TEACHING STRUCTURE
Between two and four subjects are normally chosen, from an exceptionally wide range of options in the liberal arts, social sciences, business, mathematical and science fields. Courses are designed to be stimulating and academically relevant and are taught according to the requirements of each individual student. This is made possible by the emphasis on one-to-one tuition and also by the small seminar group sizes.
The approach is student-centred, lively and informal, offering a high degree of personal attention and constructive appraisal of each student's work and understanding, fostering greater academic participation and involvement. Students are taught to think clearly and logically and are given careful guidance with research and writing skills. The result is an acceleration of academic maturing, giving them a competitive ‘edge' when returning to their home institutions.
SEMINAR GROUPS
| "My classes are very small and therefore very personalized. The tutors are really enthusiastic and motivated - it all makes for a great experience - and I made some wonderful friends as well." |
| Katie Fitzgerald |
Where appropriate, teaching is organised in small seminar groups with a maximum of six students. Seminar groups meet for four hours each week, and each student also receives a one-hour individual tutorial. The small groups enable close discussion of each topic under the guidance of the tutor and provide an active learning situation in which students are asked to present material and exchange views with others. Most students find the small group environment stimulating and productive.
INDIVIDUAL TUTORIALS
| "The one-to-one tutorials were great compared to my past teaching experiences." |
| Luke Saunders |
In many cases, teaching is arranged on an entirely one-to-one basis; students may prefer to opt for this approach and it allows us to arrange individually-tailored courses. Individual teaching encourages an active involvement in the learning process and in the development of understanding of material. It is a flexible method which allows students to work at their own pace. A considerable amount of material may be covered in each session. The informal setting of the tutorial allows the student to express ideas freely and confidently, with the tutor's undivided attention. It is an excellent preparation for the self-motivated approach required at college or university level.
STAFF AND SUPERVISION
Course tutors are experienced British university graduates, many from Oxford or Cambridge. They are familiar with the needs of international students and are a dedicated and inspiring team, chosen for their communicative skills and sympathetic approach to difficulties encountered by students. All our tutors are experienced and proficient in the tutorial teaching method, encouraging student involvement at each stage. Their subject knowledge is extremely wide, allowing them to develop students' thinking well beyond the mundane!
As our teaching method places a great deal of emphasis on students' personal study and self-motivation, in order to encourage and monitor this we ensure that careful academic support and counselling is available. Accordingly, each student is assigned to a personal tutor. Regular meetings are held to review progress, based on reports generated by subject tutors, and to discuss individual study needs.
REPORTS AND CREDITS
Each half term, tutors write an assessment of progress and offer practical suggestions on how to consolidate the work covered. Where requested, students also receive a transcript at the conclusion of the course, to be forwarded to schools or colleges for credit. Where a student wishes to receive credit for courses taken, this should be made clear from the outset, so that a formal request may be submitted to the school or college which will award the credit. In some cases, the teaching material is tailored to conform to the specific requirements of the awarding institution.