Study Skills & Advanced English for Academic Purposes (Course E) Course Info
This course is designed for students who:
- do not speak English as their first language
- have already met the minimum English language entry requirements
- have received an unconditional offer from the University
The Study Skills and Advanced English for Academic Purposes course is designed to assist students with the transition to studying within a UK university context, to provide an ideal opportunity to make friends within Loughborough University’s large international community and to help familiarise students with both the campus and town.
Please note this course is not suitable for native speakers of English.
- Course Aims
- Course Content
- Exchange Students
- Dates and Fees
- Application and Payment
- Accommodation
- Cultural and Social Programme
- Information for Sponsors
- General Information
- Facilities
- Student Welfare
- Frequently Asked Questions
Course Aims
The primary aim of this course is to prepare international students for the demands of their programme of study by:
- equipping students with the academic English and study skills required to cope with the learning demands of a Loughborough degree programme, and;
- assisting students’ integration into the British social and academic environment.
Course Content
By the end of the course, successful students should be better able to:
- select a topic and develop a thesis question / statement;
- read more effectively by using multiple reading strategies for different purposes (prediction, skimming, scanning);
- critically analyse texts for meaning and inference;
- take effective notes from written sources;
- make effective notes from lectures;
- use an appropriate style and level of formality in writing;
- research effectively;
- use correct referencing conventions when using information from source materials;
- compile a bibliography/reference list;
- exploit sources (summarising, quoting, paraphrasing);
- analyse assignment/essay titles;
- demonstrate an ability to plan and write a literature review;
- use appropriate strategies for revising, editing and proof reading;
- function within a variety of speaking situations in an academic context, including seminar discussions and tutorials;
- deliver a short presentation.
All materials are provided and students have 24 hour access to online English for academic purposes materials consolidating tasks done in class.
Students attend a lecture given by Loughborough University’s academic staff in order to practice their listening and note-taking skills. Students are also given training on how to use the library effectively for their studies.
Assessment
Students are required to write a literature review on their subject area.
Exchange Students (e.g. Erasmus)
Although it is not compulsory for exchange students to have a recognised English language qualification, they must have a good level of English in order to be able to understand their University courses and complete their assignments.
If you have not studied English recently, are not confident about your English language ability and/or do not use English regularly, the University would strongly recommend that you attend one of the intensive English language courses (Pre-sessional Courses C or D), or, if this is not possible, the two week Study Skills and Advanced English for Academic Purposes Course (Pre-sessional Course E).
Dates and Fees
For information on Dates and Fees, please go to Dates and Fees for pre-sessional courses.
Application and Payment
For information on how to apply, please go to Application and Payment for pre-sessional courses.
Accommodation
Students have the option of living in a University Hall of Residence during their course. It should be noted, however, that this is not permanent term-time accommodation.
Students will move into their permanent accommodation after the pre-sessional course.
Cultural and Social Programme
As part of the orientation to the local area and to Britain and the British way of life, all pre-sessional students are encouraged to participate in the full and varied Cultural and Social Support Programme (the ‘CSSP’). Please go to the Cultural and Social Support Programme page for more information.
Information for Sponsors
Students who are sponsored should show this section to their sponsor.
Aim
The Pre-sessional Courses aim to help students through the transition period from their own country to Britain. The University strongly recommends that students who have not studied in Britain before should attend a Pre-sessional Course, as this enables them to work much more effectively, and therefore successfully, in a British University environment when their academic courses begin.
Fees
Funders are asked to see this as an important part of the academic course, and to ensure that students are able to attend.
Visas etc.
It is vital that immigration and documentation is processed so that students can arrive in time for their Pre-sessional Course. It is not possible to join the courses late.
General Information
Tutors
In addition to the Head of Department, there is a Team Leader, Senior English for Academic Purposes Tutors and a team of English for Academic Purposes Tutors who are all qualified and experienced in teaching study skills and English as a foreign language. There are also Student Advisers who can help students with practical and personal issues to do with adjusting to their new life at Loughborough University.
In addition to these, there are Student Liaison Assistants, many of whom are Loughborough students, living in the accommodation with the pre-sessional students (for Phase Two from July - September). They help students to become familiar with the University, Loughborough and British culture by arranging cultural and social activities throughout the course.
Facilities
Tuition is within the University campus. Students on all courses will be able to make use of the following facilities:
- On-line English for academic purposes resources
- Library
- Computing services
- Full range of sports facilities
- Shops, cafes, restaurants and bars
Student Welfare
Within the department, students have access to the International Student Advisers, who are able to assist with visa issues, police registration, cultural issues or advice on generally settling in to British life.
