Module Directory

This module is designed for international students who do not have English as their first language and who are planning to pursue a PhD at the University of Essex. It builds upon the English language skills being concurrently developed in the English Language and Communication Skills module and prior research knowledge all students on the module will have already acquired at Level 7. The module has been developed to carefully and incrementally support the development of academic skills in those students with research aspirations, but a level of English which needs to be slightly enhanced and refined to meet the requirements for PhD study at the beginning of Term 1. Following that first term of intensive preparatory work, students will be fully prepared for Term 2 during which the focus will be on further consolidation of the skills acquired whilst developing more in-depth analysis and critical reading, writing and discussion in addition to supporting students in undertaking their own scaffolded research project. Furthermore, the module develops these skills within the context of materials and tasks which familiarize the students with the potentially different systems and academic expectations and conventions of a UK university.

The aims of this module are:

• To develop the English language ability level, academic skills and attitudes that can support a postgraduate student’s research journey.


• To help students to make effective use of research articles by supporting understanding of their structure, style, use of sources and specific use of academic language and developing students’ skills to effectively create their own postgraduate research level written work.


• To encourage students to analyse, synthesise and reason in a critical and investigative manner.


• To offer students an opportunity to undertake, write up and deliver a presentation on a small-scale research project.


• To acclimatise students to University of Essex academic conventions and expectations of postgraduate research students.


• To encourage students to build supportive academic relationships and to develop strong help-seeking behaviours.

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

1. Demonstrate an ability to search through literature and data sources for appropriate material and undertake critical analysis of said material.


2. Understand, synthesize, analyse and make use of complex, abstract content in an appropriately sophisticated manner.


3. Identify structure, style and specialist academic language required for different sections of research reports and assignments.


4. Recognise, assess and present different types of argument and presentation of ideas within written texts.


5. Engage critically with a wide range of academic texts of relevance to the student’s discipline.


6. Construct a research project at B2/C1 level in accordance with UK academic conventions for postgraduate research students such as those related to thesis presentation, appropriateness of research methodology; and breadth and depth of knowledge (within word limit considerations).


7. Research, create and present an effective and appropriately scholarly research-focused poster presentation including presenting findings of research in a logically structured, concise and accurately referenced manner.

The syllabus is intended to develop postgraduate students’ academic skills including but not limited to the following:

• Reading research papers


• Reading and taking notes critically and effectively


• Extracting and synthesising information from outside sources


• Comparing academic sources


• Constructing and presenting bibliographies and references


• Academic Integrity


• Preparing and delivering poster presentations


• Writing a research project


• Writing critically and analytically


• Developing an argument


• Skills of enquiry, reflection and problem-solving


• Help-seeking behaviours


• Time management skills for postgraduate researchers


• Building academic relationships and engaging with opportunities


• The academic community

The module will be delivered via:

• Two 2-hour seminars per week.

This module runs for 22 weeks. Students will be guided to make use of the facilities online and in the Albert Sloman library, individual support will be provided and they will be encouraged to work independently