International Foundation Year in Law and Social Sciences

Academic English Skills aims to provide thorough training in the language and related academic skills which will enable international students to best achieve their academic potential at university. Our Academic English programme is validated by UK ENIC, the UK government agency responsible for providing information and expert opinion on qualifications and skills worldwide.

You will develop awareness and competency in a range of language-related academic skills, including the processes of academic writing, effective and extensive reading strategies, effective participation in seminars and delivery of presentations, and listening to and recording information effectively from lectures. You will also develop the accuracy and range of written and spoken language required to use language effectively and appropriately, with clarity and confidence in an academic context.

Alongside your classes, your studies will be supported by an online learning platform, providing you with a range of tasks and activities specifically designed to develop and extend your language and academic skills outside the classroom and to give you more control over your own learning.

This module will introduce you to the dynamics at play in the social, political and economic dimensions of globalisation, with contemporary case studies provided throughout. Using the various perspectives on globalisation, you will be invited to explore important global issues and think critically about the influence of state and non-state actors on world politics.

On successful completion of the module, you will be able to: define globalisation and key concepts associated with it; identify and explain the factors that facilitate globalisation; examine the role of state and non-state actors in a contemporary global issue applying relevant theories of globalisation; show awareness of the role of the news media in globalisation with specific reference to culture change and assess the impact of globalisation on international conflicts and international human right framework. The module will also enable you to engage in academic debate on global issues in an informed manner and develop key study skills required for the social sciences.

This module will introduce you to the operation of the law in different contexts under English law. The course will equip you with an understanding of the interaction between the legal system and various organizations/individuals, most notably businesses, their employees and their customer. It also aims to provide an overview of the structures and concepts with which undergraduates will need to be familiar in order to study these topics in greater depth. The module will help you to develop essential legal study skills and understanding of key concepts.

On successful completion of the module, you will be able to: define legal concepts, principles and issues; explain the different sources of English law and the relations with regional and international law; demonstrate an understanding of appropriate legal rules and use legal methods and reasoning to evaluate and apply the legal rules and authority to reach a legal conclusion; examine the key requirements of duty of care under English tort law and appropriately use online resources and OSCOLA referencing style to cite legal, academic and non-academic materials.

This module will introduce you to the reasons and methods for studying social life. Through key concepts, perspectives and issues you will explore everyday facets of social life from an academic position and think critically about identity and whether or not we are shaped by our surroundings. This module will help you to develop key study skills and understanding social science research methods, which will facilitate successful future study in the Social Sciences, with a solid understanding of the key dynamics, concepts and perspectives at work in social life.

On successful completion of the module, you will be able to: describe key sociological concepts such as equality, diversity and social mobility; outline the key drivers of social change in contemporary society; examine the role of culture and the socialisation process in community cohesion; explore how economic, social and cultural factors influence the construction of personal identity and wellbeing in social science; discuss research methods in social science and consider ethical implications of these methods and clearly communicate ideas and information using different formats. You will also undertake a site visit and write a reflective report on your own learning and research skills to drive personal development.