Course content - 4-week Pre-sessional (on campus)

If you have an unconditional offer for The University of Manchester you can study on our 4-week Pre-sessional course.

The course aims to:

  • raise your level of academic skills;
  • improve your confidence working in an academic environment;
  • help to prepare you for studying at this University.

Each week you will work towards completing an academic task, such as a group presentation, seminar discussion or producing an academic poster.

Each week your studies will include:

  • 12 hours per week of tutor-led sessions in groups of up to 18 students;
  • approximately ten hours per week of interactive tasks to be completed either in study groups of up to five students on campus, or individually online;
  • an individual tutorial meeting of approximately fifteen-minutes with your tutor, or a 30-minute group tutorial meeting with your study group and tutor.

Timetable

Sample timetable:

  Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

10.00am - 11.30am*

Tutor-led session

Academic task:
An introduction to poster presentations

Academic reading: 
Navigating a journal article
Academic writing: 
Rewording information from sources 
Academic speaking: 
Delivering poster presentations
Individual tutorials
11.30am-12.00pm  B R E A K

12.00pm - 1.30pm

Tutor-led session

Academic research skills: 
An Introduction to the University libraries 

Academic reading: 
Taking notes when reading

Academic writing: 
Incorporating sources into your writing

Academic speaking: 
Delivering poster presentations

Individual tutorials

1.30pm - 2.30pm

 B R E A K 

2.30pm - 3.30pm

Study groups

 

 

Academic task: 
Practising poster presentations

 Academic study skills: 
Group reflection on task performance
 

1-2 hours

Individual study

Academic research skills: 
Evaluating sources

Academic task:
Preparing poster presentation

Academic writing: 
Reference lists

 

Academic study skills: 
Weekly reflection & goal setting

*All times are local, UK time

Technical requirements

All materials will be electronic and accessed via Blackboard, which is our virtual learning environment (VLE).

To access these aspects of the course you must have:

  • access to a laptop or a tablet - mobile phones are not suitable;
  • a fast, reliable internet connection (we recommend a minimum speed of 2mbps).
  • a webcam;
  • a microphone;
  • headphones.