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University Preparatory Certificate for Science and Engineering (UPCSE) at UCL Language Centre. Dr Christine Hoffmann Director UCL Language Centre. UPCSE at UCL Reasons and Rationale.
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University Preparatory Certificate for Science and Engineering (UPCSE) at UCL Language Centre Dr Christine Hoffmann Director UCL Language Centre
UPCSE at UCL Reasons and Rationale • To allow high-ability international students to prepare for access to UK universities (rigorous entry testing in science subjects and English); • Pre-university course taught at university (full-time UCL students, use of all facilities including laboratories, quality assurances) - best preparation for academically demanding university programmes; • Integrated teaching and learning in English for Academic Purposes, Academic Research Skills and Science; • Close liaison of UCL science departments (convenors) with UCL Language Centre in terms of syllabus design and assessment structure.
UPCSE Students – Profile and Performance • Students come from a range of countries with specific entry profiles (see handout); • Approximately 50% of participants apply to and study at UCL (see handout); • Only the most able students are selected to study at UCL; • Students can apply to other leading UK universities (Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, LSE) that have programmes not offered by UCL; • Evidence that UPCSE students are in the top group of their year on undergraduate degree programmes.
UPCSE Staffing • Science lecturers (qualified to teach Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics and have a PGCE as well as ‘A-level’ teaching experience); • English for Academic Purposes (EAP) lecturers (DELTA qualified, MA, experience of teaching international students); • EAP/Science and Society plus Science Coordinators; • Educational Adviser; • Senior Administrators, Course Administrators and ICT Staff; • Convenors (from UCL departments); • Market Development Officer.
UPCSE Teaching and Timetables (Students) • Compulsory subjects include two science modules and EAP/Science & Society modules; • Sciences - 2 one-hour lectures a week and a number of small group weekly tutorials (academic problem-solving and discussion forum) and weekly laboratory sessions (2-3 hours per week); • Lecture review sessions (one hour per week per subject); • EAP – nine hours per week plus personal tutorials (academic progress and welfare issues); • Science & Society and Research Skills (2-3 hours per week); • Field trips (Biology and other Science subjects); • Student timetable (see handout).
UPCSE Teaching and Timetables (Staff) • Team meetings (weekly), Teaching Committee Meetings, Staff Student Consultative Meetings; • Programme Review and Development (syllabi, assessment structure, follow-up from external examiners’ feedback); • Staff Development.
Further Preparatory Certificate Developments • University Preparatory Certificate for the Humanities; • Graduate Preparatory Certificate for the Humanities (Pre-Master’s Programme).