UNNC Postgraduate Research Preparation Course 2025

Couse Overview

The aim of this new course is to help equip future postgraduate students with some of the core academic study and research skills that they are likely to draw upon and need over the duration of their studies. 

This course is designed for all postgraduate students who wish to enhance their academic research and study skills before the start of their program. It also provides an excellent opportunity for students to network and improve their language and communication skills.

Targeted Audience

The course is particularly suitable for prospective postgraduates who studied at Chinese universities during their undergraduate years and have now received offers from overseas universities or Sino-foreign cooperative universities.

It is also highly appropriate for prospective students of international universities who wish to experience academic methods, skills, and atmosphere in an English-speaking academic environment in advance.

If you wish to use the results to progress to the postgraduate degree programme, please apply for our Pre-sessional Course. 

Course Information

Programme type: 3-week course        

Programme date: 18th August 2025 - 5th September 2025

Programme Tuition: 13,000 RMB  

Application deadline: 31st July 2025

Curriculum Characteristics

• Taught by CELE professional tutors.
• Small classes, all-English instruction.
• Focus on research design, methods, and results.
• Oriented towards interaction and student-centeredness.
• Emphasis on the learning process and outcomes.
• Practice listening comprehension and language production.
• Cultivate broad research and communication skills essential for future learning.

Staffings

Gareth Morries

Senior Tutor for Pre-sessionals

Gareth has worked on a number of courses since joining the university eighteen months ago. Prior to joining UNNC Gareth worked for two years at the Perse School (Suzhou), a decade at Xi’an Jiao Tong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) and four years at Soochow University. Gareth has also completed a doctorate at the University of Exeter and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). His current research interests are in the areas of leadership and management, motivation and satisfaction, recruitment and retention, professional development, organisational and educational psychology, and health and wellbeing. More details are available here: Gareth Morris - University of Nottingham Ningbo China.

Dawn Buckley

RWRS Module Convener

Dawn has taught EAP in China since 2014, gaining experience in three Sino-foreign partnership university contexts including UNNC, as well as in a public university context. She has also worked on Pre-sessional programmes in the university of Bristol, UK. In addition, prior to coming to China, she accumulated several years of experience teaching English in other countries, including summer and year-round programmes. Her current research interest is in technology enhanced learning and the development of self-access educational materials. More details are available here: Dawn Buckley - University of Nottingham Ningbo China.

Mahmoud Jedani

RWRS Module Convener

Mahmoud is an experienced educator with a BA in English Language and Literature as well as an MA and PhD in Applied Linguistics, specializing in preparing students for the linguistic and academic demands of higher education. With a focus on empowering students to excel in their studies, Mahmoud’s teaching philosophy emphasizes equipping students with the skills and confidence they need to thrive in university environments. Having taught on Pre-sessional courses in the UK, and Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) in Hong Kong, Mahmoud has gained an extensive experience in supporting students, bringing a global perspective to his teaching. Mahmoud is particularly interested in the study of English intonation and its relationship to intelligibility, an area that informs both teaching practices and ongoing research. As an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA), Mahmoud is committed to maintaining high standards in teaching and continuously developing professional practices. More details are available here: Mahmoud Jeidani - University of Nottingham Ningbo China.

Ada Wang

LDP Module Convener

Ada is an experienced and dedicated English for Academic Purposes (EAP) educator with a rich international background. For the past 3 years, she has been designing and convening EAP modules, tailoring them to meet the evolving needs of academic English learners. Ada has taught a wide range of students, from university students in China to aviation professionals and civil servants in the UK, drawing on her expertise in engaging students through interactive classroom activities focused on academic reading, writing, listening, and speaking. More details are available here: Ada Wang - University of Nottingham Ningbo China.

Entry Requirements 

To ensure your learning experience and course outcomes, students must have the ability to listen, speak, read, and write in an all-English learning environment. Students are required to provide an IELTS (Academic) overall score of 6.0 or above, or equivalent proof of English proficiency.

 Further Highlights

All students who successfully complete the course receive a certificate of completion. There are also awards for outstanding work.

(Sample of certificate) 

Comments from Former Students

This course was incredibly rewarding. The instructors provided patient guidance, enabling me to not only master the norms of academic paper writing but also enhance my cross-cultural communication skills. The small class sizes ensured ample interaction and feedback. Furthermore, we had the opportunity to experience campus facilities like the library in advance, and the well-designed curriculum laid a solid foundation for future professional studies. The diverse and engaging extracurricular activities were equally impressive, including dinners, a cruise on the Sanjiang River, and boating on Dongqian Lake, allowing me to relax and unwind outside of my studies. Most importantly, I met a group of like-minded friends who encouraged each other and progressed together. This experience not only prepared me for my academic career but also filled me with anticipation for future graduate life.

As a student enrolled in this programme, we had a fulfilling several weeks with a wide range of courses and activities. Under the guidance of experienced teachers, we not only gradually got familiar with how to properly use English to communicate with students from different cultural backgrounds, but also improved the efficiency of our literature search and reading.  This gave us confidence in coping with future professional courses and essay writing. 
After class, we were pleasantly surprised by a variety of outdoor and sports activities, such as night tour of river, art museum visits, Frisbee games, yoga and so on. Plus, acclimatizing to campus life ahead of time allowed you to enjoy the top-notch library, gymnasium and cafeteria without queuing. Furthermore, I also made wonderful and kind friends who may accompany me throughout the school year. 
All in all, this programme has been an unexpected reward for me.

How to Apply

Please scan the QR code or Click Link to submit your application.

Frequently Asked Questions

For other enquiries, please contact:

Geoffrey Gao, Frank Zhou

Tel: +86 (0)574 8818 0000 ext.8651 / 8108

Email: Geoffrey.Gao@nottingham.edu.cn / Frank.Zhou@nottingham.edu.cn