UCL Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates
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UCL CENTRE FOR LANGUAGES & INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION UCL Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates Foundation courses for international students ucl.ac.uk/upc 2020 Entry English 01 Massachusetts Institute Welcome to UCL: of Technology (MIT) 02 Stanford University London’s Global 03 Harvard University 04 University of Oxford University 05 California Institute of Technology (Caltech) 06 ETH Zurich - Swiss UCL (University College London) is a Federal Institute of Technology world-leading multidisciplinary university 07 University of Cambridge with an international reputation for 08 UCL* 09 Imperial College London high-quality research and teaching, 10 University of Chicago being ranked in the top 10 universities worldwide.* Based in Bloomsbury, central London, UCL’s main campus is within walking distance of outstanding academic, social and cultural resources, as well as exceptional sporting facilities and entertainment, giving easy access to the world’s number one student city.** 60 01 60 academic Number 1 in the UK for departments in research strength in the 11 faculties latest (2014) Research Excellence Framework * QS World University Rankings 2020 ** QS Best Student Cities 2019 1:10 250 Staff-to-student The Students’ Union ratio is 1:10 UCL (SU UCL) has more than 250 clubs and societies 18 150 specialist libraries 41,000 students from with more than two more than 150 different million books countries 29 41% Nobel prize winners Around 41% of the student population is from overseas UCL Undergraduate Why study the UPC Progression in 2018 Preparatory Certificates at UCL? Unique 99% UCL is the only UK university featured in received UCL or Russell Overview the top ten of the QS World University Group university* Rankings 2020 to offer its own undergraduate UCL Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) foundation programme, giving you the degree offers are intensive and challenging foundation courses for opportunity to study towards your international students whose home qualifications do target degree at one of the world’s best not allow direct admission to an undergraduate universities. programme. Academic quality & support The UPC provides students with the essential You will be taught on campus by highly 88% academic and languages skills, knowledge and qualified UCL academic staff with received UCL support to progress confidently and smoothly onto expertise in teaching international undergraduate an undergraduate degree at UCL or other top UK students the skills to succeed at degree offers universities. undergraduate level. You will receive personalised one-to-one support and There are two undergraduate foundation courses have full access to UCL’s extensive at UCL: academic resources. • UCL Undergraduate Preparatory Certificate for Immersion 79% Science and Engineering (UPCSE). You will gain valuable experience in the progressed to a Russell • UCL Undergraduate Preparatory Certificate for British education system and quickly Group university* the Humanities (UPCH). develop an understanding of the learning style required at UCL, including Over one academic year, the courses provide an critical thinking and research, intensive preparation for the academic challenges complemented by an active social of a top UK degree programme. programme. 54% progressed to a UCL undergraduate degree Academic year September 2020 – June 2021 Key facts Please see our website for course dates ucl.ac.uk/upc 26 Sept different nationalities Course starts were represented on Oct UCAS applications for degrees the course at Oxford and Cambridge Nov universities: 15 Oct Dec All UCAS applications completed Jan Student 129 UCL degree programmes Feb View guarantee an offer if you are predicted to meet Mar their entry criteria Offers / decisions received via UCAS from UCL and “ I really like how the subjects are Apr other universities taught on the UPC. The teachers want you to fully understand the material, May and not just so you can pass an exam. They are really passionate about Examinations and end 02 Jun their subject.” of course UPC Progression Scholar- ships are offered each year Jul Name: Arkadiy Serezhkin Nationality: Russian to the two highest achieving UPC results Studied: UPCSE (2017) UPC students continuing to a Aug Progressed to: Engineering UCL undergraduate degree Start undergraduate degree (Mechanical with Business Finance) Sept MEng at UCL at UCL or other UK university *The Russell Group represents 24 leading 2021 UK universities. russellgroup.ac.uk UCL Undergraduate Course details Compulsory modules Preparatory You will study four modules: You will study two compulsory modules: • two compulsory modules • Research and Academic Skills Certificates (UPC) • two optional modules of your choice. • Academic English These highly intensive modules rapidly If you have a near native competence in advance your subject knowledge in a English you can study a Modern Foreign range of topics. You will develop critical Language instead of Academic English and analytical skills that are transferable (see below). between many disciplines and are vital for successful study at undergraduate Research and Academic Skills degree level. This module develops your critical thinking and research skills. UPC modules are delivered through lectures, seminars and tutorials, providing Individual Research – you will undertake an an average of 23 UCL class hours* per individual research project in an area which week, covering: interests and inspires you. This builds your confidence and independence in • practical academic skills researching and presenting ideas. • critical thinking skills • academic English UPCSE students take Science & Society, • research skills and research projects which examines the ethical, social, • laboratory and practical science skills environmental and technological implications (UPCSE only) of various scientific issues. • LNAT (Law) and STEP (Mathematics) examination preparation (as required) UPCH students take Academic Research: • design portfolio (UPC for Architecture) Approaches & Methods, which explores • field trips and personal development fundamental approaches to knowledge in opportunities. different disciplines. You will be challenged to reflect critically on how different subject You will be continually assessed through areas and methodologies may relate to and regular homework, research projects and inform one another, and how they apply to exercises, and sit end-of-term exams. your own research. *The UCL class hour is 50 minutes. Academic English The focus is on improving English for academic study. Components include: • essay writing • lecture comprehension and effective note-taking • academic reading • speaking skills (seminars and presentations). Or A Modern Foreign Language Student If appropriate, you can study Arabic, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, View Mandarin, Portuguese or Spanish instead of Academic English. The minimum level of English required for this is an IELTS for UKVI (Academic) score of 7.5 or equivalent. “ The UPC really helped me to tackle how to do research. It gave me a clear path of what to do and a step-by-step guide into how to be a great researcher in the future.” Name: Subah Alkhaldi Nationality: Saudi Studied: UPCSE (2018) Progressed to: Mechanical Engineering BEng at UCL Hear more student views: ucl.ac.uk/upc/student-views Optional modules UPCH UPC for Architecture In addition to the compulsory modules, Classical Civilisation: Literature, Philosophy UPC students aiming for the Architecture you will select two optional modules. and Politics: Involves the study of some of BSc degree at UCL will study the UPC for The optional modules are selected according the most significant and influential drama, Architecture course. In addition to two to the requirements of the undergraduate philosophy, poetry and historical events of optional modules and the compulsory programme you are aiming for. Please see the ancient Greek and Roman worlds, and academic English module, all UPC for our guide to selecting optional modules. explores the dialogue between the ancient Architecture students will study the ucl.ac.uk/upc/modules past and the modern day. compulsory Visual Studies for Architecture and Academic Research: Approaches and UPC applicants wishing to combine UPCH Economics: Examines modern economic Methods (VSAARAM) module. and UPCSE modules should contact the activity using conventional principles of course administrators for advice. micro- and macroeconomics. The Visual Studies for Architecture (VSA) component of this module is delivered at Geography and the Built Environment: the UCL Bartlett School of Architecture, UPCSE Considers how social, cultural and providing a unique opportunity to economic changes affect people and places experience first-hand what it means to Biology: Biochemistry, cell biology, around the world, through processes such study Architecture at UCL. genetics, DNA technology, physiology, as globalisation, migration and urbanisation. microbiology and evolution are covered, Bartlett tutors will support you in developing as is an awareness of scientific methods, Mathematics: Provides a rigorous and refining your portfolios to support your developed with practical laboratory quantitative analytical basis for degree undergraduate degree applications to the sessions. programmes in numerate disciplines UCL Bartlett School of Architecture and including economics and statistical other top UK architecture schools. Chemistry: Inorganic, organic and physical sciences. ucl.ac.uk/upc/architecture