Introduction to Postgraduate Academic Skills - Join Live!
Are you ready to elevate your academic journey? Join our comprehensive Introduction to Academic Skills course, designed to equip you with essential tools and strategies for success in higher education. Perfect for bridging the gap between undergraduate and postgraduate study, this course offers a pathway to our full MA for students without an existing degree. We offer both live, interactive sessions and standalone, pre-recorded content.
Live sessions starting 7th May!
5 week course
Wednesdays from 7th May - 4th June
12:00 PM to 1:30 PM (BST)
All sessions will be recorded for catch-up at a later date if you cannot attend live.
- Fully online
- Ideal for those seeking to bridge the gap between undergraduate and postgraduate study
- Provides a pathway on to our full MA for those who do not have an existing degree
- Upon successful completion, you will be eligible to apply for our Master's Degree Voice Pedagogy
- Institute of Training and Occupational Learning (ITOL) Accredited
- To pass, the course assessment needs to be completed within 3 months of joining
Overview
Here's a quick explainer video:
Are you ready to elevate your academic journey? Join our comprehensive Introduction to Postgraduate Academic Skills course, designed to equip you with essential tools and strategies for success in higher education. Perfect for bridging the gap between undergraduate and postgraduate study, this course offers a pathway to our full MA for students without an existing degree. We offer both live, interactive sessions and standalone, pre-recorded content.
Recognised by the University of Essex, eligibility for the MA will be granted under the following conditions:
- You complete the course within three months.
- You submit a 2,500-word essay that meets level 7 criteria.
- You must be prepared to submit multiple drafts to your supervisor.
Live and Interactive Learning
- Engage Live: Join us for sessions that blend taught content, discussion, and evaluation.
- Dynamic Sessions: Participate in interactive lectures, group work, and discussions to deepen your understanding.
- Virtual Learning Environment: Be part of a cohort and engage with peers and you instructor in a collaborative online space.
This course is fully accredited by The Institute of Training and Occupational Learning (ITOL).
Upon completion of the course, you will receive an official ITOL branded certificate to confirm your accreditation.
This course is ideal for individuals who pursued a vocational pathway and do not have a degree or for those who pursued a practical degree and wish to build their academic skills.
Syllabus
| Week 1: Foundations |
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Session 1: Induction
Academic Misconduct: Understanding academic integrity is crucial for your success. This segment covers the importance of honesty in your academic work, types of academic misconduct (such as plagiarism, collusion, and fabrication), and the consequences of violating academic integrity policies. Learn how to properly cite sources and avoid common pitfalls. Mendeley Document Management System: Mendeley is a powerful tool for managing your research documents. This introduction guides you through setting up your Mendeley account, organizing your research papers, and storing and keeping notes on your research. Using AI to Format References: Learn how to leverage AI tools to format your references accurately and efficiently, ensuring your citations meet academic standards. Getting Started with Google Scholar: Google Scholar is an excellent search engine for academic research. This section will guide you through:
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| Week 2: Evaluating Evidence |
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Session 2: Evaluating Evidence
Evaluating Evidence Using CRAAP: The CRAAP test is a useful tool for evaluating the credibility and relevance of sources. It stands for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose:
We will also explore other evaluative tools that guide us through assessing lower quality evidence, helping you discern when and how to use such sources effectively. |
| Week 3: Building Skills |
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Session 3: Originality vs. Academic Subservience
The Power of Citation: This session introduces you to the conventions of academic writing through meta discourse. We'll examine the role and frequency of citation, styles of citation (integral/non-integral), and genre-specific citation practices. Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of each style and their impact on the author's voice. Negotiating the Tension: Discuss how to balance originality with humility, developing a critical voice while remaining deferential to peer-reviewed research. Understand the demands of citation, the growth of academic knowledge, and the importance of establishing a credible author ethos. First Person vs. Third Person Writing: Compare the use of first person and third person in academic writing, discussing how each style affects the author's presence and the perception of objectivity and authority. Exploring Articles: Explore various articles and consider their academic style, analysing how different citation practices and writing styles influence the presentation and credibility of research. |
| Week 4: Advanced Techniques |
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Session 4: Stylistic Devices in Academic Writing
Stylistic Devices: This session covers the use of frame markers, code glosses, attitude markers, engagement markers, hedges, and boosts. Learn how these devices can help you structure your writing, convey your stance, and engage your readers effectively. |
| Week 5: Descriptive to Analytical Writing |
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Session 5: From Descriptive to Analytical Writing
Descriptive Writing: Provides context, background information, and factual details. It is informative and expository, explaining something clearly. Analytical Writing: Engages with and applies theoretical concepts, evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of ideas, unpacks the significance of evidence, and synthesizes sources to support an overall argument. Aims to uncover deeper meanings and critically illustrate connections between diverse ideas or evidence. Essay Structure: Discuss the structure of an essay, including the introduction, main body, and conclusion. Learn how to create a preliminary outline, develop your argument, and present information logically. Paragraph Structure: Using the TEECL structure (Topic sentence, Explanation, Evidence, Comment, Link), learn how to organize your paragraphs effectively, ensuring each paragraph supports your overall argument. Critical Thinking: Emphasize the importance of critical thinking from the outset, helping you identify key components, conduct initial research, and decide on your tentative position and line of argument. |
- Interactive Learning: Engage in dynamic lectures, group work, and interactive discussions.
