We know how daunting it can be trying to find the right course and filling out an application form.

There’s lots of information to take onboard and sometimes it can feel confusing. We want to make your experience with us as easy and stress-free as possible, so we’ve asked our fantastic admissions team to give you a helping hand by answering some of your most common concerns…

 

Does it matter how old I am?

You need to be over the age of 18; however it doesn’t matter how much older you are, there is no upper age limit.

 

Will my degree say online?

There is no mention of online study on the University of Essex degree certificate. The mode of study is mentioned on the transcripts of your final grades.

 

Are these courses just for UK students?

Not at all! We have students who study with us from all over the world. All you need is regular access to a computer with an internet connection. While it may be possible to study from a variety of venues such as at work, a library, or at a family member’s house, we recommend that you use a computer based in your own home.

 

Do I have to pay to send my application in?

No, there is no fee for submitting your application.

 

How much will I have to pay for my tuition fees?

Each course has its own fee; however, once you have paid this there are no additional fees to cover.

Our courses are payable by instalments, making them affordable, and our simple monthly payment plan will enable you to spread the cost of your tuition over the duration of your studies. A 10% discount is also available if you pay the full cost upfront.

Depending on where you live and the course level you wish to study, you may also be eligible for a student loan. You can check out your student finance options here. If you need further information, then our admissions team will happily give you a call to discuss your options and go through the fee and payment system.

 

Will I have to pay for textbooks and resources?

There are no extra charges for using our virtual learning environment or accessing the resources through it. Also, all your core textbooks are provided free of charge in the form of an eBook and additional reading can be accessed through our online library. You shouldn’t need to buy any extra software for your computer; if you have the standard Microsoft applications like Word and Excel, or even free OpenOffice software, you will be able to complete all of your work.

 

Do you have scholarships available?

Yes, we have a range of discounts and scholarships available.

If you are an international student living in specific regions, you may be eligible for a part-scholarship towards the tuition fees for our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Scholarship applications are assessed on a merit basis and will take into consideration previous qualifications and level of work experience. You will be asked to write a statement of around 500 words in support of your scholarship application including details of previous qualifications, work experience, why you want to study a University of Essex Online course and how a scholarship could help you.

We also have Academic and Executive scholarships available.

 

How long will the enrolment process take?

Depending on how quickly you can provide us with the documents requested, it can take less than a week. Your application will need to be assessed by an academic tutor and then we would carry out a student interview over the phone. Once we have completed your student interview, we may then make you an offer.

 

Are your courses accredited?

All of our courses are validated and awarded by the University of Essex, placed in the top 40 UK universities (Complete University Guide 2024).

 

Will there be any exams?

The majority of our courses are assessed exclusively through assignments, so you wouldn’t need to take any exams. Every piece of work that you submit is uploaded via our virtual online platform and your tutor has direct access to assess it.

For the few courses that do feature exams, these are completed online.

All of your work can be submitted online from home; you will not need to travel or attend campus or an exams centre.

 

How are your courses recognised?

Whilst all of our courses are awarded by the University of Essex, which is a highly prestigious and recognised university in the UK, we cannot guarantee how other institutes or future employers may recognise our courses. We advise that you do some further research into this before applying for one of our courses.

 

Can I take a break between my studies?

If you wish to take a short study break, you can contact your student support team and they will discuss your options with you and make suitable arrangements. If you need to take a long period of leave from your studies this may also be possible, however, this will be assessed on an individual basis.

 

Can I complete my studies quicker?

All of our online courses have an indicative study duration, which is a guide to how long your course will take to complete. The actual duration may be longer or shorter depending on your speed of study, chosen study options and module availability. It’s possible to complete your studies faster than the indicative course duration by doubling up on modules at certain times; however, minimum study durations do apply. Students can discuss their options with a Student Adviser.

We suggest you spend a minimum of 10 to 15 hours per module, per week, studying. The number of hours required each week can vary though; for example, if you’re preparing an assignment, the number of hours required in that week may be higher than other weeks.

 

How easy is it to progress on to the next course?

The way our courses work is that you can progress from one to the next seamlessly. This means that once you complete a CertHE you can move onto the full Bachelors and it will feel no different than if you had started that originally. The process is similar for postgraduate courses – it’s easy to progress onto a full Masters from a PG Cert or PG Dip.

The modules you complete will be identical and the students you work with online will be the same, whether you’re on a short course or the full degree. It will not cost more in tuition fees to go down this route, and it shouldn’t take longer to complete than a full degree, as long as you don’t take any breaks.

 

To find out what courses we offer, download a prospectus. Or, get in touch with our Admissions team who are ready and waiting to help.