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IFCELS

Foundation Diploma for Postgraduate Studies (FDPS)

Pre-Master's Programme

Description

The SOAS pre-master's programme is a ten-month course providing academic and language preparation for international students who want to enter Masters degrees (taught and researched) at British universities in social science, business and management-related studies, arts and humanities.

The pre-master's programme was started in 1993 in order to provide international students with a thorough preparation for entering demanding Master degrees at British universities or at universities, research institutes or business-schools abroad where the language of instruction is English.

All high-ranking British universities recognise the SOAS Foundation Diploma for Postgraduate Studies (FDPS) as a value-adding academic and English-language programme for international students.

FDPS students who progress to a master's programme at SOAS will receive a 5% discount on their master's course fees.

Please click here for details of the destinations of some of the students who completed the course in July 2008.

Course Aims

  • to familiarise students with the academic culture of British university education
  • to introduce students to further study in academic disciplines relevant to their chosen field of study
  • to develop the speaking and writing skills in Academic English, critical thinking and independent study skills necessary for success on a programme in a British university
  • to offer students a challenging and career-enhancing year of intensive study within the city and the University of London

Features of the Course

Supervised Research Paper (The Independent Study Project)

A very valuable and popular feature of the pre-master's course is the opportunity to carry out a research project of your choice, supervised by a suitable academic from the University of London. 

The weekly cycle and structure of classes:

A distinctive feature of English language study in IFCELS is that language and subject study are integrated: language classes are specific to each subject and classroom activities are designed to help you develop vocabulary, oral and written skills appropriate to the subject.

Reading class (English teacher)
  • academic reading
  •  note-making
  • vocabulary expansion
Lecture (Subject teacher)
  • academic listening
  • note-taking
  • critical thinking
Lecture review (English teacher)
  • concept analysis
  • vocabulary expansion
  • critical thinking
Seminar (Subject lecturer)
  • presenting an argument
  • critical questioning
  • academic debate
Writing Class (English Teacher)
  • essay writing
  • question analysis
  • structuring an argument

Dates and fees

Dates 2010 -11
Orientation Course

23 - 29 September 2010

Autumn Term

4 October - 17 December 2010
Reading Week 8 -12 November

Spring Term

10 January - 25 March 2011
Reading Week 14 -18 February

Summer Term

26 April - 1 July 2011
No Reading Week

Fees

Tuition Fee: 11,500 GBP

Non-refundable application fee: 90 GBP

Details of Accommodation Fees

Fees must be paid in sterling. For instructions and details of deadlines for payment contact us

Entrance Requirements and Application Procedure

Academic requirements

You must have a Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution in your own country or elsewhere.

(If you have a three-year Diploma, you may in certain cases be considered for admission if you have substantial relevant work experience)

English Language requirements

You will need a good intermediate level of English before you join the course; the minimum language requirement is IELTS 5.5 with 5.5 in writing/ TOEFL 540/207 with TWE 4.0, iBT 76 with 16 in writing. If you do not have these qualifications or if your scores are below these, you will be asked to do a written test before being accepted on to the course.

All students will be interviewed either face-to-face in London or in their own country, or by telephone.

The department offers preparatory English language courses starting in September, January, April and during the summer. You may be given an offer conditional on attending a language course.

Application Procedure

Please print off the 

FDPS Application Form

and post it, together with the required supporting documents, to:

Head of Department
International Foundation Courses & English Language Studies (IFCELS)
SOAS (University of London)
23/24 Russell Square
London WC1H 0XG
UK

If you wish to pay your application fee by credit card please print off the

Credit Card Payment Formand return it together with your application form.

Structure

Number of hours

You will have between 16 and 20 hours a week of timetable classes. In addition, you will be expected to spend at least 20 hours of your own time preparing topics for discussion, completing assignments and doing independent research and further reading.

Timetable classes involve

  • Lectures (maximum 60 students)
  • English classes (maximum 12 students)
  • Seminars (maximum 7 students)
  • 1-1 tutorials

You are expected to attend all your classes regularly. SOAS has a minimum attendance requirement of 80% and poor attendance will probably affect your performance in class and the reports your teachers write for you, which will ultimately affect the references the department provides in support of your applications for postgraduate study or research.

Academic Study Units

All students are required to study 2 compulsory units:

You are also required to choose 2 academic units from the list below: