Graduate Certificate

This Pre-Masters programme has been designed as a bridging mechanism for students who wish to progress from undergraduate to postgraduate study at Ulster and will lead to a distinct award, the Graduate Certificate in Business. The programme lasts for 1 semester and consists of 3 modules. The programme covers study skills as well as elements of a pathway course.

You will have the opportunity to develop knowledge, skills and insight in the following areas:

• The learning styles required for academic purposes at the postgraduate level
• Problem-solving and decision-making skills to draw reasoned conclusions from data and make appropriate recommendations
• The ability to use academic literature and a wide range of research and evaluation methods
• Use a wide range of research methods to critically evaluate concepts, arguments and evidence in an objective manner

Academic requirements

• A third or a pass in a Bachelors degree in any discipline; or
• A pass in a non-honours degree with any classification in any discipline; or
• 3-year Diploma (DAZhuan) or equivalent (China only).

English language requirements

Applicants must satisfy our general entry requirements as well as meeting specific requirements.

• You will need to provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade 4 – previously grade C – or equivalent).

The general entry requirements are any of the following:

• IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5, or equivalent
• HKDSE English Language – Grade 4 overall with no less than 3 in any of the 4 sub-skills
• Indian Standard XII English – Minimum of 70% (in Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) or Indian Certificate in Secondary Education (ICSE) only)
• WAEC – C6

If you do not have the required IELTS, you may be eligible to study on our Pre-Sessional programmes.

• If you have IELTS 5.5, with a maximum score of 5.0, you may be eligible to study on our Pre-Sessional Standard programme.
• If you have IELTS 5.0, with a maximum score of 4.5, you may be eligible to study on our Pre-Sessional Plus programme.

• Students who successfully complete the Graduate Certificate with a minimum average of 50% across all modules, will be in a position to progress on to one of our Master’s programmes in London or Birmingham.
• Progression on to the MBA is conditional on passing the Graduate Certificate with an overall pass mark of at least 50% at the first attempt and normally the possession of 2 years relevant work experience.
• The Graduate Certificate also serves as a stand-alone, internationally recognised qualification which will be awarded upon achieving a pass of 40% in each module.