International College

Pre-Masters in Business, Social Sciences and Humanities 

Architecture, law, education, economics or business management are just some of the possible areas you can pursue after following our tailored Pre-Masters course.

Key facts

Course length: 2 or 3 terms

Entry points: 
3 terms – September and January
2 terms – March

Age on entry:
Students will normally be 21 years of age or older

Entry requirements: Check academic and English language entry requirements

Fees: Check fees for your programme

Prepare for masters degrees in management, the social sciences or humanities

The Pre-Masters in Business, Social Sciences and Humanities will introduce you to key elements related to your degree, such as analysing business projects or interpreting statistics. This programme leads to a number of masters degrees in the Faculties of Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences, including the Management School, School of Law and Sheffield School of Architecture at the University.

What will you study?

This Pre-Masters course is a 2 or 3 term programme developed in collaboration with the University. Throughout this programme you will develop the academic and English language skills needed for your chosen masters at Sheffield.

You will study core modules that cover general academic skills and pathway modules relevant to your chosen subject area. Some modules will depend on your chosen progression degree at the University. This pathway includes 18 teaching hours per week.

Modules

  • Social Science for Postgraduate Study
  • Critical Reading
  • Academic English Skills
  • Designing a Research Project
  • Personal Development Programme (PDP) 

Pathway modules (related to your degree choice)

  • Business and Management
  • Economics
  • Economics
  • Statistics for Social Sciences
  • Business and Management
  • Statistics for Social Studies
  • Urbanisation 
  • Globalisation
  • Law
  • Globalisation

English language courses

If you need additional support to reach the English language level for this programme you can take one of our English language courses first.

Progress to your degree

You will receive regular feedback on your progress throughout your course so you know you’re in the right track. We have a dedicated  team that offers progression support throughout your studies.

Once you complete your Pre-Masters in Business, Social Sciences and Humanities and achieve the required grades, you can enter your chosen postgraduate degree at the University of Sheffield.

Degree options

Degree Programmes Pathway Overall Grade % English Grade
MSc Acquired Communication Disorders M, S&E, L 60% 70% with min 60% in all skills
MA American History S&E or L 65% 70% with min 60% in all skills
MSc Applied GIS Any pathway 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Applied Linguistics with TESOL* S&E 60% 70% with min 60% in all skills
MSc Archaeological Science Any pathway 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Archaeology Any pathway 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Architectural Design∆ S&E 65% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Broadcast Journalism^◊ - 60% 80% with min 70% in all skills
MBA Business Administrationø - 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MSc Business Finance and Economics E 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Cognitive Studies S&E or L 60% 70% with min 60% in all skills
LLM Corporate and Commercial Law L 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MSc Creative and Cultural Industries Management M 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Cultural Heritage Management S&E or M 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MSc Data Science IS 65% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Digital Literacies, Culture and Education S&E or Law 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Digital Media and Society S&E 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Early Modern History S&E or L 65% 70% with min 60% in all skills
MSc East Asian Business Any pathway 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MSc Economics E 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MSc Economics and Health Economics◊ E 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Education S&E 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Education: Early Childhood S&E or L 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Education: Language and Education S&E or L 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA English Language and Linguistics E, S&E or L 60% 70% with min 60% in all skills
MA English Literature E, S&E or L 60% 80% with min 70% in all skills
MSc Environmental Change and International Development S&E, M, E 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MSc Finance and Accounting † M 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MSc Financial Economics E 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Global History - 65% 70% with min 60% in all skills
MA Global Journalism S&E 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Heritage and Archaeology Any pathways 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MSc Human Osteology and Funerary Archaeology S&E 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MSc Human Resource Management M 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MSc Human Resource Management with CIPD Pathway M 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills

* Requires a relevant first degree OR a minimum six months’ experience of teaching English
† Due to the high volume of applications for the 2019-20 academic year, we are no longer issuing offers for this programme. New applications will be added to a waiting list and may be issued an offer later in the year, subject to availability
∆ Design Portfolio on entry to USIC assessed by Study Group [sample portfolios of adequate standard will be provided by the department to the USIC selection team]. First Degree in architecture, design art, computing, engineering, social sciences and education or any other discipline that has a demonstrable relationship to some aspect of architectural design and/or research
^ Blog Chat Interview Required
ø Any subject discipline. At least 5 years relevant full-time work experience after graduation with some managerial experience. Relevant experience means that this should be graduate-level work (i.e. at the level expected and in line with the UG degree). For instance if somebody has an UG degree in Engineering, the work experience would usually be a job in Engineering. Interview is required
◊ Not available for university progression in September 2021.

Degree Programmes Pathway Overall Grade % English Grade
MSc Information Management IS or M 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MSc Information Systems IS or M 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MSc Information Systems (PE)◊ IS 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MSc Information Systems Management M 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Intercultural Communication S&E or M 60% 70% with min 60% in all skills
MRes Interdisciplinary Biblical Studies S&E or L 60% 70% with min 60% in all skills
MA International Criminology◊ L 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA International Development S&E, M, E 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MPH International Development S&E, M, E 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
LLM International Law and Global Justice L 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MSc International Management M 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MSc International Management and Marketing M 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA International Political Economy Any pathway 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA International Public and Political Communication S&E 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA International Relations Any pathway 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA International Relations and East Asia Any pathway 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MSc International Social Change and Policy∆ Any pathway 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Journalism^◊ - 60% 80% with min 70% in all skills
MA Law (two-year qualifying law degree)◊ L 60% 70% with min 50% in all skills
MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management M 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Magazine Journalism◊ - 60% 80% with min 70% in all skills
MSc Management M 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MSc Management (International Business) M 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MSc Marketing Management Practice M 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MBA† M 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Medieval History S&E 65% 70% with min 60% in all skills
MA Modern History S&E 65% 70% with min 60% in all skills
MSc Money, Banking and Finance E 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Multilingual Information Management S&E or M 60% 70% with min 60% in all skills
MA Music Management+ M 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MSc Osteoarchaeology S&E 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MSc Palaeoanthropology - 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Philosophy S&E or L 60% 70% with min 60% in all skills
MA Political Theory S&E or L, M, E 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Politics and Media in East Asia Any pathway 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Politics, Governance and Public Policy Any pathway 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Psychology and Education S&E 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Psychology of Music* M or IS 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills

* Bachelors degree in Music or Psychology (or a related subject)
† Pass in an interview required as well as meeting progression requirements
∆ Degree in a Social Sciences discipline
^ Blog Chat interview required
+Music or a combined degree with a substantial music component and allows other subjects to be considered by department on an individual basis
◊ Not available for university progression in September 2021.

Degree Programmes Pathway Overall Grade % English Grade
MSc Real Estate Any pathway 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MSc Real Estate, Planning and Development Any pathway 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MSc Speech Difficulties M, E, S&E, L 60% 70% with min 60% in all skills
MSc Sustainable Architecture Studies# S&E 65% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Theatre and Performance E, S&E or L 60% 70% with min 60% in all skills
MSc Urban and Regional Planning Any pathway 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Urban Design - 65% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Urban Design and Planning Any pathway 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills

# Design Portfolio on entry to USIC assessed by Study Group [sample portfolios of adequate standard will be provided by the department to the USIC selection team] First Degree in Architecture, landscape architecture, town planning, chartered surveying and engineering, or another subject area where applicants can demonstrate a clear interest in sustainable architecture.. Download flyer for more details

Places may be limited so you are advised to apply and confirm as soon as possible.

Start your application to the Pre-Masters today.

Hear from our alumni

Andy studied at the International College

96% progression

96% of students who joined our Pre-Master's Programmes in 2018, attained an unconditional offer to study at the University of Sheffield in 2019.

2nd in the world

for Library and Information Management (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020)

Find out more about starting your studies or check the latest COVID-19 information.