Further Information and FAQs

1. What is Distance Learning?

There are many approaches to defining 'distance learning'. However, like many distance learning providers, the University of London's distance learning programmes include the following characteristics:
  • Working and studying away from the University
  • The use of mixed-media courseware to help support studies, including for example, print, audio and video materials, CD-Roms and web-based materials
  • Two-way communications that allow learners and tutors to interact

When you enrol on these programmes, you can study on your own, at home or wherever suits you. You will study in your own time by reading course material, working on course activities, and writing assignments.

You will get support from a tutor, the student services staff, and access to online resources such as the University’s online library. Depending on which course you are studying, you can also contact other students through your course’s online conferencing system, the online tutorials and informal study group forums.

  • Advantages and disadvantages of Distance Learning

There are both advantages and disadvantages to studying at a distance.

The advantages include being able to study without relocating to the University. You can also study while continuing with your full-time or part-time career. Distance learning also means that you do not need to leave your family and friends behind.

However, without proper support, distance learners sometimes feel isolated from others. Distance learners also need to be prepared to study in their free time. This can involve high levels of motivation and organization. Distance learners also need to organize their family lives in order to fit in their studies.

  • Supporting your studies

The University of London is aware that distance learners need support in different areas. For this reason, we have systems to provide you with:

  • Information – to help you relate to the University and understand how your studies will work
  • Contact – direct contact with tutors and course administrators to help maintain motivation and provide you with academic guidance
  • Peer groups – to help you share ideas and experiences with your colleagues, and overcome feelings of isolation
  • Study advice – to help you organize your studies and develop techniques for studying at a distance

2. How will you study?

  • Studying at home

You do most of your study in your own time, when it works best with your schedule. Most people choose to study at home. Some persuade their employers to let them study at work.

Most of our students study at times that suit them. For most courses, you just need a quiet corner that you can use for activities such as reading course materials and writing assignments.

You'll often see students reading their course materials while travelling. An hour on a train, bus or plane is a good time to get ahead.

You may also need to put aside some time to communicate with your tutor and your course colleagues, and to catch up with discussions in the online forums. So, regular access to the internet will also be valuable.

  • Using course materials, computers and the Internet

Most courses use printed paper materials. Many courses also include some interactive materials such as a CD-Rom, DVD or video. Most students choose to write their assignments using a computer.

Many courses have a web site and an online discussion forum. You'll need access to a computer with Internet to make use of these.

Finally, it will be helpful if the University and your tutor have a way to contact you by email.

3. What do you do on a course?

You study the course material from a package of books and other materials we supply for you.

  • A study guide gives you the plan for the course

Each course follows a timetable of activities, deadlines for your assignments and maybe an exam.

Each course has a study guide explaining the scheduling and outlining what you need to do. You also get a timetable for each week's activities, deadlines for your assignments and the date of your course exam if there is one.

  • How many hours each week?

The courses available through the DL4D Course Portfolio vary in length and duration, so it is best to look at each course description individually. However, many courses involve approximately 240hrs over a 35 week period – this would mean an average weekly study load of 8 – 10 hrs.

When considering taking a distance learning course, think about how much time you have available. It’s important not to underestimate the time and commitment involved, and not to take on too much at first.

  • You receive course materials by post

When your course starts, you'll receive course materials and textbooks by post. There will always be printed materials, and sometimes videos, audio tapes, CDs or DVDs. You will also usually get access to a website.

These materials are yours to keep, but you will also be able to download printable copies of the written materials if you need to.

You'll get the most benefit if you study actively, so it is good practice to treat printed course materials as workbooks: write notes on them, highlight sections, underline key points, make notes on the pages, add comments, and stick bits in.

  • You are assigned a tutor

For each course you will have a tutor to help you: someone who is an expert in the subject, and who appreciates what it is like to study at a distance.

We will send you your tutor's name and contact details just before your course starts.

  • You complete assignments

Most courses have "tutor-marked assignments" or TMAs: a piece of written work for you to do that you send to your tutor for comment. The course description will tell you how many assignments the course has.

Some courses have other types of assignments such as project work, 'computer marked assignments' (multiple choice questions), practical work or experiments or research dissertations.

Completing assignments helps you to consolidate and use what you have learned.

Most assignments are marked and count towards your overall grade for the course.

  • You meet other students online and in study groups

Most of our distance courses give you the opportunity to liaise with other students. Through the online VLE (Virtual Learning Environment) you will join a thriving online community. You can chat to students around the world with interests like yours.

  • You'll use a computer for many course activities

Not every course requires a computer, but they make a lot of distance learning activities easier. For example, you can submit your assignments through the online VLE system.

Most courses have a website with additional reading materials and links to study resources.

Some of our courses are completely online: the course materials are on a web site, and you'll use a computer extensively.

  • Some course materials are on TV, video, audio or DVD

Although most of your materials are likely to be printed, many courses also include other media. Watching and listening makes a change from reading and gives a different perspective on the course.

  • You'll usually have an examination

You'll usually have a traditional examination or some other kind of end-of-course assessment. You will be given details about the date and venue of your examination or the cut-off date for submitting your end-of-course assessment part way through your course.

Exams may seem daunting, but most students find that revising helps them to pull together everything they have learned. There is also the elation of passing an exam, of getting something that proves to everyone - yourself, employers, family and friends - that you can succeed.

4. Why study through the University of London?

The University of London established its External System in 1858 for people who – either due to financial, career or family commitments – could not or did not wish to come to London to study full time on campus.

  • Academic excellence

All of the courses offered through the External System are developed by the Colleges of the University. Students therefore benefit from the academic rigour and leading-edge research undertaken by the Colleges.

  • A University of London degree

Students studying through the External System are registered with the University of London and awarded a University of London degree on successful completion of their studies. Degrees awarded to External students are of an identical standard to those awarded to students who study face to face at a college in London.

  • Quality assured

The External System maintains robust and effective quality assurance mechanisms. The same academics who teach and assess College-based students develop syllabuses, prepare study materials, and set and mark exams for External students.

  • A track record you can rely on

The University of London was the first university to offer opportunities to study for its degrees worldwide to those who were not able to study on campus in London. University of London degrees have been available through its External System since 1858, so we have a track record in delivering courses to you wherever you live and whatever your circumstances.

  • Proven quality

You, and your employer, can rely on the quality of your award. Your assessment, whether by unseen written exam or coursework, is set and marked by the same academics who assess students studying courses on campus in London. Morever, our quality has been endorsed by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) – the UK’s independent body for safeguarding the quality and standards of Higher Education. It confirmed that confidence can be placed in the University’s management of the quality of its programmes and of the standards of awards made through the External System.

  • Developed to fit busy lifestyles

Studying with the University of London External System allows you to keep working while you study for your degree, even if your employment takes you around the world. We currently have more than 40,000 students in countries ranging from Australia to Zambia, and our comprehensive network of exam centres spans over 150 countries.

  • Local support for your studies

All of the degrees we offer can be completed through independent study. We also have a track record of working with prestigious local institutions and colleges, and many of our students choose to pay for additional educational support at local colleges.

  • Value for money

Your overall costs will be substantially lower than if you come to London to study full time on campus. With no travel, relocation or accommodation costs it represents excellent value for money.

  • Time commitment

With our flexible study period you can set your own pace. You need to be self-motivated and enjoy working independently to successfully meet the challenges of studying with the University of London External System. Many students find it a rewarding and enriching experience, and one that gives a real sense of achievement.

With Short Courses, on average you should allocate between 10-20 hours per week over a 35-week period. If you wish to use course credit to extend your studies, we generally allow you between 1-5 years to complete a diploma or certificate. For degrees we allow you between 2-5 years.

  • Authoritative and comprehensive study materials
At the start of your course you receive a study pack of materials which varies from course to course and may contain:
  • Study guides and handbooks – specially written by University of London academics and designed to guide you through your studies.
  • Textbooks – by authoritative experts.
  • Regulations – containing important information about the syllabus, assessment and progression through your course.
  • Past examination papers and Examiners’ reports.
  • CD-ROMs which may include information resources or interactive exercises.
  • Online resources – including access to online libraries, study materials and databases.
  • Support for your studies

For most courses you can study independently at a pace that suits you. There are a variety of ways that you can get additional support. They include:

  • Online support from academics.
  • The Online Library - to support you in your studies, the Online Library provides a range of full-text, multidisciplinary databases. Journal articles, book reviews and reports can be found on the databases to which the Library subscribes on your behalf.
  • Online Learning Environment – which may include discussion forums, online seminars and interactive activities.

5. What is the London International Development Centre?

The London International Development Centre (LIDC) is a collaborative project which brings together social and natural scientists from across the University of London's six Bloomsbury Colleges (Birkbeck, Institute of Education, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Royal Veterinary College, School of Oriental and African Studies, and The School of Pharmacy). It undertakes original interdisciplinary research and training to tackle complex problems in international development.

The DL4D (Distance Learning For Development) project is just one strand of activity undertaken by LIDC and its partner institutions. This project is exploring ways in which current Bloomsbury-wide activities in distance learning can be used to better address the needs of those living and working in an international development context. As part of this, the DL4D Course Portfolio is designed to enhance the professional training opportunities available to development workers at a distance, whether based in the UK or overseas.

6. Students talk about their experiences:

  • The Study Experience

Camille O’Brien (Trinidad)

"I chose the University of London because it’s an internationally recognised university."

Kishnan Ramroop (Trinidad)

"My degree being a University of London degree definitely helped me and give me the edge over the others because, first of all, my employers were based in London. So they knew definitely what type of degree it was and how good it was."

Glynis Waldron (France)

"My work takes up a lot of my time and there are times when it’s extremely stressful. I wanted to study in English – I live in Paris and there is no university in Paris where I could do the programme in English, and the External System here is really ideal."

Jeffrey Emberson (UK)

"I am self-employed, so that’s a further complication for me. I tend to work all sorts of hours – evenings during the week or weekends – so it’s a bit of a juggling act. There’s lots of work to do, and it’s really having a sympathetic family and wife. Lots of things have to be put to one side because the studying comes first."

  • Support for your studies

Camille O’Brien (Trinidad)

"I studied at a school here in Trinidad, SBCS. They provide excellent tuition; they also give you the opportunity to voice your own opinion about the tuition, about the courses, about the lecturers. They afford you the opportunity to be open."

Glynis Waldron (France)

"I found the weekend courses extremely useful. The professors really helped to pull all the confusing strands together, and you come away from the course thinking ‘Oh, it’s not so difficult after all – I can make it, I can succeed."

  • What is it like to be a student?

Hadi Jaafarawi (Saudi Arabia)

"The challenges that I faced – and I think every distance learner might face – is to try and co-ordinate between his work, family and studies."

Mukhtiar Singh (UK)

"They give you a lot of literature, it tells you how to work through it, and they give you study guides. Really, if you just work through the study guides then you can structure it yourself. But it is quite daunting when you get this huge box appear. You think ‘Oh, I want to try and study everything’. But you’ve got to try and be realistic. You do have textbooks; they recommend other textbooks for you to use. And then there’s institutions that support the programme and provide, at an additional cost, other courses or classes, tuition etc."

  • The online learning environment

Leo Kolbeinsson (Iceland)

"Distance learning implies that you’re more or less by yourself, and not in physical contact with people, and the VLE is maybe the area where they pull us together. And, yes, it’s important to have contact with the others. You can listen to the same lecture again and again, which someone attending a university full time gets one shot at – but we can do it repeatedly. On the other hand, the materials that came with the box – for example, the CD – with that I can access the material even though I don’t have access to the internet."

6. Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility

Do I have the necessary qualifications?
Are there any other criteria I need to meet?
Can I study from anywhere in the world?
Do I have to sit an exam to prove my ability in English?
Can I be given credit for work I've completed elsewhere?

Schedule

When can I apply?
How soon can I start studying?
Do you accept late applications?

Cost

How much does it cost?
When do I have to pay?
How can I pay?
Are there any other costs I should consider?

