Postgraduate Prospectus

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IT and online services
We provide first class facilities and an
online learning environment to complement
your postgraduate studies. You are provided
with an individual account, giving access to
our computing facilities including e-mail, the
web, learning materials and personal online
file storage. You can access most online
services and information anytime and
anywhere through our student web portal,
myEssex. This provides secure access to
your individual University record, plus a
personalised gateway to student services,
and news and event information.
In addition to specialist IT facilities
for your subject, central open access
laboratories at our Colchester Campus
provide more than 500 modern Windows
PCs and, at our Southend Campus, more
than 100. These run over 100 software
packages and have connections to our
high-speed network and the Internet, as
well as laser printing. Assistive technology
and specialist support software is available.
At our Colchester Campus, laboratories are
available seven days a week, which
includes our collaborative working spaces
in the Orangery where you can work on
smart boards, using wipe off walls, and
over 100 are accessible 24 hours a day.
At our Southend Campus, laboratories
34 | Postgraduate Prospectus 2012
are available throughout our Gateway
Building’s long opening hours.
You can connect to our network via the
connection point in every student room
at both campuses, and by using our
extensive wireless (wi-fi) service. At our
Colchester Campus, this includes our
Library, cafés, Students’ Union and some
areas of Wivenhoe Park. At our Southend
Campus, this includes teaching rooms, the
open study area, social spaces and the
Students’ Union.
We provide training to teach the basics
of Windows, Office software and some
applications software such as SPSS and
End note, up to the level required for the
European Computer Driving Licence
(ECDL) computer qualification.
English language study
We offer a range of intensive programmes,
for language and study skills, if you wish
to improve your general and academic
English. The length and type of programme
depends on your current level and the
language proficiency requirements of
your course.
Our pre-sessional programmes:
n enhance your English language
proficiency and use of English for
academic purposes;
n ensure you are familiar with the modes
of teaching and learning at Essex;
n introduce you to your department; and
n orientate you to living and studying
in the UK.
If you have a conditional offer, then we offer
two different pre-sessional pathways for
you. Our classic pathway (for 15 and 10
weeks to provide a language uplift of 1.0
and 0.5 IELTS band respectively) prepares
you for academic study with a focus on
language and study skills in an academic
context, like essay writing and project work.
Our intensive pathway (for 10 and 5 weeks
to provide a language uplift of 1.0 and 0.5
IELTS band respectively) improves core
language skills by focusing on grammar and
vocabulary development, developing your
reading, writing, listening and speaking.
Our in-sessional programme consists of
free English support classes if you are
taking a full-time academic course, with
placement based on your English test at
the beginning of the academic year.
Further information is available from our
International Academy
E intacad@essex.ac.uk
www.essex.ac.uk/internationalacademy