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Courses

INTO Programme Specification

Graduate Diploma Graduate Diploma in Management/ Graduate Diploma in Management with Pre-sessional English

Academic Year 2022/23

A programme specification is required for any programme on which a student may be registered. All programmes of the University are subject to the University's Quality Assurance processes. All degrees are awarded by Queen's University Belfast.

Programme Title Graduate Diploma Graduate Diploma in Management/ Graduate Diploma in Management with Pre-sessional English Final Award
(exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes)
Graduate Diploma
Programme Code NTO-GD-MGT UCAS Code HECoS Code 100089 - Management studies - 100
ATAS Clearance Required No
Mode of Study Full Time
Type of Programme Postgraduate Length of Programme Full Time - 1 Academic Year
Total Credits for Programme 120
Exit Awards available No

Institute Information

Teaching Institution

INTO Queen's

School/Department

INTO

Quality Code
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code

Higher Education Credit Framework for England
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/higher-education-credit-framework-for-england

Level 6

Subject Benchmark Statements
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements

The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/quality-code/qualifications-frameworks.pdf

Accreditations (PSRB)

The British Council

Date of most recent Accreditation Visit 11-05-18

Regulation Information

Does the Programme have any approved exemptions from the University General Regulations
(Please see General Regulations)

None.

Programme Specific Regulations

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
English Language Requirement:
For the Graduate Diploma in Management candidates will normally be required to have an English Language test score, taken within the last two years, of IELTS 5.5 or equivalent, with a minimum of 5.5 in all subskills.
For the Graduate Diploma in Management with Pre-Sessional English candidates will normally be required to have an English Language test score, taken within the last two years, of IELTS 5.0 or equivalent, with a minimum of 5.0 in all sub skills.
N.B. Students who require a Tier 4 visa to study on the programme must comply with UK Visas and Immigration requirements and hold a Secure English Language Test (SELT) at CEFR Level B1 or above with a minimum of B1 in all components, reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Academic Requirement:
Completed first degree with minimum classification specified by country.
Applicants wishing to progress to the MSc International Business or MSc in Human Resource Management must have an undergraduate degree in Business or Management which is acceptable to Queen’s Management School.
Minimum equivalent of GCSE Grade C in Maths for all students.
Additional conditions may apply to certain progression pathways and potential applicants are advised to check with University Admissions before applying.
Entrance requirements are kept under review and are subject to change.
Applicants are advised to check the latest information online at
http://www.intostudy.com/en-gb/universities/queens-university-belfast/courses

There will be two intakes each academic year, one in September and one in January.

Award:
To be eligible for the award, all students must take and satisfactorily complete (pass) all academic subject modules to the value of 80 CATS points.
Students must also satisfactorily complete (pass) the English Language and Study Skills (ELSS) Module to the value of 40 CATS points.

The pass mark for all academic modules is 40%.
The pass mark for the ELSS module is 50% overall (IELTS 6.0), with a minimum of 40% in each sub-skill (IELTS 5.5).
The ELSS module is assessed using an INTO ELSS ELSS examination (benchmarked against CEFR and IELTS).

Results are reported as a percentage with 35-39% being equivalent to IELTS 5.0, 40 -49% equivalent to IELTS 5.5; 50-59% equivalent to IELTS 6.0, 60-69% equivalent to IELTS 6.5, etc.
N. B. Students following the Graduate Diploma with Pre-Sessional English must take and satisfactorily complete one term of Pre-Sessional English before taking any of the academic subject modules.

Re-sits:
A student who fails a module at the first sitting shall be permitted one further attempt to achieve a pass for that module. The module will normally be retaken at the next available opportunity.
Where the module is a specified pathway module (and therefore essential to student progression) the pass mark is 50%. In such cases, eligibility to re-sit the module is determined by a first mark lower than 50% and any re-sit mark is capped at 50%. With such modules, the progression mark becomes the de facto pass mark.
The ELSS resit mark is not capped.
Students who fail any module at the second attempt will be reviewed and may be required to withdraw from the programme.

Progression:
Holders of the Graduate Diploma may progress to study graduate degrees at Queen’s University only if they have achieved, as a minimum requirement, the level of performance in both academic modules and ELSS as specified in the following progression requirements:

Overall:
Minimum of 60% overall final grade average with no academic module score less than 50%.

English Language Module:
Minimum of 60% overall (equivalent to IELTS 6.5) with minimum of 40% (equivalent to IELTS 5.5) in all components.

Students on the Graduate Diploma in Management with Pre-Sessional English must achieve a minimum of IELTS 5.5 overall with no sub-skill below 5.0, before proceeding to study further English Language and subject modules.

Students with protected characteristics

None.

Are students subject to Fitness to Practise Regulations

(Please see General Regulations)

No

Educational Aims Of Programme

The specific objectives of the programme are to:

1. Prepare graduates of the programme for further study in a range of management and other related disciplines at Masters level. Emphasis will be placed on the integration of ELSS teaching across the programme.

2. Equip students with the critical writing and oral communications skills appropriate for work at Masters level in management and other related disciplines.