Other student welfare support services available to University students include:
- Muslim Prayer Room
- Careers service
- Loughborough Student Advice
- Student Accommodation Services
- University Counselling Service
- Disability & Additional Needs Support
- Chaplaincy
- Dyslexia support
All of the courses also provide an ideal opportunity to make friends within Loughborough University’s large international community, and become familiar with both the campus and town.
Frequently Asked Questions
I do not have an English language qualification, what should I do?
Only students who have been offered a place on an exchange programme at Loughborough University can be accepted without an English language qualification. All other students must have taken a test which shows their English language ability. View information on minimum English language entry requirements. View more information on IELTS or TOEFL.
I do not wish to take an Undergraduate or Postgraduate course at Loughborough University after the pre-sessional. Can I still take a pre-sessional / Study Skills & English for Academic Purposes course?
No. The pre-sessional courses are designed specifically for prospective Loughborough University students.
When and how can I apply for the course?
To apply for PS Course B, C, D or E, please complete our online enquiry form.
How many people are there in each class?
You will be taught in small classes so that you can receive as much individual attention as possible. There will usually be between 12-15 students in each class.
Is the course full-time?
Yes, it is an intensive course and you will have approximately 21 hours of class time per week, plus homework, assignments and assessment preparation that you will be expected to complete outside of class time. You should also be aware that if you do not attend the classes, you will be in breach of the conditions of your place at the University, and you may also be in breach of your visa conditions.
Is there a test at the end of the course?
Students are required to complete a written assignment on their subject area and to give a short presentation to their group.
I don’t have an English language qualification, can I still join a pre-sessional course?
It is NOT possible to accept students on to a pre-sessional course unless they have already taken an English language test such as IELTS or TOEFL and gained the minimum score for entry on to one of the courses. Exchange students (e.g. Erasmus) are exempt from the minimum entry requirements but are encouraged to select a course suitable for their level.
Where will I be living?
Study Skills & Advanced English for Academic Purposes course students are able to live in a fully catered student hall of residence. This is not your permanent term-time accommodation and you should fill in your preference forms to apply for your permanent term-time accommodation and return them to Student Accommodation Services as soon as possible.
Can I bring my wife/husband and family with me?
It is possible to bring your family with you but we would strongly advise against it for several reasons.
- The accommodation we are able to offer you during the course is only suitable for one person, and, therefore, if you were to bring your family with you, you would need to find your own accommodation (please see point above regarding accommodation contracts).
- If you are with your family, you will not be speaking English in the evening and at the weekends and so it will take longer for your English to improve.
- If you arrive before your family, you will be able to make the necessary preparations for them so that they will be comfortable.
- The Study Skills & Advanced English for Academic Purposes course is an intensive, full time course. If you miss lessons, or parts of lessons due to taking or collecting children to or from school, family doctor appointments or other family related issues, it can cause disruption to your study programme and impact negatively upon your success and potential to progress. In addition to this, any unauthorised absences will be recorded and the University may be obliged to report these to the Home Office. This may cause you to be in breach of the conditions of your visa.
Is there a social programme?
There is a social programme throughout the courses. We arrange regular trips to local places of interest or further afield to other parts of the UK, for example, last year the places visited included Cambridge, London, Nottingham, Leicester and York. In addition to this, there is a social and sporting programme, which has in the past included such activities as: trips to the cinema, treasure hunts, quiz nights, walks to local landmarks, evenings out in Loughborough, tennis, squash and five-a-side football.
I need some more information, who do I contact?
If you have any questions about the pre-sessional courses you should contact the English Language Support Services, Student Support Centre: phone +44 1509 228325, fax: +44 1509 223919, email: elsu@lboro.ac.uk or write to the English Language Support Services, Student Support Centre, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leics. LE11 3TU, UK.
If you have questions about your application to the University you should contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office by phone +44 1509 222498, fax +44 1509 223905 or email: admissions-query@lboro.ac.uk; the Postgraduate Taught Course Admissions Office (for MA/MSc enquiries) by phone +44 1509 222496, fax +44 1509 223977 or email pgtaught@lboro.ac.uk; or the Research Student Office (for enquiries regarding PhD or MPhil programmes) by phone +44 1509 222036, fax +44 1509 223938 or email pgresearch@lboro.ac.uk
Alternatively you could contact our International Office by email: international-office@lboro.ac.uk, phone +44 1509 222201 or fax +44 1509 223905.