- Live Sessions: Join us live for a mixture of taught content, discussion work, and evaluation.
- Expert Guidance: Benefit from the expertise of seasoned academics.
- Practical Skills: Acquire skills that are directly applicable to your academic and professional pursuits.
Assignment
The assignment will consist of a 2,500-word written article on Music Performance Anxiety within the Teaching Studio. You will begin writing it from week one and work with your course instructor to bring your writing up to Master's level standard. We will take it slowly, starting with the submission of an introduction. You will then learn to research, accumulate articles, and write your first section/theme. Learning how to write requires you to write and receive feedback.
Learning Outcomes:
- Research Mastery: Efficiently access and utilize academic resources.
- Document Management: Organize and manage your research effectively.
- Critical Evaluation: Critically assess evidence and understand its hierarchy.
- Referencing Skills: Master the Harvard referencing system.
- Writing Excellence: Develop a sophisticated academic writing style.
Schedule
Sessions will be held every Wednesday from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM (BST), starting from the first week of May 2025.
- Wednesday, May 7, 2025
- Wednesday, May 14, 2025
- Wednesday, May 21, 2025
- Wednesday, May 28, 2025
- Wednesday, June 4, 2025
London (BST): 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
New York (EDT): 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Los Angeles (PDT): 4:00 AM - 5:30 AM
Paris (CEST): 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Tokyo (JST): 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Sydney (AEST): 9:00 PM - 10:30 PM
Mumbai (IST): 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Time Zone Considerations: Recordings will be available for those in different time zones or with scheduling conflicts.
Cost & Requirements
Course Fee: £500.00
The cost is deducted from the price of the MA.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
- For Students Without a Degree: To be accepted onto the MA, you must complete the task within three months. You must be prepared to enrol in the next MA cohort rather than waiting. Your academic skills will lapse if you do not build on them. Regrettably, we cannot transfer you to any subsequent cohort unless there are exceptional circumstances. Those who cannot complete the course within the deadline would struggle to work at a Master's level standard and would need to take some lower qualifications to build skills.
- For Students With a Degree: You will not need to complete the course within a three-month timeframe to be accepted onto the MA. However, you are welcome to take this course before beginning the MA if you would like to strengthen or refresh your academic skills.
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Our Students
“As a woman with extensive professional experience but still in need of a full university degree (with the complexities that often entails), I am very grateful to have been able to access a Master's degree thanks to the Foundation Course. People deserve second chances to prove that they are up to the required standard, and this introductory gateway to the MA in Voice Pedagogy represents an affordable opportunity. Thanks to the Voice Study Centre, an alternative is envisaged for those who have not followed the stipulated path. And then, of course, you have to live up to it, work hard, and prioritise. The contents of the course are very well exposed, and several useful tools are introduced, but a level of commitment is required. I would like to point out the help of Debbie Winter, who has always been attentive to my questions.”
"It really wouldn't be overly dramatic to say that this course has been a life-changing experience for me. Providing a unique opportunity for those who would be exempt from studying at MA level, this course is like a gift.
I gained the tools I needed to jump into the world of academia and I found the resources invaluable to my academic and career progression. For anyone feeling that going straight to MA is a stretch, or for those who never had the opportunity to discover their academic capabilities I could not recommend this course highly enough. I cannot wait to walk with Voice Study Centre through the next three years of study and beyond!"
"Attending this course was a very valuable experience that helped me realise the areas of my knowledge that I needed to improve. It also helped me to reorganise knowledge and skills that I believe I had previously achieved. During the course I never felt neglected. On the contrary, I could see how much all the staff of Voice Study Centre that I interacted with were taking care of me.”
"I was delighted to discover such an inclusive course which was the perfect pathway to enable me to enter onto a degree pathway.
It also was the perfect opportunity to ease myself back into studying after such a long time and build up my academic skills to the level required."
“I’ve had a really positive experience with the course, you’re taken through it step by step and it allows you the space to develop your academic writing skills and learn about new topics that support your professional practise.”
“I would highly recommend this course to anyone who has any doubt whether they can learn the skills to be able to complete an MA. The team are so supportive and you’re never on your own with it. Honestly, it’s life changing.”
“Just started the MA - but I'd be completely lost without taking the course beforehand. Didn't have any prior experience in academics and it was a very valuable experience.”
"My writing skills have improved considerably, I feel I understand the formula and structures required for Masters level writing alongside developing an Authorial voice whilst remaining academically credible."
"I recommend this course to anyone who is new to academic writing and/or would like to improve their academic skills. This course democratized academic writing for me alongside developing skills as a writer. Debbie worked with me closely and I felt she took much care on guiding me through the process. This personalized approach has benefited my confidence greatly and I'm exited to start working on my Masters to apply these skills”.
FAQ's
Where will the course take place? Online.
What if I can’t make the live sessions? Each session will be recorded and available on catch-up.
How much does the course cost? £500 (this will be deducted from your fees should you decide to continue on to the full MA).