International Foundation Certificate in Media, Culture & Society

Why study International Foundation Certificate in Media, Culture & Society at Goldsmiths

Develop your English language, become familiar with UK academic culture, and prepare to study for a BA degree.

  • This programme enables you to attend lectures or choose modules in which you have a broad interest and, with the help of the tutorial support, clarify your future area of study. This makes the course ideal if you do not have a clear idea of exactly which subject you want to study.
  • You will develop your language skills in academic English.
  • Familiarise yourself both with ways of working in British academic culture and in the standards required at degree level.
  • You will have a personal tutor, who you meet in small groups or on a one-to-one basis to discuss progress on the course, general approaches to study, and ways of maximising language learning.
  • You will build skills including how to work independently.
  • If you pass the programme at the required level (a pass in all modules with an overall score of 50% or more), you are guaranteed a place on the following degrees:


    BA Arts Management

    BA Media & Communications 

    BA Promotional Media

    Alternatively you may choose to continue your studies at another university. 

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Helen Hickey (admissions tutor).

UCAS code

Entry requirements

Length

1 year full-time

Fees

International - full-time: £TBC

Department

Centre for Academic Language and Literacies

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Eight out of ten Goldsmiths students go into highly skilled work or further study (Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2022)

What you'll study

You'll complete the following modules:

Module title Credits
Globalising Cultures 15 credits
Understanding Images 15 credits
Approaches to Textual Analysis: Film Studies 15 credits
Introduction to Cultural Studies 15 credits
Academic Reading and Writing 30 credits
Academic Listening and Speaking 30 credits
or
Collaborative Research 30 credits

Depending on your English language proficiency, you choose between either Collaborative Research or Academic Listening and Speaking.

Language and study skills

This programme combines relevant content modules with the development of language and study skills. You will develop the ability to:

  • Reason critically
  • Develop an argument
  • Analyse and interpret a range of text types
  • Work cross-culturally
  • Structure and communicate ideas effectively, both orally and in writing
  • Participate constructively in groups
  • Manage time
  • Work independently
  • Find information and use IT

How you'll be assessed

The two compulsory English for Academic Purposes units are assessed by coursework, written examination and an oral examination. The remaining module units are assessed via a variety of methods which include, for example, essays and reflective journals.

How to apply

As part of your application you'll need to include: 

  • A reference
  • A personal statement
  • English Language certificates
  • Transcript or student record

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for the International Foundation Certificate in Media, Culture and Society are:

Academic

A good high school leaving certificate or equivalent academic study with some evidence of learning in relevant subjects. 

English

Evidence of English language proficiency:

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) IELTS 5.0 overall with no element lower than 5.0. 

If you have a lower English language score you may be accepted after successfully completing one of our Pre-sessional English courses. 

Age

You must normally be 17 years of age or above. 

Country of residence and nationality

All non-native English speakers will be considered. However, please be aware that all students will be subject to the International rate of fees.

If you are not sure which type of IELTS test you need to take, contact our Immigration Advisory Service.



International qualifications

We also accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of UKVI IELTS 5.0 (with no individual score lower than 5.0) to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for degree-level study.

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees

These are the fees for students starting their programme in the 2024/2025 academic year.

 

  • International - full-time: £TBC

Find out about our tuition fees and funding opportunities.

 

Funding opportunities

We offer a wide range of scholarships and bursaries, and our Careers Service can also offer advice on finding work during your studies. Find out more about funding your studies with us.

Additional costs

In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.

There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.