Preparing for semester one
The transition from undergraduate to postgraduate can be a daunting prospect for some applicants. To ease the process, we have devised a series of helpful guidelines and non-compulsory activities to prepare you for the best possible start to your studies.
Postgraduate-level teaching: what to expect
As a postgraduate student, you will be expected to undertake more self-directed, independent learning. You will be required to think for yourself and develop critical reading and writing. This means having the ability to assess whether an argument is coherent and well supported by evidence.
You should express your ideas and opinions in your own words, both in class and in your assignments. Memorising and recalling large amounts of information will be less important than building critical arguments.
Plagiarism is the term used to describe the use of else’s words or ideas in your own work, without adequately acknowledging or referencing the source. You can plagiarise by quoting (using the exact words of another source) or paraphrasing (putting the ideas of another source into your own words).
Plagiarism is treated very seriously at Loughborough University London. Penalties for plagiarism can be very severe; you could fail a module or your entire course. This attitude towards plagiarism may be different from what you are used to, so make sure that you are familiar with how to quote and paraphrase correctly when including references in your work.
Whilst you will be provided with support on referencing and avoiding plagiarism from the University Librarian as part of your studies, you can familiarise yourself with the information below ahead of your studies with us.
Preparing for your programme
You will be expected to take an active part in live discussions and activities from day one. Your academic faculty will encourage you to challenge yourself, ask questions and engage with your peers in order to progress your understanding to a much deeper level.
Your lectures and tutorials are formatted so that you can put forward new ideas, raise issues and interact with the teaching in a stimulating and supportive environment.
Block teaching
At Loughborough University London all of your modules will be delivered one after the other in 3 week blocks. Each block is followed by an assessment period. This is an intensive form of learning which allows you to become immersed into a topic for a short period of time. Unlike traditional university teaching, where you take modules over the course of a semester, you will avoid the distraction of multiple modules running in parallel and will be able to focus all of your efforts on one module at a time.
This means all your lectures, seminars, other activities and assessment for each module takes place in those 3 teaching weeks and assessment period. It is likely that your timetable will allocate approximately 9 hours of teaching (lectures, seminars, tutorials and other classroom activities) in each of the teaching weeks. Each module is followed by an assessment period when you will have no classes so can focus on the assessment for the module. Optional extra-curricular activities, such as careers events, might take place during these periods. If you are studying part-time, you can find out in which blocks your modules will take place by emailing london-enquiries@lboro.ac.uk
Attendance is monitored in all classes.
Action-based learning
Action-based learning is a key component of some modules at Loughborough University London and is a core part of the Collaborative Project module, which is offered to all London master's students. In some modules you will work with students from a range of disciplines to explore innovative and creative solutions to a brief, which is supplied by a real business or organisation.
By engaging with students from a range of backgrounds and by working in partnership with a real business or organisation, you will develop a broad range of advanced problem-solving, communication and team-working skills. To best prepare for this exciting module, take a look through some of our previous collaborative projects.
Assessments
Assessments vary across modules, but most modules require some form of written assessment in the form of essays. However, you may also be assessed by exams, case studies, group work, presentations, posters, reports or learning diaries/journals. All assignments will have strict deadlines.
Tuition fee payments
There are a number of ways you can pay your tuition fees. Tuition fees can be paid for all programmes in one sum by the fourth week of the first term. Alternatively, you may pay your fees in 3 equal termly instalments from October to May by direct debit from a UK bank account. Some students pay their fees through a sponsor. For more information, please see here.
Recommended reading
For each module you will be provided with a reading list. In some modules you will be expected to read something for each class, for others, you may just be provided with readings suggested to develop your understanding of the topic. All books on a reading list will be available from the Library, often electronically.
Before your studies begin, you may wish to browse through the recommended reading below, which aims to prepare you for the start of term.
Design Innovation programmes
To get an idea of the level of reading required for our Institute for Design Innvoation programmes, please see the following article:
Digital Technologies programmes
To get an idea of the level of reading required for these programmes, please see the following article:
Diplomacy and International Governance programmes
Diplomacy, Business and Trade MSc
To get an idea of the level of reading required for this course please see the following article:
Diplomacy and International Governance MSc
To get an idea of the level of reading required for this course please see the following article:
Security, Peace-building and Diplomacy MSc
To get an idea of the level of reading required for this course please see the following article:
Innovation and Entrepreneurship programmes
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management MSc
To get an idea of the level of reading required for this course please see the following article:
Entrepreneurship, Finance and Innovation MSc
To get an idea of the level of reading required for this course please see the following article:
Managing Innovation in Creative Organisations MSc
To get an idea of the level of reading required for this course please see the following article:
International Management programmes
To get an idea of the level of reading required for our International Management programmes, please see the following article:
Media and Creative Industries programmes
Global Communication and Social Change MA
Foundations in Communication and Social Change
Programme Director, Dr Jessica Noske-Turner, has put together some introductory and foundational texts on the topic of global communication and social change(listed in alphabetical order):
- Thomas, P. (2014) ‘Development Communication and Social Change in Historical Context’ in (eds.) Wilkins, Karin Gwinn, Tufte, Thomas, and Obregon, Rafael, The Handbook of Development Communication and Social Change. Wiley Blackwell. Pp 5-9.
- Suzina, A.C. & Tufte, T. (2020). Freire’s vision of development and social change – past experiences, present challenges and perspectives for the future. International Communication Gazette, 82(5), pp 411-424.
- Waisbord, S. (2005) “Five key ideas: coincidences and challenges in development communication” in (eds.) Hemer, O. & Tufte, T. Media & Glocal Change: Rethinking Communication for Development. pp 79-90.
To read the full open access reading list, please visit our blog.
Media and Creative Industries MA
To get an idea of the level of reading required for this course please see the following article:
Sport Business programmes
Sport Analytics and Technologies MSc
To get an idea of the level of reading required for this course please see the following article:
Sport Business and Innovation MSc
To get an idea of the level of reading required for this course please see the following article:
Sport Business and Leadership MSc
To get an idea of the level of reading required for this course please see the following article:
Sport Marketing MSc
To get an idea of the level of reading required for this course please see the following article:
Supporting you
The academic faculty, professional services team and LSU London will provide you with a strong support network to help you through every step of your postgraduate journey.
For more information about the range of support services available to you, please see our student support pages.