International Foundation Programme

Intensive English For Academic Study

Understanding the Modern World.

This interdisciplinary module encourages students to develop the skills and vocabulary needed to successfully engage with English Literature and Art History programmes at degree level. Having developed an understanding of the historical contexts of literatures in English and of art practices and institutions across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas, students will be enabled to break free from traditional Anglocentric and Eurocentric canons. Through exploration and discovery, comparison and contrast, and deeper analysis and evaluation, it is hoped that a more profound understanding and enjoyment of art and literature will be cultivated. 

This module addresses major aspects of business studies and economics by relating the core topics of business studies to economic contexts. Emphasis is placed on the overall concepts involved and the way they interact. Short case studies will be utilised during tutorials throughout the module, thus allowing students to apply their knowledge to real business situations.? Students will acquire an understanding of both business theory and economics and how to apply one to the other with some basic analytical techniques.

The module explores the world of politics. It aims to provide participants with a knowledge of concepts, ideas and practices to enable them to evaluate political activities and outcomes. This course also offers students the opportunity to discuss, measure and evaluate their own views on politics.  The first segment of five lectures and classes will survey key sets of ideas (ideologies) and concepts that have informed the analysis and practice of politics. The second segment of two lectures will then concentrate on government and politics – or the practice and application of politics - by taking a look at the British political system. The final segment of three lectures will look at politics in the international realm and in particular, the political relations between states.

This is a vibrant multidisciplinary field drawing on economics, politics, law, anthropology and other social science subjects. Current discussions on development issues are analysed on the module including, how levels of development should be measured, Sustainable Development Goals, the effect of colonialism and weaknesses in political governance on the development process, the impact of grassroots protest movements and the work of NGOs, and the role of foreign aid as a vehicle for development. 

The course introduces students to the discipline of history, helping them to understand different approaches, themes and schools of history and to develop an awareness of the craft of the historian. It is a course for students who want to understand why the world is structured the way that it is.  This course will provide insights into the events, people and cultures that have shaped the modern world.  The course examines the history of the world since the eighteenth century looking at the rise and fall of political and economic systems in this period. It will consider and attempt to explain the rise of European (and US) power in the world and examine the legacy of this imperial past.  Throughout the course we will examine the debates generated by historians as they attempt to explain these huge changes and students will be encouraged to think critically about the opinions offered by various thinkers. 

This module is designed for students who have studied mathematics at High School and focuses on the mathematical and statistical background and skills which are particularly relevant for the study of economics, business and finance. It aims to bridge the gap between high school and undergraduate mathematics by providing students with a deeper grounding in key mathematical and statistical concepts and the English terminology of the subject. The module covers topics in algebra, calculus, probability and statistics.?Students will learn how to work with matrices in order to solve systems of equations. They will also be introduced to differential and integral calculus and will learn how to solve optimization problems as well as various types of differential equations. Students will further be introduced to the concepts of probabilities, random variables, various density functions, descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing. A strong emphasis is put on the connection between the mathematical concepts taught and their application in the fields of economics, business and finance.

The module explores the way international law is made and the role that organisations like the United Nations, the International Court of Justice and the World Trade Organisation play in the creation, interpretation, and enforcement of international law.

It examines critically how international law aims to govern the use of force by States, protect human rights and the environment, regulate economic cooperation between nations, and punish those individuals who commit serious international crimes such as genocide.

The module provides a broad introduction to the practice and theories central to mass media engagement in contemporary Western society. Key areas of knowledge are introduced, drawing on examples from print and digital platforms, television, film and the internet. Media is not just receptive but actively creative of the world we inhabit. How we attend to media makes all the difference to the world we experience. How mediated words, sounds and images attend to us also makes a difference to how we interpret the world. 

This module allows students to reflect upon utilizing the world through media and understanding the world through media. It posits that Western media inhibits the latter at the expense of the former.