International Foundation Certificate in Music
Program start date | Application deadline |
2023-09-18 | - |
2023-05-02 | - |
2023-09-26 | 2023-07-17 |
2024-01-16 | - |
Program Overview
Course overview
This one-year programme gives you the opportunity to develop your English language, become familiar with UK academic culture, and prepare to study for a BMus in Music or Popular Music.
The International Foundation Certificate (IFC) programme is aimed at undergraduate students who need a year to:
Half of the programme will focus on the four compulsory modules of language development:
The other half of the programme will introduce you to the historical and cultural context of music studies and give you an opportunity to develop your own musicianship. The music modules will give you a taste of undergraduate study in that area at Goldsmiths.
You will have a personal tutor, who you meet in small groups or on a one-to-one basis to discuss progress on the course, general approaches to study, and ways of maximising language learning. Tutors will also support you in finalising your plans for future study.
You are encouraged throughout the programme to work independently and in particular to use the resources available in the Goldsmiths Library.
Guaranteed progression
If you pass the programme at the required level (a pass in all modules with an overall score of 50% or more), you are guaranteed a place on a related Goldsmiths degree programme:
BMus Music
Alternatively you may choose to continue your studies at another university.
Contact the department
If you have specific questions about the degree, contact
Dr Naomi Matsumoto
.Program Outline
What you'll study
Overview
The programme is made up of the following modules:
English for Academic Purposes modules (30 credits each)
Students on all
IFC Pathways
take both of these compulsory modules, designed to develop your ability and confidence in the four key areas of writing, reading, listening and speaking. Depending on your English language proficiency, you can choose between either Collaborative Research or Academic Listening and Speaking.
Module title | Credits |
---|---|
Academic Reading and Writing Academic Reading and Writing30 creditsThe course covers the key aspects of writing an essay. These include features of academic style, the planning process, structuring an argument, summarising, paraphrasing techniques, referencing, avoiding plagiarism, and drafting and editing. Emphasis is given to the logic underlying Western academic writing conventions, rather than simply looking at the procedural aspects. This is supported by work on the main areas of English grammar, with a particular focus on improving grammatical range and accuracy in students’ writing. Reading skills are also developed. Textual analysis enables students to learn about cohesion, extend their vocabulary, read for gist and specific information, infer meaning, as well as develop summary skills. The texts generally focus on a background to Western thought and culture, taking into account ancient Greeks and Romans, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment and the influence of modernity, feminism and Marxism. There is an emphasis on how to use reading in writing: to learn from other writers’ style and using their points as evidence for students’ arguments. |
30 credits |
Academic Listening and Speaking Academic Listening and Speaking30 creditsPlease Note: English Language Development modules are only available for students whose first language is not English.To enhance listening skills, the course makes use of a wide range of texts, drawing firstly on commercially produced EAP materials to help students acquire the skills of listening for gist and specific information and taking useful notes. Later, the course moves on recordings from Goldsmiths library as well as BBC radio shows. Students are exposed to a range of challenging and interesting recordings related to the arts, current affairs, media, education and aspects of British culture. Many of the recordings are relevant to subjects studied at Goldsmiths, for example race and ethnicity, representation, identity and culture. Where possible, the recordings are exploited for vocabulary development. To develop speaking skills, students will have to research and give seminar presentations and lead the class through discussion of their chosen topic. They will receive input on effective seminar techniques and functional language. There is also ongoing feedback on their presentations. |
30 credits |
or |
|
Collaborative Research Collaborative Research30 creditsIn this module, you'll focus on research methodologies. You'll be given a comprehensive overview of some of the main ways that knowledge is generated within university contexts. This includes:
You'll collaborate in small groups (3-4 students) over the academic year to design and conduct your own research project. You'll be supported and closely supervised by your module convenor, and can relate to, and extend, IFC students’ pathway studies or learning from Music foundation studies. As the projects develop, the module adopts more of a workshop approach, with some group tutorials offered. As well as the content focus on research, you'll explore ‘soft’ skills such as: recognising individuals’ value to a team effort, conflict resolution, pooling resources, time management, poster design, confidence building, presentation skills and self-reflection. |
30 credits |
Music modules
You'll also complete the following modules from the Department of Music:
Module title | Credits |
---|---|
Foundation for Performance Foundation for Performance15 creditsThis module aims to develop your performance skills (particularly in solo repertoire). Lectures discuss performance-related issues (such as technical and repertorial matters; developing critical listening, how to organise rehearsals, etc.) while practice-based workshops aim to develop basic musicianship and aural skills. As a part of the module, you will also acquire recording techniques using facilities in the Music Department. You'll be supported by one-to-one tuition on your chosen first-study instrument or voice (12 hours per year). The tutor(s) of this module will monitor your overall progress. |
15 credits |
Foundation for Music Studies Foundation for Music Studies15 creditsThis module aims to develop your musical literacy and knowledge of music theory so as to enable you to acquire analytic methods appropriate to the harmonic and formal investigation of music. Regular lectures and workshops lead to small assignments that monitor your progress. You'll submit some of those assignments for assessment in the form of a portfolio. Your learning is assisted by the use of the notational software Sibelius as well as self-learning music theory resources. |
15 credits |
Foundation for Composition Foundation for Composition15 creditsAs a preparatory module for the BMus Year 1 module ‘Composition’, this module introduces you to several basic compositional techniques drawn upon compositional practices and modes of presentation from various musics. You'll be expected to apply a selected number of those techniques in your own work and to develop your capacity for creativity by creating short exercises and an independent composition. The module also develops basic music technology skills by using a DAW for music creation. |
15 credits |
Introduction to Musicology Introduction to Musicology15 creditsAs a preparatory module for the BMus Music Year 1 module ‘Discovering Music’, this module introduces you to the development of music in its historical and cultural context. It explores musical repertoires of all kinds (from classical, electronic, to popular) and of all periods (from medieval, renaissance, to contemporary). You'll focus on the stylistic/formal changes in music. As part of the module, you'll develop your understanding of diverse musical styles, and familiarise yourself with technical terms and definitions important in musical studies. As an integrated part of this module, you will be expected to develop your reading and writing skills in the English language to the standard appropriate for entry to the BMus programme. In the module, you will acquire skills for software packages such as Word, Powerpoint, and Zotero (a bibliographic management tool). |
15 credits |
Assessment
The English for Academic Purposes modules of the programme are assessed by a mixture of coursework, written examination and presentation. The music modules will include assessment of a portfolio of harmony exercises and composition, a research project and a listening assessment.
Download the
programme specification
. If you would like an earlier version of the programme specification, please contact theQuality Office
.Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.
For 2021-22 and 2020–21, we have made some changes to how the teaching and assessment of certain programmes are delivered. To check what changes affect this programme, please visit the
programme changes page
.How to apply
As part of your application you'll need to include:
How to apply
As part of your application you'll need to include: