Academic Programme

• Programme Structure
• Assessment
• Grades and transcripts
• Choosing modules
• Add/Drop

Stage 1: English and Study Skills Programme

This allows you to develop your knowledge and understanding of English so that you can gain confidence in studying and socialising at Queen Mary before you join the courses that make up our study abroad programme.

Studying alongside students from around the world who are also improving language level before starting a programme at Queen Mary; the programme will introduce you to the study skills you will need for life as a student here, such as note taking, critical thinking and essay writing. You will also learn how certain subjects, such as, literature, history or politics, are approached in British Higher education.

Educational visits and excursions to places of cultural interest are also included in the programme.

The English programmes are four, eight or twelve weeks in length depending on the level of your English language skills.

Stage 2: Study Abroad Academic Programme

Once you have reached the required English level you will be able to join the academic programmes at the college.

Courses available to Study Abroad students cover the wide range on offer including English, Drama, History, Politics, Business Studies, Economics, Sciences and Engineering. You will have the chance to fully integrate with British students at Queen Mary, University of London. You can find more details about the academic subjects available in the Course Directory.
 
During the academic semester you will normally study three academic subjects and two Academic English module. The Academic English modules are designed to give you continued English language support during your academic study.

You can choose to study either for one semester or a full academic year.

The Study Abroad Programme can also be taken to prepare for entry into postgraduate study.

Entry Points

Stage 1

There are three entry points depending on your language level - June, July and August. Please visit our entry requirements pages for details of the level of English needed for each entry point.

There is a placement test and interview on the first day of the course to establish which group will be best for you. We use your language level to decide which spoken skills group you join, and your future subject of study to determine your writing group.

1. Study Skills
   • Lecture comprehension.
   • Note-taking techniques.
   • Research and reading skills.
   • Report and essay writing skills.
   • Seminar presentation and discussion skills.
2. Project Work
   • Researching, planning, outlining, drafting and redrafting an essay on a topic related to your general subject area .
   • Preparing and giving an oral presentation on your essay topic.
3. General Language Skills
   • Review of elements of the language system which present particular problems.
   • Developing the four macro-skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking in a general English context .
   • Exposing students to a wide range of vocabulary.
4. Social English
   • Developing the language and social skills for everyday life in Britain .
5. Academic Lectures
   • A varied programme of subject lectures given by QM faculty and guest lecturers for practice in note-taking and asking questions.
6. Individualised Learning
   • To enable you to work under supervision on areas of weakness or subject- specific material.

We will monitor your progress through the course, and both you and your supervisor will get a report with your final assessment.

Stage 2

You then have the opportunity to study for one semester or an academic year

Module load and credit system

The Queen Mary academic year is divided into two twelve-week semesters, Autumn (first semester) and Spring (second semester). Following the Spring Semester and break there is an examination period lasting from between five and six weeks which Spring Semester and Full-Year students are required to attend if their modules are assessed by examination.

Assessment

Assessment methods vary from module to module. Generally you will find that the number of assessments will be fewer, although no less rigorous, than you are used to at home. Full-Year and Spring Semester students will be assessed in the same way and at the same time as regular UK students. This is normally by examination in the May/June examination period although some modules are assessed by module work. The examination timetable is not usually published until the last week of the Spring Semester. If your module is assessed by examination you should not make any arrangements for returning home before you know the dates of any examinations for your modules.

As there is no formal examination period at the end of the first semester, if you are here for the Autumn only you will be assessed by what is termed alternative assessment. In some cases this will be by a written examination but more often by additional module papers/essays. Please note that these arrangements only apply to autumn only students: students studying for the full year will be assessed on their first semester modules in the summer examination period alongside other regular Queen Mary students.

Grades and transcripts

The standard Queen Mary grading system uses five letter grades (A-E) to indicate the various levels of passes, these correspond approximately to final honours degree classifications for Queen Mary undergraduates. You will probably have heard that 'A' grades are harder to come by in the UK system, this is certainly true at Queen Mary: 'A' grades are exceptional and a 'B' is considered a good grade, 'C' an average grade. 'D' is a passing grade but must be regarded as below average. 'F', of module, indicates a fail.

Following assessment, your grades will be transferred back to your home institution. They will be reported in the standard A-F format on a Queen Mary transcript. Your Queen Mary transcript will be accompanied by a recommended conversion for US grades. You should check with your home college to find out if they translate grades into their own system or record them as given by Queen Mary.

Transcripts for students leaving December are released in the first week of February and transcripts for all other students are released in the middle of July.

Choosing modules

The Queen Mary modular credit system allows you to choose modules from any departments. There may be some limitations due to timetable restrictions, overlap restrictions (eg where two modules are similar in content) or prerequisite requirements. You should also check the requirements of your home institution - it is your responsibility to check with your home college that you will receive full credit for the modules you take at Queen Mary.

You should use the module directory to make your module selections. Be sure to read the Guidance notes on the left hand navigation bar which will explain the terminology used in the directory.

The full module load is three modules in a semester for students participating in the Study Abroad with English Programme. On your application form we ask that you choose seven possible modules for each semester of study in order of preference, indicating where any module is required (i.e. a module you must have in order to attend Queen Mary). Queen Mary operates a pre-arrival module registration system. We will do our best to register you in the modules you list, in order of preference, and let you know in advance which modules you have been registered for. If you are not happy with the modules you have been allocated you should let us know as soon as possible. Your home school may insist on prior approval of modules. Usually this poses few problems, but it is always wise to consult your Study Abroad Adviser, faculty members or Dean of Study about your module of study in advance.

Please note that there will still be the opportunity to join classes in these departments, space permitting, during module registration at orientation. The only exception to this is English and Drama in which all modules are closed after pre-registration.

Add/Drop

There is an Add/Drop period of two weeks at the start of the semester to allow you to finalise your choices. You are strongly advised to use this period only for dropping modules. Adding modules after teaching has started is much more difficult, especially as you will not be accustomed to British methods of teaching and learning. You may, therefore, register for five (or occasionally six) modules initially, and drop one (or two, as appropriate) by the end of the Add/Drop period.