
Module Titles
Core Project Proposal Project Presentation Oral Commentary Use of English Individual Reflective Evaluation
Research Skills (level 6) Y 60 40
Language Studies (level 6) Y 40 60
Cultural Studies (level 6) Y 50 50
Independent Study Y 100
Subject specific modules will be outlined in individual course documentation