LZ036 Academic Skills Development (International Foundation Programme)
Convenor: Trisha Spencer

The core module prepares students for academic study, with a focus on English language, critical, analytical and study skills.  It includes  research and library skills; structuring academic essays; referencing and writing bibliographies; preparing for different forms of assessment; reading academic books and journals and critical evaluation of texts; participating in seminars and oral discussions; listening to lectures and note-taking; giving and leading seminars; extra language and grammar, clubs and societies; European Studies lectures and IT skills.

LZ037 English for Academic Study (International Foundation Programme)
Convenor: Rebecca Coleman

Through this module, students will develop the transferable linguistic and academic skills necessary to successfully complete all the other modules on the IFP.  The programme of study focuses on grammar, vocabulary and academic writing skills.
The module begins with an intensive revision of language structures and goes on to embed these structures into academic writing. Students will learn key steps in the writing process and be introduced to a range of written academic genres. Throughout the module, students will also develop their academic vocabulary through reading and writing tasks specially designed for this.

LZ035 IFP Project (International Foundation Programme)
Convenor: Chloe Courtenay-Bennett

Through this module, students will develop the transferable academic skills necessary to successfully complete all the other modules on the IFP and to succeed on their future undergraduate programme.  The programme of study will cover critical and analytical skills in both written and spoken format.
Students will attend one one-hour lecture per week on project management and academic skills and meet with their project supervisor three to four times in the term to discuss their project and progress on the module. Students will develop an electronic portfolio of work on the module to be assessed throughout the term and at the end of the term as one Project entity.

LZ001 History for University Study (International Foundation Programme)
Convenor: David Budgen

The history module covers British society, politics and culture from the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th Century to the Welfare State after the Second World War. It takes in the political changes of the Age of Reform, issues like poverty, science, popular culture, national identity, women and society and colonialism and empire, as well as the Irish Question, industry and the origins of the First and Second World Wars. These subjects will be expanded on through case studies and visits. This is a fascinating period in the development of Britain and the study of it is interesting in and of itself. The study of history is also, however, extremely useful as a means of developing critical thinking skills and is of immense value in terms of understanding a whole range of other subjects from Philosophy to Business Studies.

LZ002 Drama Film & Literary Text for University Study (International Foundation Programme)
Convenor:  Sarah Anthony

The module aims to develop your critical understanding of drama, film and literary text by a close examination of stylistic variation in a selection of texts from the three main genres.  In the fiction segment, we will explore a range of short stories and one-two novels to understand how prose narratives are constructed and to appreciate the contribution of ‘point of view’, the treatment of time, the use of narrators and presentation of speech and thought.  We will also be asking how an individual writer’s style is a product of linguistic choice. 

This module also gives you an opportunity to study film and drama .  We will look at how selected works convey characterisation, setting, plot and how the techniques used in plays are different from those in prose fiction. 

In the poetry segment, we will examine selected works by some important twentieth-century poets, in order to explore the use of some key poetic forms and to examine the ways that twentieth-century poets engage with their social, political and cultural worlds.  The poetry segment will emphasise close reading of a limited number of poems in order to develop your skills in in-depth analysis.

LZ003 Sociology for University Study (International Foundation Programme)
Convenor: Margaret Hall

A simple definition of Sociology is the systematic study of societies.  It is particularly concerned with the way society has changed over the last two centuries, beginning with the massive changes brought about by the British Industrial Revolution and the French Revolution of 1789.

Since then, social change has continued to accelerate so that now, in the 21st century, a major feature of our world is the interdependence of societies which globalisation has brought.  Sociology invites us to ask questions about our social world and to explore our individual and cultural experiences within a wider social context.

While Sociology is concerned with many subjects which we already know something about, such as the family, we are required to examine our common-sense assumptions by 'thinking ourselves away' from the daily routines of our lives. To do this not only requires the development of a sociological imagination but also the use of appropriate methodology and theoretical approaches.  A range of academic study skills can, therefore, be acquired by the study of this subject.

LZ004 Economics for University Study (International Foundation Programme)
Convenor: John Bennett

The first section of the module will be concerned with the nature of markets and the role of the price mechanism in resource allocation.  We will look at the motivations and behaviour of consumers and producers that underpin the operation of markets.

We then move to consideration of the whole economy, analysing such phenomena as inflation, unemployment and economic growth.  Our primary focus will be on the UK economy, and its relationship with others, which will provide the context for illustrating how and why both economic ideas and policies develop over time, but comparison with the performance, structure and institutions of other economies will also be used.

The objective of the module is that students should gain familiarity with the analytical methods of economics, and be able to apply those methods to questions and problems of resource allocation.

LZ007 Politics and International Relations for University Study (International Foundation Programme)
Convenor: Chris Henry and Olga Ntalaka

This module provides a general introduction to the study of politics. You will become acquainted with many fields of study in the discipline, among them, political theory, government, international relations and European politics. The module seeks to provide students with a general overview of key concepts, structures and theoretical debates at the heart of the discipline. It looks at the links between national and international politics and encourages students to think critically about social, political and economic trends.

You will draw on a wide range of case studies and tackle important contemporary issues such as terrorism, human rights and environmentalism as well as traditional questions concerning the nature of government, the state and political participation. Moreover, the module requires you to look at a variety of sources including academic books and journals, newspapers, films, novels and cartoons. The lecture-seminars will involve a range of activities and you will be strongly encouraged to contribute to debates and discussions. Throughout the year you will also work on a group project in your private study time which will culminate in either the production of a short film, a newspaper front page or a radio broadcast to be presented to the rest of the class at the end of the year. This is in addition to the graded assessment outlined in this guide.

LZ012 Philosophy for University Study (International Foundation Programme)
Convenor: Daniel Cardinal

Philosophy is the search for answers to the fundamental questions of human life, such as 'What sort of being am I?' 'What is it possible for me to know for certain?' 'What is it to be morally good?' 'Are we truly free?' 'Can there be a just society?'

Philosophy for University Study is aimed not at providing answers to these questions, but at teaching you how to approach such questions.  You will learn how to construct coherent arguments, as well as how to spot when, and how, someone else's arguments are flawed.
Through a detailed study of some of the great texts of western philosophy, and through extended classroom debate you will learn not only how to argue well, but you will also gain a clearer insight into how some of the greatest minds in history have attempted to answer some of the ultimate questions of human life.

LZ013 Mathematics & Statistics for University Study (International Foundation Programme)

Convenor: Lazaros Gonidis

Foundation in Mathematics provides a range of mathematical skills you need to go on to a degree course. The module is taught as a series of informal lectures and exercise classes where you can ask questions as they occur and gain experience of various mathematical concepts and techniques you will need. The teaching format supports developing an analytical approach to problem solving, matching the skills you learn to the problem type and working systematically towards a solution.

LZ018 European and International Business for University Study
Convenor: Terry Bevis

There are many different kinds of business organisation, ranging from the sole trader running a small business to great multinational corporations.  This module examines the aims, structures and processes of these organisations and the way they are managed.  In particular, it examines the role of finance in the working of business, the function of accounting as a vital source of management information, the marketing of products and services and the management of human resources.  We also look at the legal aspects of business operation.

LZ019 Law for University Study (International Foundation Programme)
Convenor: Candice Mtwazi

Law for University Study equips you with knowledge regarding the nature and the sources of English law. We explore the hierarchy and structure of the English legal system, and the functions of the people involved in implementing and interpreting the law. In the second period, we look at specific legal disciplines in more detail and critically analyse the workings of the law in relation to them.

LZ038 Art & Design for University Study (International Foundation Programme)
Convenor: Julie Mecoli and Henry Sparks

This module is compulsory for students doing the Architecture pathway. It provides you with an introduction to elementary spatial design theory and practice, ready for entry into Stage 1 of the degree courses in Architecture and Interiors. It also provides preparation for related disciplines in Drama and Theatre Studies and the School of Arts. This module gives you the opportunity to investigate the spaces we create and the things we make and to develop your own work and ideas within key areas including: observation and how to read spatial environments, basic principles of construction of objects and environments, recording and communication, skills in freehand drawing, basic workshop techniques for making maquettes and using lens based media, a design project, and the basic principles of design history.

LZ040 Psychology for University Study (International Foundation Programme)
Convenor: Ioanna Kapantai

This module introduces students to the study of psychology, with the aim of providing an introductory understanding of key topics within psychology and seminal psychological research. The module will explore psychology as a Science and the research methods common in psychological research. The lectures will cover some of the key concepts and findings in the study of abnormal psychology, sensation, consciousness, child psychology, motivation, emotion, memory and attitudes, group processes (all in term 1) and evolutionary psychology, personality, visual perception, social-cognitive psychology, health psychology and psychobiology (all in term 2).

The module encourages students to explore classical concepts in psychology within the context of cutting edge research and contemporary issues within modern society. There is a particular focus on how psychology and concepts within the subject can inform controversial issues in everyday society.

LZ045 Life Sciences for University (International Foundation Programme)
Convenor: David Pearson

This module introduces students to the study of Life Sciences, with the aim of providing an introductory understanding of key topics in this filed. This module is predominantly theoretical and is class-room based. The module will explore Biosciences and the research methods common in its research. The lectures will cover some of the key concepts and theories in the study of Biosciences. The module encourages students to explore Biosciences in a manner which is relevant for University undergraduate study.

CO012 Programming for University Study (International Foundation Programme)  

This module provides an introduction to programming. Software pervades many aspects of most professional fields and sciences, and an understanding of the development of software applications is useful as a basis for many disciplines. This module covers the development of simple programs. Concepts common to all types of programming – such as sequence, selection and iteration – are covered to provide an understanding of the basic principles of software. In addition, object-oriented concepts are introduced, including classes, objects, constructors, methods and fields. The course includes an introduction to an educational software development environment, as well as other electronic tools, such as electronic mail, a web browser and printing facilities.

BI305 Fundamental Human Biology (International Foundation Programme)

This modules looks at the following items: the basic functioning of the immune system and causes of disease, the basic structure and function of eukaryotic cells. how cells divide and pass information to the next generation, the characteristics of the various body tissues, the major systems of the body – blood, muscle and bone, digestive tract, kidneys and nerves, and how the body is co-ordinated and controlled.

BI324 Genetics & Evolution (International Foundation Programme)

An introduction to the genetics of a variety of organisms including Mendelian inheritance (monohybrid and dihybrid) and exceptions to the predicted outcomes due to incomplete dominance, co-dominance, lethal alleles, epistasis and genetic linkage, the chromosomal basis of inheritance, organelle based inheritance and epistasis. The inheritance of human genetic disease and its investigation by human pedigree analysis will also be introduced. Bacterial genetics.

The nature of mutation, including molecular mechanisms leading to the mutation of DNA, and the role of both mutation and horizontal gene transfer in evolution. Historical views on evolution, Darwin’s observations, the fossil record to modern techniques. Microevolution, population genetics and analysis of the distribution of genes within populations and mechanisms of gene flow, genetic drift, selection and speciation.

BI308 Skills for Bioscientists (International Foundation Programme)

This module allows you to become familiar with practical skills, the analysis and presentation of biological data and introduces some basic mathematical and statistical skills as applied to biological problems. It also introduces you to the computer network and its applications and covers essential skills such as note-taking and essay writing.