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Introduction to Research and Communication Skills (RCS)

Overview of RCS

The NCUK Research and Communication Skills (RCS) module is designed to help international students like you get ready for university by teaching you how to research and communicate well. Thats literally it! For the most part, you will be building essential skills for university-level research, writing, and presentations. Through this module, students learn how to find reliable information, critically evaluate it, and present it effectively, whether in writing or through presentations.

First, you collect information on a topic chosen from the 8 topics provided by NCUK (these topics are derived from the major UK sustainable goals. I’m sure you’ve heard of goals like no more poverty, better education, cleaner water, etc. These are just some of the UK sustainable goals). You then answer questions related to the topic in an essay format, such as defining, identifying major causes and providing recommendations in your annotated bibliography.

Next, you put that information into a clear and interesting presentation to share with others. This presentation will be videotaped and sent to NCUK.

Finally, you write an extended essay to dive deeper into the topic and show understanding. This essay provides more detailed information than annotated bibliography so by default, it is longer.

Who Should Take the RCS Module?

This module is an option for students who don’t need an English language qualification like the NCUK EAP module. It’s designed for students who already have a good level of English and want to focus on improving their research and communication skills instead.

You should take the RCS module if you meet one of the following conditions:

  1. You already have an English test score (SELT), like IELTS 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skill) or something similar. This test should have been taken in the last two years, so it’s up to date. Some university courses may need a higher score, so you might want to check if this is the right module for you.
  2. You’re from a country where English is the main language (as defined by the UK government). Even if you don’t need a language test, you should still have a GCSE grade C in English (or equivalent) to show you have the necessary English skills.

Click here for additional information and clarification on the English requirements

If You Don’t Meet These Requirements?

If you don’t fall into either of the above groups, there are two other modules you can take, depending on your current English level and what your future university requires:

  • English for Academic Purposes (EAP): For students who need more help with English for university.
  • EAP for Proficient Users (EAPPU): For students who are already strong in English but need advanced academic skills.

RCS, along with either of the listed modules (EAP or EAPPU), helps enhance your English language skills to meet university requirements. RCS serves as the coursework assessment component, while one of the other modules will focus on the exam portion.

ABOUT RCS

Why is the RCS Module Important?

The RCS module prepares students for the challenges of university-level study by:

  • Developing Research Skills: Students learn how to find, evaluate, and use sources effectively.
  • Enhancing Communication: Students practice both written and oral communication through essays and presentations.
  • Encouraging Critical Thinking: Students are encouraged to form their own opinions based on evidence and to analyze different perspectives on a topic.
  • Improving Time Management: Managing multiple components like the annotated bibliography, presentation, and essay helps students develop organizational skills.

Annotated bibliography is

This is the first step, where you collect sources (books, articles, etc.) related to your research topic. You write a short summary of each source and explain why it’s useful for your essay and presentation. Example, you might find an article about poverty in a specific country and summarize the major causes.

Presentation

After choosing your research topic and gathering sources, you create a presentation to show what you’ve learned. Your presentation should be clear, interesting, and backed by facts. It’s also a chance to practice speaking confidently and answering questions.

Extended Essay

This is a longer piece of writing where you explore your topic in more detail. You take the information from your annotated bibliography and presentation and organize it into an essay. It includes an introduction, body, and conclusion. Don’t forget to properly cite your sources!

In addition to

Academic benefits, the RCS coursework is highly valuable for employment purposes too. If you’re just starting out and don’t have much job experience, you can use this coursework on your resume to showcase key skills. It proves you have strong abilities in areas like:

  • Communication skills: Presenting research clearly and effectively.
  • Writing skills: Crafting a detailed extended essay.
  • Research skills: Gathering and analyzing information.
  • Content writing: Structuring your findings in a logical, engaging way.
  • Time management: Balancing deadlines for multiple tasks.
  • Organization: Managing your research and presentation preparation.

Highlighting this on your resume can help show potential employers that you’ve developed essential skills, even without formal work experience. This makes the RCS coursework even more important than the reasons listed above. 

Reference to RCS syllabus