International Pre-Master’s Pathway - Engineering Systems

International Pathways
International Pre-Master's Pathway

This study route is designed to prepare international students for postgraduate education while experiencing life abroad in the UK. It aims to prepare you with a deeper understanding of academic culture that will allow you to flourish in your chosen degree studies.

Year of entry

2025-26

Location

CU Coventry (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

Up to 1 year

Course code

See how to apply section

Start date

September 2025 (IELTS 5.0/6.0)
November 2025 (IELTS 5.5)
January 2026 (IELTS 5.0/6.0)
March 2026 (IELTS 5.5)
May 2026 (IELTS 5.0/6.0)
June 2026 (IELTS 5.5)

How to apply

Scholarships

International Pre-Master's

Course overview

It will offer you the chance to:

Explore academic, postgraduate skills and language through teaching methods focused on strategic learning, research methods, and leadership through case studies and more.
Acquire an in-depth overview of master's-level study including critical thinking, structuring academic writing and presentations, and gathering information.
Build upon your engineering and research knowledge based on the academic modules outlined.
Develop and refine accuracy with academic language skills and fluency. You will also have the opportunity to develop reasoned arguments and incorporate supporting evidence.

Global experience

Study in the UK and gain international experience

human sihouette teaching in front of a whiteboard

Teaching excellence

Taught by lecturers who are experts in their field

Degree ready

Get the skills needed to progress onto a UK degree

Progression degrees

The Engineering Systems International Pre-Master’s Pathway can help support you for a selection of degree specialism in this field. It also aims to build on previous experiences and expand the success of learning to use the English language while heading into your chosen degree. It will help you take a critical approach to your studies, reflect on your learning, organise your studies, and be a strong, independent learner.

On successful completion, you will be eligible to progress onto the following Coventry University master's degrees (subject to meeting all progression requirements, including the specified entry criteria):

All master's degrees listed have six intakes: September, November, January, March, May, July start.

Coventry University

For all degrees in this area you must have a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 (with no component less than 6.0).

What you'll study

By choosing to study the Engineering Systems IPM, you will develop your academic language skills through up to three intense language modules, depending on your IELTS entry level. You will then study graduate research skills and subject-specialist modules. These modules will provide a strong framework for you to continue your studies to a master's degree.

Modules

English language modules

Introduction to Graduate Study

This module is required for students who enter at IELTS level 5.0.

This module aims to provide you with an opportunity to explore academic language and skills required for successful university study. You will be taught to consolidate strategies for approaching academic texts and for structuring academic writing and presentations. We will emphasise a critical approach to help you develop reasoned arguments and the ability to summarise and incorporate supporting evidence. The module will also explore different types of assessment tasks used in postgraduate degrees.

Developing Your Approach to Graduate Study

This module is required for students who enter at IELTS level 5.0 and 5.5.

This module aims to provide an in-depth exploration of academic language and skills. This includes strategies for approaching academic assignments, structuring academic writing and presentations, developing a reasoned argument, incorporating supporting evidence, summarising and proofreading. It will also explore different types of assessment tasks used in universities.

Succeeding at Graduate Study

This module is required for students who enter at IELTS level 5.0, 5.5 and 6.0.

This module aims to develop and refine your academic skills, language accuracy and fluency. This will be done by analysing academic genres to identify successful approaches and strategies, deepening reading and listening skills for gathering information, and exploring different ways of organising arguments and appropriately incorporating source material. It aims to strengthen critical thinking and analytical skills and support you in refining an appropriate academic style. It will consolidate your knowledge and understanding of your destination postgraduate degree course and UK academic conventions.

Compulsory

Research Skills for Graduate Study

This module aims to develop your understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methods. It will also introduce you to ethical issues surrounding research. We will ask you to design a research project, searching the literature around a subject of interest, and prepare a literature review. The emphasis is on developing knowledge and skills in the analysis and utilisation of quantitative and qualitative data.

Compulsory

Subject-specialist Modules

Up to two of the three modules below will be assigned to you, depending on which cohort and entry point you join within the academic year. Each module assigned to you is compulsory:

Embedded Systems Engineering
This module will prepare you with the skills and knowledge needed in constructing an efficient Internet of Things (IoT) system. In the first part of the module, we will study features of high-level languages and develop an understanding of software programs and reasoning principles. In the second part, you'll learn to build a secure and sophisticated IoT system using an embedded device.

Systems Operation and Control Project
The aim of this module is to enable you to undertake sustained independent study and demonstrate expertise in the specialised field of mechatronics and robotics, encompassing a study focused around a course of research and investigation of a specific problem, conducted as a professional engineer. It will enable you to understand the importance of correct analysis of all the factors involved in a mechatronic problem and develop initiative within the development of the investigation.

Project Management

This module is designed to actively involve you in employing management solutions and practices towards managing and organising the final year project: from developing a project proposal, identifying the main contributions and scheduling their tasks, to resource management and budgeting. The scope of the module includes an investigation of practices and standards for quality and safety management and their applicability to the final-year project. You will explore topics such as leadership, time management and motivation through individual and team-building activities.

Compulsory

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

This International Pre-Master's will be delivered by CU, part of the Coventry University Group, for and on behalf of Coventry University. You will be taught using various approaches, which may include lessons and individual and group tutorials. You will also have self-study materials to follow outside of the classroom.

