What will I learn on this module?
Studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition to postgraduate level study in the use and practice of subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to further develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills suitable for a postgraduate level of study.
The topics you will cover on the module include:
• Understanding postgraduate assignment briefs.
• Developing advanced academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising advanced ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring postgraduate level academic assignments (e.g. essays, dissertations and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Speaking in postgraduate seminar presentations.
• Giving discipline-related postgraduate level academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Postgraduate level speed reading techniques.
How will I learn on this module?
This module is taught by interactive seminars and use of practical group activities in the sessions.
The material delivered in practical workshops is designed to enhance your capabilities as an independent postgraduate learner. This will involve some self-directed learning and will test your ability to interact with others during group sessions. The sessions will be tailored to address some of the specific issues that you meet within your chosen discipline.
Individual attendance and your participation in group work is essential to your learning and as such forms part of your summative assessment. You will be expected to participate in the classes and may be asked to complete preparation tasks provided by your tutor.
How will I be supported academically on this module?
All teaching materials for the module are made available on the module electronic learning portal (eLP) site. You will be provided with a teaching and learning plan that outlines the formal sessions. You may be asked to use both email and eLP to share ideas and feedback.
Teaching staff can be contacted anytime during normal office hours, or via email, to answer questions, receive feedback and support your learning on the module.
What will I be expected to read on this module?
All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.
What will I be expected to achieve?
Knowledge & Understanding:
• Structure and format of Post-graduate assessments
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• MLO1: Read critically, and use a variety of information sources effectively
• MLO2: Recognise and apply the conventions of academic writing, and write effectively within an academic context
• MLO3: Collate subject-related information, reference and organise those resources, and prepare and deliver academic presentations
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• MLO4: Assess personal strengths and weaknesses in relation to academic study and language skills, and identify strategies that can be used to further develop their skills.
How will I be assessed?
Summative Assessment:
The module is assessed by three components. These are attendance, a group presentation and a 300 word written
assignment. They are all pass/fail
Attendance of 70% of the timetabled sessions is required. [All MLOs]
Preparation and delivery of an 4 minute individual presentation that is relevant to your area of study. [MLO3]
Individual written assessment that is relevant to your subject discipline. [MLO2]
Formative Assessment:
You are expected to participate in a one formative written task and one formative presentation that are provided in semester 1.
Pre-requisite(s)
None
Co-requisite(s)
None
Module abstract
The aim of this module is to support your study, language and communication skills for academic purposes in the study in your chosen discipline at postgraduate level. The module is designed to enable you to become an advanced independent learner. The module is supported by a teaching and learning plan which outlines the formal sessions. Interactive workshops will be tailored to address some of the specific issues that you meet within your discipline. You may also be asked to complete some preparation tasks for some seminars but these will be kept to minimum. You will be expected to identify those skills which you need within your postgraduate programme, and to develop these independently through a range of learning activities that might include extended reading, and reflection.
Course info
Credits 0
Level of Study Postgraduate
Mode of Study 1 year Full Time
Department Northumbria Law School
Location City Campus, Northumbria University
City Newcastle
Start September 2025
All information is accurate at the time of sharing.
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.
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