3. Provide effective systems of learning, academic guidance and pastoral support to encourage the academic, intellectual and personal development of students.

4. Develop students’ skills in problem solving, decision-making, critical thinking, team working and interaction including planning, managing priorities, managing time and negotiating.

5. Equip students with the skills necessary to critically analyse, evaluate and synthesise business, management and other information from a wide variety of sources.

6. Provide the opportunity for students to formulate business, management and other ideas and concepts independently and to communicate them in a clear and supported manner.

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes: Cognitive Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

1 Problem solve through the application of synthetic and analytic logical reasoning.
2 Independently enquire, critically evaluate and interpret, utilising peer reviewed journals.
3 Demonstrate the ability to use general, academic, and interdisciplinary databases to identify key sources, scholarly and peer reviewed publications.
4 Self-assess and reflect, work with personal tutors and draw on the content of the individual learning log.
5 Understand the relationship between argument and evidence.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Cognitive skills are developed across first and second term modules and focus particularly on problem solving and logical reasoning. Independent enquiry, critical evaluation and interpretation, abstraction and assimilation are key elements in all modules. Self-assessment and reflection are developed by formative feedback particularly on tutorial presentations.

Methods of Assessment

Assessment of cognitive skills, both summative and formative, occurs in the form of course assignments, oral presentations, project work and examinations.

Learning Outcomes: Transferable Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

1 Construct arguments and exercise problem solving skills.
2 Apply critical reasoning and evaluate case studies against core theories.
3 Synthesise information/data from a variety of sources including from databases, books, journal articles and the internet.
4 Prepare and communicate ideas in both written and presentational forms.
5 Work both independently and in groups.
6 Organise and manage time as well as problem solving and critical analysis.
7 Comprehend and use relevant technologies.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Transferable skills development permeates the teaching and learning on the graduate diploma programme. Successful completion of coursework requires students to draw upon a range of sources, select and assimilate relevant information and to complete tasks within deadlines. ICT skills are consolidated throughout the course as an aid to report writing, visual presentation, literature searching and data handling. Although not formally assessed, qualities such as self-reliance, good time management and the ability to undertake independent study are fostered and encouraged throughout the course.

Methods of Assessment

Assessment of coursework requires students to use a range of media (e.g. critiques of journal articles, essays, PowerPoint or similar presentations, case studies) to demonstrate their learning.

Learning Outcomes: Knowledge & Understanding

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

1. Critically understand the external environment within which 21st century organisations operate, including internationalisation, globalisation, international trade and balance of payments and the underlying financial structures within which trade is conducted.
2. Appreciate the different forms of empirical enquiry, the development of arguments and critical exploration; the concept of falsifiability; the empirical and rational bases of research; qualitative and quantitative methods; primary and secondary sources of evidence.
3. Understand the ways in which individuals, organisations and communities frame their cultural context and the impact of this on the conduct of business across different regions and cultures.
4. Identify, understand, critically analyse and help find and evaluate solutions to challenges in the conduct of business and management.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Knowledge-based subject-specific learning and teaching is provided through lectures, seminars, tutorials, groupwork, directed reading, independent learning activities and computer-based learning materials.

Students’ knowledge and understanding will be assessed through a combination of unseen examinations, formal essays, class tests, individual and group projects, as well as individual and group oral presentations. Tutor moderated peer-informed assessment will contribute to the assessment of group work components

Methods of Assessment

Both summative and formative assessment is used throughout all modules.
Summative assessment takes a
variety of forms. In several modules formal examinations are used to gauge and asses understanding and the acquisition of knowledge. Work required for summative assessment (whether in the form of examinations, individual essays, individual or group presentations) will be judged against the Level 3 criteria in the University’s published conceptual equivalents scale.

Formative assessment will take three main forms; (i) weekly assignments in most of the modules aimed at promoting subject-specific understanding, logic, accurate written and (where required) graphical representation of information, and good presentation (ii) frequent and regular discussion of key theories and academic readings to develop understanding, logical argument and critical assessment and (iii) timely feedback on the content and performance of student presentations

Learning Outcomes: Subject Specific

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

1. Investigate, critically assess and present complex data and information sources as they relate to business & management.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures, seminars, tutorials,

Methods of Assessment

Examination, business report, research report, research essay, audio visual recording/presentation (individual and group)

Module Information

Stages and Modules

Module Title Module Code Level/ stage Credits

Availability

Duration Pre-requisite

Assessment

S1 S2 Core Option Coursework % Practical % Examination %
Business Management - Environment, Theory and Practice NTO3013 1 20 YES YES 12 weeks N YES -- 40% 0% 60%
Exploring Culture NTO3005 1 20 YES YES 12 weeks N YES -- 50% 0% 50%
Empirical Enquiry and Critical Thought NTO3003 1 20 YES YES 12 weeks N YES -- 100% 0% 0%
Business in an International Context NTO3002 1 20 YES YES 12 weeks N YES -- 50% 0% 50%
English Language and Study Skills NTO3001 1 40 YES YES 24 weeks N YES -- 40% 0% 60%

Notes

Please note that the British Council accredits the ELSS module for this programme.