Teaching contact hours

A typical module requires a total of 200 hours study. This is made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

You can expect 15-18 teaching hours each week.

Guided and Independent study

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You'll be digging deeper into topics, review what you've learnt and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments.

Online learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

You will be assessed on academic language and skills for the International Pre-Master's study route through a combination of continuous, formative and final assessments.

The learning outcomes of the modules will be clearly stated. Your work will be marked according to how well you achieve those outcomes.

For the subject-specialist modules, methods include practice assessments, oral presentations, and assessments.

On successful completion of your modules, including the subject-specific modules, you will be eligible to progress onto your respective chosen Coventry University or Coventry University London degree listed in the Course overview section subject to meeting progression requirements.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for specific countries can be found on our International Pre-Master’s Pathway page. If your country or region is not specified, please see the How to Apply section.

English language requirements

IELTS 5.0 entry: 5.0 overall (with no component lower than 4.5)
IELTS 5.5 entry: 5.5 overall (with no component lower than 5.0)
IELTS 6.0 entry: 6.0 overall (with no component lower than 5.5)

UKVI or SELT equivalent will be required for IELTS 5.0 entry.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your study route. For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Fees and funding

2025/26 tuition fees. Fees and course duration are dependent on your IELTS entry level.

Student	Full-time	Part-time
International	IELTS 5.0 \| £16,800 \| 36 academic weeks IELTS 5.5 \| £15,800 \| 30 academic weeks IELTS 6.0 \| £14,800 \| 24 academic weeks	Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees² visit our International fees and funding page and see the university’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

Facilities

During your international pre-master’s you'll be based at our modern CU Coventry Mile Lane campus¹, located in the heart of the city. You will also have access to the wider facilities and amenities available at Coventry University³.

This includes full membership of Your Students' Union where you will receive access to support and advice as well as societies and events, and access to TheHub, which is the centre of student life at our Coventry campus.

Two students walking outside with the CU Coventry building behind them.

Mile Lane

The campus is home to an on-site library with bookable one-to-one academic writing service and library support sessions, fully equipped seminar rooms, open-access study areas, a café and an IT suite. Our labs contain industry-standard equipment so that you learn using the same equipment as many industry professionals.

The Hub

At The Hub you'll find the Health and Wellbeing Centre, the Students’ Union and Square One (which provides entertainment from quiz nights to live music), the Spirituality and Faith Centre, Tank Studio, Careers Office and a fantastic food court.

Lanchester Library

Coventry University’s Lanchester Library is usually open 24/7 in term-time, and has 1,400 study spaces, including group and silent areas. It also currently offers more than 550 computers and an additional 120 free-to-loan laptops.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Careers and opportunities

If you successfully pass the International Pre-Master’s - Engineering Systems and reach the required IELTS level, you will have the opportunity to progress onto the relevant postgraduate degree course at Coventry University or Coventry University London (listed in the Course overview section), subject to meeting all progression requirements, including the specified entry criteria.

Degree ready

On successful completion of your modules, including the subject-specific modules (non-accelerated only), you will have had the opportunity to:

Understand approaches to learning in UK universities and expectations in your chosen subject area.
Write an extended piece of academic writing that requires elements of research and follows standard academic conventions.
Express facts, information and ideas with effective grammatical accuracy and accuracy, using an appropriate range of academic and subject specific vocabulary.
Communicate effectively in everyday situations within the university environment and more generally in English-speaking contexts.
Deliver a well-structured presentation on an academic topic.
Participate in seminar discussions on academic topics.
Access academic texts in order to select relevant information.
Differentiate between different academic genres of writing.
Comprehend extended academic listening texts and record relevant information.
Access online materials and demonstrate increased digital literacy.
Organise academic study and manage your time.
Reflect on learning.
Understand, engage with and critically evaluate knowledge relating to global issues.
Apply your knowledge and language skills to a realistic learning opportunity and assessment, at an appropriate academic level.

How to apply

International students

All applications for this course are conducted via our designated agent UCOL (Crizac UK Ltd.).

Apply now

For queries, students can email our agent directly. There are no additional costs to students when using one of our approved agents except if choosing to use any of their additional services.

For advice on using an agent and our commitment to the Agent Quality Framework (AQF) see our About agents page.

For further support for international applicants applying for an undergraduate degree view our International hub.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

+44 (0)24 7765 2152

pathway@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form

Course codes

The code for your course is dependent on the location of study and your current IELTS score. See below to select the code you will need to use to apply.

Delivered at CU Coventry (Coventry), with progression onto a degree at Coventry University:
CUCIPM17 (IELTS 5.0)
CUCIPM18 (IELTS 5.5)
CUCIPM19 (IELTS 6.0+)

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Study location

The International Pre-Master’s Pathway study route will be delivered by CU, part of the Coventry University Group, for and on behalf of Coventry University.

If you choose to study in Coventry for your International Pre-Master’s Pathway, then your learning will be based at CU Coventry. Subject to meeting requirements you will then transition to the relevant Coventry University subject building for your progression degree.
If you choose to study in London for your International Pre-Master’s Pathway, then your learning will be based at CU London (North Greenwich). Subject to meeting requirements you will then transition to Coventry University London in the City of London for your progression degree.

²Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. We may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

³Facilities

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the University is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2024/2025 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2025/2026 contract will apply for the 2025/2026 intake. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.

Your next steps

Student life

Accommodation

Fees and funding