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.

Engineering, Computing, Mathematics and Science
The Pre-Masters Programme in Engineering, Computing, Mathematics and Science ensures you are prepared for postgraduate study at Lancaster University. Students on this programme can progress to a variety of scientific degrees.

Programme structure
Throughout the programme, you will study subject specific modules to develop a deeper understanding of your chosen area. You will also study core English language modules that will develop both your language and academic skills to the level required for Masters study in the UK, as well as building your ability to study at postgraduate level by improving your research and critical analysis abilities.

Engineering Project Management
Projects play a key role in many organisations. This programme will enable you to use project management tools and techniques, engage stakeholders and obtain systemic insights into projects. You will have opportunity to see and analyse the project management and organisational techniques used by real engineering companies and will be able to apply and develop the skills learned in real engineering projects, working with industrial collaborators.

The course is the result of a collaboration between Lancaster University Management School and the Department of Engineering. It is suitable for all types of engineer or other students with a technical background interested in project management in an engineering context.

We offer four core modules teaching project management theory, one of which is project based. These lay the foundations of techniques and skills necessary to plan, manage and close an engineering project, to evaluate and apply change in an organisation and to apply team leadership. The modules also show how projects and project management relate to broader business and strategic situations, and the advantages and disadvantages of different organisational structures.

We also offer a module based on real companies and speakers from industry sharing details of their team, organisational, project and management structures to illustrate how the theories and techniques are applied in real engineering situations. There is then a short (3-week) industry-linked group project. This is usually a problem-solving or design type problem that the company has proposed. Teams are formed from all Engineering MSc programmes so include different types of engineers. It is an opportunity for some of the project management skills to be developed and tested in practice.

As part of the course you will also select and complete a large dissertation project as part of a small team. The projects are proposed by industrial/commercial collaborators so you will be working on a real project with a real ‘client’. The project gives the opportunity to apply the project management skills together with combined technical skills from the group to close the project, which is an invaluable experience to demonstrate to an employer.