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.

Mechanical Engineering with Project Management
This programme is designed for engineers who wish to advance their skills and knowledge to a level appropriate for a professional engineer at the cutting-edge of their profession. You will learn through a variety of techniques to gain a combination of technical, managerial and personal skills, and will be provided with opportunities to develop and practice them.

You will study four technical modules and three management modules, one of which is project based. This combination enables you to see engineering projects at three levels: the detailed technical level, the higher project level and the upper business/strategic level.

For the technical modules we offer a wide variety of options which allow you to customise your studies to suit your interests. The technical content is driven by our research and contact with industrial partners and is continually evolving. The management modules will equip you with the tools and techniques to plan, manage and close an engineering project and allow you to understand the interrelationships between decisions, teams and objectives. The modules also show how projects and project management relate to broader business and strategic situations.

The final element of the programme gives the opportunity to apply and deepen the technical and managerial skills by applying them together in two real projects proposed by commercial/industrial collaborators.
The first of these is a 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 across all Engineering MSc programmes and thus include different types of engineers. It is an ideal opportunity to practice and develop communication skills (within the group and with clients), team working, project management and technical skills appropriate to the problem.

The second is the major individual project. This is an opportunity to undertake a longer project in conjunction with an industrial collaborator and with one-to-one supervision from a specialist within the Department. If you would prefer to have a more research-based project not involving industrial collaboration that may also be possible. These projects are an opportunity to develop more specialist understanding in a particular field and have led to employment for some graduates in the past. Recent project examples include:

• Design of active noise control systems inside the automobile cabin
• Preplaced metal deposition for surface repair
• Assessment of regenerative braking in electric-powered two-wheeled vehicles
• Vehicle stability control system – compensation for the change in vehicle wheelbase
• Modelling and development of loudspeaker cabinet materials