International Study Centre

Strathclyde students in class

Accelerated Pre-Masters Programme

Course overview

With the Accelerated Pre-Masters Programme you will receive excellent academic and English language teaching you need for postgraduate success within just 12 weeks (plus induction and exam week). Start in September, and alongside completing your pathway programme faster, you will also progress to the University of Strathclyde in January.

You can choose from two subject routes, depending on the degree you want to study: Business and Social Sciences or Engineering and Sciences. Once you successfully complete this programme and achieve the required grades, you can start your chosen Masters degree at Strathclyde. 

Who is this course for?

This programme helps international students enhance their skills in preparation for postgraduate study in the UK. If you have successfully completed your undergraduate degree in your home country, and need to develop your English or academic skills to study your Masters at the University of Strathclyde, this 12 week programme is for you.

This programme is also a great option if you have a higher IELTS score than what is required for our two-terms Pre-Masters Programme.

Why study this programme?

This course has been designed by expert academics to help international students progress to the University of Strathclyde. Across the 12 weeks, you will study a mix of specialist core modules and route modules based on your chosen progression degree. The modules you study will boost your academic and English language skills in preparation for your chosen postgraduate degree.

What you will study

Core modules

Academic English Skills aims to provide thorough training in the language and related academic skills which will enable international students to best achieve their academic potential at university. Our Academic English programme is validated by UK ENIC, the UK government agency responsible for providing information and expert opinion on qualifications and skills worldwide.

You will develop awareness and competency in a range of language-related academic skills, including the processes of academic writing, effective and extensive reading strategies, effective participation in seminars and delivery of presentations, and listening to and recording information effectively from lectures. You will also develop the accuracy and range of written and spoken language required to use language effectively and appropriately, with clarity and confidence in an academic context.

Alongside your classes, your studies will be supported by an online learning platform, providing you with a range of tasks and activities specifically designed to develop and extend your language and academic skills outside the classroom and to give you more control over your own learning.

This course is specifically designed to provide an opportunity for our Pre-Masters students to establish and advance their understanding of research through critical exploration of research language, ethics, and approaches. This course will not only prepare our students for their Masters degrees at the University of Strathclyde, but will also teach them life-long skills that they can tap on rest of their professional life. The course introduces the language of research, ethical principles and challenges, and the elements of the research process within quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches. Students will use these theoretical underpinnings to begin to critically review literature relevant to their field or interests and determine how research findings are useful in forming their understanding of their work.

The main aim of this course is to equip the students with essential mathematical skills and knowledge for their chosen masters’ degree in business, social sciences and engineering at the University of Strathclyde. The course not only provides fundamental knowledge of mathematics and its application, but will also give the students a much broader context of applications in related disciplines. After completion of this course, the students will be able to appreciate the importance and applications of mathematics in their chosen pathway.

This module seeks to develop awareness of the student’s own skills and abilities, increase recognition of their strengths and weaknesses, build communication skills, and ultimately enhance employability. Career Ahead software is used to prompt students on this learning journey. Students are also familiarised with current theories of leadership, helping them to identify their preferred team role, management ethos and leadership style. Practical skills such as creating bespoke CVs, personal statements, and Personal Development Plans will also be covered.

Route modules

This module aims to provide students with an insight into the fundamental concepts found within the global business arena, in order to provide students with a foundation of knowledge and understanding of the Business Environment and what it might encompass. Students will explore the fundamental concepts of incorporated and unincorporated business models, Organisational Structures, Industry Sectors, Supply Chains & Market Players, Business Practices, Strategic Management, and Financial Planning. Students thus consolidate a strong foundation from which to progress on to Masters’ level study in a Business related subject at the University of Strathclyde.

This module focuses on the study of contemporary Social Sciences with a focus on global issues. Students will interact with a range of contemporary issues, including education, poverty gap and international human rights. There will be an opportunity to explore the concepts in detail, develop understanding of relevant policies and legislation, discuss and debate issues in these contexts as well as extending critical appraisal and evaluation skills throughout the learning journey.

This is a pathway option for students progressing on to Humanities or Social Science degrees. The intention is to for them to gain insight into global perspectives in relevant areas to aid them in their independent research topic as well as enrich their subject specific vocabulary.

The main aim of this course is to equip students with essential programming skills for their chosen postgraduate degree in an engineering discipline at the University of Strathclyde, using the programming language and numeric computing environment MATLAB. The module is designed to give students a basic understanding of MATLAB, including popular toolboxes. MATLAB is a powerful language used by computer scientists, engineers and mathematicians for applications such as image processing and signal analysis. This module also introduces students to appropriate mathematical methods for engineers and explores their application using MATLAB.

Need to improve your IELTS score?

We offer additional English language programmes that are designed to raise your IELTS to the required level.

English Language Preparation  Online for Accelerated Pre-Masters

  • 6 weeks: February or June
  • 10 weeks: May or September

Find out more about our English language preparation courses.

Degree progression

After completing the Accelerated Pre-Masters Programme, and achieving the required progression criteria, you can progress to one of the below postgraduate degrees at the University. (Please see the accordion below for additional information on entry and progression conditions.)

Degree Programme NameAwardOverall GradeEnglish Grade
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Please note

Pre-approval is required for the following Masters before you can receive an offer for the Accelerated Pre-Masters Programme. Students will need to achieve 65% for the Maths for Business and Social Sciences module as well as 65% for the Research Methods and Data Analysis module, and 60% overall for progression to the University.

  • Finance MSc
  • International Accounting & Finance MSc

Students should already be working in an education setting as teaching assistants, teachers, head of department, senior managers, or other professional roles. This Masters course is online only.

  • Genealogical, Palaeographic & Heraldic Studies MSc

This Masters course is online only.

  • Safety & Risk Management MSc

Pre-approval is required for the following Masters before you can receive an offer for the Accelerated Pre-Masters Programme.

  • Advanced Mechanical Engineering MSc
  • Advanced Mechanical Engineering with Aerospace MSc
  • Advanced Mechanical Engineering with Energy Systems MSc
  • Advanced Mechanical Engineering with Materials MSc
  • Advanced Mechanical Engineering with Power Plant Technologies MSc

Join us

Our Student Enrolment Advisors are available to answer any questions you may have and help you with your application. We can't wait to meet you!