Method of application

How do I apply?
Do I still need to provide evidence of my school leaving qualifications if I have since completed further study?
I completed my first degree a long time ago and my former tutor is no longer at the University where I studied. What do I do?
Our local British Council Office is unable to verify my certificates. What shall I do?
My documents are not in English. Do I have to translate them?

Method of study

Will I ever be required to come to London?
How will my studies be assessed?
Is tuition available from the University?
Is tuition available elsewhere?
Do I have to come to London to sit my exams?

Special Educational Needs

I have a disability/special need; when should I tell you?

Further Questions


  • Eligibility

Eligibility - do I have the necessary qualifications?

Entrance requirements vary from course to course so please check with the course director of the course which interests you.

We are unable to give applicants informal advice about whether their qualifications will satisfy the entrance requirements until an application has been submitted. If you are not sure whether your qualifications are equivalent to the entrance requirements, you will need to submit the application form and the requested documentary evidence in full before the University can advise you. Once a formal application has been received the University will consider it on an individual basis and advise you accordingly. There is no charge for making an application.

Course requirements - are there any other criteria I need to meet?

Although the University normally requires an undergraduate degree in a related discipline to gain entrance into one of the postgraduate courses, for some qualifications we will also take into account degrees from disciplines that are broader and / or other professional qualifications and relevant work experience. You will need to check the entrance requirements for the qualification for which you would like to apply.

Can I study from anywhere in the world?

You can study from almost any country in the world, although you will need to have access to a computer, and for most programmes you will require access to the internet and e-mail.

Examinations can be sat in most countries. For a list of examination centres that are currently used by the University please see the External Programme’s Exams section.

English language - do I have to sit an exam to prove my ability in English?

All applicants are required to demonstrate an advanced level of ability to work in English. Although a test of English proficiency may not be required, the University reserves the right to request you to take one should further evidence of your English language ability be required. You are advised to submit your application and wait for the University to advise you if this is needed.

Credit - can I be given credit for work I've completed elsewhere?

It is not normally possible to seek credit or exemption from part of any postgraduate programme offered through the External System.


  • Schedule

When can I apply?

The application deadlines differ for each qualification. You are advised to submit your application as soon as possible, but no later than the applicable deadline date. Once received, your application will be processed.

If you miss the deadline date for your chosen subject, receipt of your application will be acknowledged and any original documents returned to you. Your application will be kept on file until the next admissions period begins.

How soon can I start studying?

Most postgraduate qualifications follow a timetable and this varies from subject to subject. You will need to refer to your chosen qualification. If you are eligible for admission, you will be sent an 'Offer letter', a registration form, a fee slip, an address confirmation form, a methods of payment form and a copy of the current Regulations. When we receive your completed registration form and fee, the Student Registry will send you confirmation of your registration and the Despatch Office will send you your study materials.

Do you accept late applications?

Although we try to remain flexible we can only guarantee that an application will be processed for the immediate intake if it is received before the deadline. If your application is received after the deadline date and it is not possible for your late application to be considered for the immediate intake the University will send you an acknowledgement of receipt and keep it on file until the next admissions period begins.


  • Cost

How much does it cost?

Fees vary from course to course so please look at the Fees information for the course of your choice for exact figures.

When do I have to pay?

Postgraduate courses have a fee which is either payable when you complete registration, or by paying the Registration fee (in your first year only) and the applicable fees for each unit/course/project taken in that year. Please see the Registration deadline date for an indication of when fees are payable.

How can I pay?

The acceptable methods of payment to the University are: sterling cheque; sterling bankers' draft; sterling postal order, all made payable to the University of London
OR
by credit card that is recognised by either MasterCard Inc. or the Visa group
OR
by a JCB card or by a British Solo or Electron card.

If you come to the Fees Office in person payments can also be made by cash.

Are there any other costs I should consider?

For most postgraduate courses the University provides a complete study package so that you don't have to buy additional books. However, you will need to have access to a computer, and for most programmes you will require access to the internet and e-mail. Unless you sit your examinations in London, you will also need to budget for the administrative fee that your local examination centre is likely to levy when you sit exams.


