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.

Strategy
Today's businesses and organisations operate in a global context of disruption and uncertainty. Whether for-profit or not-for-profit, public or private, all are affected by political, ecological and demographic complexities. So what are the implications for those organisations and businesses? They must be quick to change. And they must change strategically.

Endorsed by Ernst & Young (EY) and Gränges, this programme benefits from depth of expertise, knowledge and cutting-edge research. We will teach you the art of strategising and the practice of strategy.

You will learn how to develop strategic business models and understand the implications of digital strategy. You will also acquire a deep knowledge of mergers and acquisitions as a potential strategy to enter new markets, grow or access critical resources and capabilities.

Working with real examples from industry, you will test your theoretical knowledge in context. In the company project module we tackle a question, task or challenge sourced from companies and supported by faculty and partners from EY. Our teaching is underpinned by our staff’s cutting-edge research, which they bring to the classroom.

For your dissertation you can choose a desk-based topic, empirical research or a real strategy project. The latter sees you formulate or implement a strategy within a company and then write a reflective essay. Some students continue with the company as interns or directly in paid employment following graduation.

It doesn’t matter if your background is in art or engineering, medicine or management, studying strategy combined with your existing in-depth specialist knowledge will enhance your worth in the job market. Our graduates are able to change and challenge the idea of a business and where it is at. Many go on to work with consultancy firms, high tech businesses and financial organisations.