Student guidelines
As some of these courses have a limited number of spaces, we ask you to be considerate when signing up and only register on those courses you are sure to be able to attend.
Lesson etiquette
Please follow the rules below to make the most of your online learning experience.
- Be on time for sessions - you won't be able to join if you turn up more than five minutes late.
- Use a computer or laptop rather than a mobile phone to join the sessions.
- Participate actively when you are asked to work with other students.
- Prepare for sessions by completing any task your tutor asks of you, and by checking the course page for materials.
Assessment and certificates
Assessment forms an integral part of each of our open-access courses. These can take the form of presentations, interviews, project work or other assignments.
Personalised feedback will be offered by our tutors: you will receive a report with the grades of any assessment and detailed feedback from a tutor within two weeks of completing the programme.
Certificates are only offered if you attend at least 80% of the live sessions and complete all assessment successfully; this includes handing them in or presenting them on time and to a standard that meets the performance levels of our pass marks. Certificates will be issued within two weeks of completing the programme, and will be sent as a digital copy.
Course materials
Course materials (handouts, slideshows, worksheets) are made available either on the course pages, or are sent to you during the course.
We make course materials available in different formats so that you can access them regardless of what devices you are using.
Google Docs and Google Slides will always be shared using a ‘View’ or 'Copy' link. If you have a Google account (either with a Gmail address or through a university account that is associated with a G Suite), you can make a copy of these files for your own use, which you can edit.
Some worksheets are also made available in Microsoft Word, and occasionally in Microsoft PowerPoint formats too. You can download these files to your computer to edit and save them.
Most handouts, slideshow presentations and worksheets are also made available in PDF format. Some worksheets are also editable in PDF: you can complete them with your notes and save them.
There are various PDF readers available for free, but we recommend using the Adobe Acrobat Reader for full functionality.
How to use Zoom
While you’re waiting for a lesson to start, please check you know where these controls are:
- mute or turn on your microphone
- start/stop your video
- the chat box: your tutor will sometimes ask you to type an answer in here
- raising your hand (virtually)
- saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’ in response to the tutor’s questions
Breakout rooms
We’ll be using ‘breakout rooms’ during the lessons. Your teacher will put you in one of these with a few other students. Please remember to turn your microphone on when you’re in a breakout room.
General Zoom guidelines
- Write your name in English before you enter the Zoom session (the atmosphere will be much friendlier if we can use each other's names).
- Keep your camera on (conversation is a lot easier when we can see facial expressions and gestures).
- Keep your microphone off unless you are speaking (so that others don’t have to listen to a lot of background noise).
- Raise your hand (using the Zoom controls) if you want to speak to get the attention of the tutor or other participants in breakout rooms.
- Ask for help if you have any problems.
After the session
After the session, you will be sent an email asking you to evaluate your experience. Please complete the feedback form sent to you to tell us what you think - it only takes a minute!
You can answer the questions anonymously, but you may also decide to include your name. We are also very grateful if you volunteer to give us even more feedback or a student testimonial in the future by selecting these options at the bottom of this form - but again, these are optional.