  • Method of application

How do I apply?

Application forms can either be requested using the online applications form, or found in the centre of the subject prospectus. You will need to complete the application form and submit this with the requested documentary evidence. Before you submit your application you should use the 'check list' at the end of the application form to check that you have included everything.

It is also possible to apply online. You will still need to send in the documentary evidence before an offer of registration can be made.

Do I still need to provide evidence of my school leaving qualifications if I have since completed further study?

If you are applying on the basis of your degree, then you wouldn't need to provide evidence of school leaving qualifications unless you are using them as evidence of English language.

I completed my first degree a long time ago and my former tutor is no longer at the University where I studied. What do I do?

Academic references are requested for all postgraduate courses apart from the Short Courses taken from the programmes led by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and the Royal Veterinary College. If it is not possible to obtain an academic reference, you can instead seek a second reference from someone who is in a managerial position to you or a Training Officer, to comment on your suitability for postgraduate study. It is preferred that you seek one reference from an academic and the other from a supervisor, but where this is not possible we may accept two professional referees.

Our local British Council Office is unable to verify my certificates. What shall I do?

You must either send the original certificate for each qualification or you should contact the awarding/examining authority and arrange for it to send to the Postgraduate Admissions Office direct a certified transcript/statement of results. When sending original documents through the post we strongly advise you to use registered mail or recorded delivery.

My documents are not in English. Do I have to translate them?

You will be required to provide translations of your documents if they are not already in English. Only a translation by an official translator is acceptable to the University. You can contact your local British Council for advice on addresses of official translators.


  • Method of study

Will I ever be required to come to London?

There is no face-to-face attendance requirement for any course in the DL4D Course Portfolio.

How will my studies be assessed?

The method of assessment varies for each course but will always include unseen written examinations. Depending on the course, you may also be required to submit coursework/essays, participate on-line and/or produce a project report/dissertation.

Is tuition available from the University?

There is no face-to-face tuition provided by the University of London, but many courses offer supported learning and other resources through the Internet. You should check each course description to get more information about how you study.

Is tuition available elsewhere?

If you would like to receive some independent tuition to support your studies, you may do so. However, any arrangement that you make, or fee that you agree, with a teaching institution is between you and that institution and independent of the fees payable to the University.

Do I have to come to London to sit my exams?

You do not have to come to London to sit examinations. In any given year, External students will sit exams in examination centres in over 145 countries worldwide. You would only sit your exams in London if this proved to be the most convenient centre available for you. For a list of examination centres around the world and in the UK, please see the External Programme’s Exams section.


  • Special Educational Needs

Special Educational Needs - I have a disability/special need; when should I tell you?

The University of London welcomes applications from students with a disability and/or special needs. You may find it useful to read the External System's Disability Statement as it provides information about how we may be able to support your studies, and has examples of what we have done in the past.

You will have the opportunity to outline on the application form any special examination arrangements and/or other requirements you may have. Once you have applied, you will be encouraged to request a copy of a questionnaire that will give you the opportunity to explain your personal circumstances in more detail.

If you have a disability and are resident in the UK, you may be eligible for a Disabled Student Allowance (DSA). More information about this is available from your local education authority or from the Student Support Line (DCSF) on 0800 731 9133 or on textphone 0800 210 280. This information is also available on audio tape or in braille. The guide is available on the DCSF website. You can email further questions to the Information Centre - enquiries@london.ac.uk


  • Further Questions

If you are uncertain about any aspect of our programmes or can't find the answer to a question on our website or in the relevant prospectus please contact the Information Centre:

Email: dl4d@lidc.bloomsbury.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7958 8251
Address: 36 Gordon Square, London, WC1H 0PD, United Kingdom
Open: 09.00-17.00 Monday-Friday

If you send an e-mail it would be helpful if you could tell us which courses are of interest and where you have so far obtained your information. An automated response confirming receipt will be generated when we receive your email. We aim to reply to emails with in 48 hours. Please help by not resending your e-mail to this or any other address, as this may lead to a delay in the response time.

Recently Viewed Courses

-