Program Overview

Pre-Masters Programme at our International Study Centre prepares you for your degree at Lancaster University. You will focus on English language, university-level study skills, and academic modules that relate to your degree subject.

Your postgraduate preparation
The Pre-Masters Programme is available over two or three terms at the International Study Centre, providing you with the skills necessary for postgraduate study at Lancaster University. You will  build on the knowledge gained in your earlier studies whilst developing your practical English language and mathematical abilities, as well as study and research skills.

You will develop an intellectual appreciation of issues relevant to your chosen degree through classes designed specifically for international students. These will be based on study and careers skills, as well as subject specific modules, which prepare you for your chosen Masters degree at Lancaster.

How does it work?
When you apply to the International Study Centre, you will choose between two pathways, depending on your career aims. Upon acceptance to the Pre-Masters Programme, you will also receive a conditional offer to study a Masters degree at Lancaster University after successful completion of your Pre-Masters.

Business, Law and Social Sciences
By studying the Pre-Masters Programme in Business, Law and Social Sciences, you can prepare for a successful future in a wide range of roles across business and management, law and the social sciences. The programme leads to a variety of Masters degrees at Lancaster University, including some at the Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) – one of the top 100 business schools in the world.

Programme structure
During this programme, you will study subject specific modules to prepare for your future Masters degree, as well as academic study and English language skills. You will discover how to undertake independent research, as well as developing your writing fluency for postgraduate level. The programme also explores contemporary global issues whilst encouraging you to expand your knowledge by critically analysing the subject matter.

Diplomacy and International Law
The LLM/MA Diplomacy and International Law is a flexible and engaging degree that provides an introduction to diplomacy, foreign policy and international law. Jointly delivered by the Law School and the Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion (PPR), it enables you to deepen your understanding of the social, legal, economic and political issues playing out on the world’s stage.

Our Law School is home to the Centre for Crime, Law and Justice, the Centre for Law and Society, and the Centre for Child and Family Justice. These centres underpin our postgraduate teaching and you will have access to the expertise of academics working in the field of research into politics, international relations, legal and socio-legal issues.

The pathway for the LLM/MA ensures a duality in the nature of your studies. Core and elective modules from the Law School and PPR and a 20,000 word dissertation enable you to pursue your own interests whilst becoming practiced at looking at issues from different perspectives.

The dissertation is an independent, in-depth inquiry into a research topic of your choosing that has been agreed together with your academic supervisor. The topic should link to a key legal or political question or issue and may also directly relate to your professional/career interests. This is your opportunity to make a contribution to the academic community with new, original research and writing. A dissertation supervisor can provide you with support and introduce you to relevant material and research; our aim is that their personal research interests will align with your chosen topic, wherever possible.

The supervising department for your dissertation, and the balance of modules studied, dictate which award you will receive: LLM or MA.

You will have the opportunity to develop the skills required to critically evaluate research; inter-disciplinary skills; and, to enhance your analytical and communication skills.