Pathway & Module Outlines

The NCUK IFY is specially designed for international students to provide you the skills you need to succeed at university.

The NCUK IFY gives you access to Year One of a UK degree. The programme is taught over one year and is assessed via examinations and coursework. It features the unique English for Academic Purposes module. The EAP course prepares you for success at a UK university by improving your reading, writing, listening and speaking – concentrating on building up your academic vocabulary and independent study skills.

As well as equipping you with the English skills and academic qualifications for studying in the UK, the IFY gives you cultural awareness, and teaches you how to learn in a western environment.

Pathways

You will have a choice of pathways in Business, Computer Science*, Engineering, Humanities and Science. You will study a combination of modules that fit in with your degree destination.

^{*MPW Cambridge only}

Modules

Alongside the EAP you will study 3 additional modules directly related to your chosen pathway:

Computer Science

Topics you will study as part of the module include: computer architecture; programming in Python; fundamentals of computational thinking; modulatory and functions; data and Boolean logic; types of software and computer systems; networking and data communications; problem solving; algorithms and program design; security; software and development; process and concepts; ethics and impact of computing.

Economics

The overall aim of this module is to provide an introduction to the basic economic concepts and principles. Reference is mainly to the UK experience in preparation for studying with British students at university. The first semester will deal with “micro” economic issues and the second semester will deal with “macro” economic issues.

Micro Economics covers: economic systems; demand, supply and market price; business economics.
Macro Economics covers: The main objectives of government economic policy; economic growth; taxation and government spending; money and monetary policy; inflation and unemployment; trade policy.

Maths

The overall aim of this course is to equip you with the mathematical knowledge and skills necessary for entry to the first year of any UK/Western undergraduate degree course. The module covers the following areas: algebra, binomial expansions, trigonometric functions, laws of indices, exponential function; calculus, statistics, trigonometric identities, functions, probability and set theory, correlation and linear regression, probability distributions and further integration.

Business Studies

The overall aim is to ensure that you have a solid grounding in many aspects of business studies and feel confident in commencing the study of business-related courses at undergraduate level. You will study:

Marketing: The nature of marketing; market analysis; segmentation and positioning; market research; marketing strategy; the marketing mix.
Accounting and Finance, Human Resources: Organisational structure and design; motivation; leadership and management styles.
Business and the Legal Environment, Fundamentals of Management: Strategy and objectives. Operations management is not included.

Sociology

The overall aim of this module is to ensure that you have a solid grounding in many aspects of the study of society and politics and feel confident in undertaking undergraduate studies in this field. The module is based mainly on ‘A’ and ‘AS’ level Sociology specifications approved by QCA. This module covers the following areas: social class, wealth and poverty, globalisation, democracy, participation and ideologies, British government, society, politics and the environment.

Physics

This modules covers the following areas: mechanics, electricity, vibrations and waves, thermal physics, nuclear physics, fields. In order to be taught within the single academic year available, the syllabus has been modified and the following major topics, which would normally be taught in a Physics ‘A’ level, are not covered: first and second laws of thermodynamics; optional topics such as astrophysics, medical physics, particle physics and electronics. These topics are adequately introduced in relevant undergraduate courses in NCUK partner universities if required, and assume no prior knowledge.

Chemistry

This module is intended to give you a firm grounding in many aspects of Chemistry and will enable students to feel confident in commencing the study of Chemistry and related subjects at undergraduate level. Students will be learning: atomic structure and mass, chemical bonding, metallic bonding, hydrogen bonding and simple intermolecular forces, molarity and balanced equations, empirical and molecular formulae, oxidation and reduction, transition elements. Alkanes and alkenes, alcohols, aldehydes and ketones, energetics and equilibrium, kinetics, spectroscopy.

Biology

This module is intended to give you a firm grounding in many aspects of biology and will enable students to feel confident in commencing the study of biology and related subjects at undergraduate level. This module covers the following topics: structure and function of biological molecules, organs, tissues, cellular organisation and cell structure, plant structure and photosynthesis, cell membrane structure and transport, molecular genetics: DNA replication and protein synthesis, cellular reproduction, physiological systems, homeostasis, interpretation of scientific data.

Pathway & Module Outlines