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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: Two or three terms

Entry points: 
Three terms – September and January
Two 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 two or three-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 50% 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 40% in all skills
MA Applied Linguistics with TESOL* S&E 60% 70% with min 60% Writing and 50% other
MSc Archaeological Science Any pathway 60% 60% with min 40% in all skills
MA Archaeology Any pathway 60% 60% with min 40% in all skills
MA Architectural Design S&E 65% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Broadcast Journalism **^§ S&E 60% 70% in all skills
MSc Business Finance and Economics E 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MSc Cities and Global Development Any pathway 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Cognitive Studies S&E or L 60% 70% with min 50% in all skills
LLM Corporate and Commercial Law L 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Creative Writing E, S&E or L 60% 70% with min 60% Writing and 50% other
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
MSc Digital Architecture and Design S&E 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% overall, 50% Wr, 40% other
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
MSc Economics & Public Policy 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 writing and 50% in other skills
MA English Literature E, S&E or L 60% 80% with min 60% 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 Journalism S&E 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MSc Global Marketing Management M 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Heritage and Archaeology Any pathways 60% 60% with min 40% in all skills
MSc Human Osteology and Funerary Archaeology S&E 60% 60% with min 40% 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
** Students wishing to progress to these degree programmes at the University will require an English level of IELTS 0.5 or equivalent higher than the standard level of entry to their International Foundation Year/Pre Masters programmes
^ Pass in an interview required as well as meeting progression requirements
† 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
§ Not available for students starting ISC from Sept 2020 onwards

Degree Programmes Pathway Overall Grade % English Grade
MSc Information Management IS or M 58% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MSc Information Systems IS or M 58% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MSc Information Systems (PE) § IS or M 58% 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 50% in all skills
MA International Criminology § Any pathway 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
MSc International Finance and Economics 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**†§ S&E 60% 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**†§ S&E 60% 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 Medicine in Society S&E 60% 70% 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 40% in all skills
MA Philosophy S&E or L 60% 70% with min 50% 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% overall, 50% Wr, 40% other
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 40% in all skills

* Bachelors degree in Music or Psychology (or a related subject)
** Students wishing to progress to these degree programmes at the University will require an English level of IELTS 0.5 or equivalent higher than the standard level of entry to their International Foundation Year/Pre Masters programmes
† Pass in an interview required as well as meeting progression requirements
# Design portfolio required at application of USIC; 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. Download flyer for more details
∆ Degree in a Social Sciences discipline
§ Not available for students starting ISC from Sept 2020 onwards

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 50% in all skills
MSc Sustainable Architecture Studies# S&E 60% 60% with min 50% in all skills
MA Theatre and Performance E, S&E or L 60% 70% with min 50% in all skills
MSc Urban and Regional Planning Any pathway 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 required at application of USIC; 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. 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)