Study on any device, at anytime, from anywhere in the world
Our purpose-built learning platform means we can deliver high-quality teaching, wherever you’re based around the world.
Designed specifically for online learning, our virtual learning environment (VLE) is where you’ll work through interactive lecturecasts, discuss concepts and ideas with classmates, access high quality resources to power up your study, submit assignments and much more.
Lecturecasts
Rather than sitting through recorded lectures or scrolling through pages of text, you’ll access our course content through multimedia lessons known as ‘lecturecasts’. These include a mixture of content, such as video, audio, text, images, infographics, multiple choice questions and short tasks, to suit every learning preference.
They’re available to view and review at any time during your studies, so you don’t have to worry about picking over your notes to remember a key concept. You can even rewatch a lecturecast as many times as you like!
Why not get a glimpse of how a lecturecast works with one of our taster courses?
Discussion forums
Discussing your thoughts on a topic is a well-established way to cement your knowledge. That’s why discussion forums form the basis of both our course content and our assessment. You’ll connect with fellow professionals studying your course, not only to hear their different perspectives on the course content, but also to network on a global scale.
Journal entries
Relating your new knowledge to your own experiences is another proven method to retain it long term. Hosted on the VLE, reflective journal entries allow you to consider your new information and connect it with issues or situations particular to you. You can also review previous entries to compare how your understanding’s changed over the course.
Seminars, live Q&As and virtual office hours
Throughout each module, tutors will run seminars or live Q&A sessions with your class, to answer any questions that have come up from your study. You’ll be able to tap into the knowledge of our experienced tutors, as well as benefit from your peers’ understanding of the course content.
Worried about making it to the live sessions? All of the sessions are recorded and sent out afterwards, and our tutors also hold virtual office hours where you can raise any issues with them.
eLibrary and online resources
The University of Essex eLibrary provides access to a huge range of textbooks and academic journals, that you can use for extra reading around a subject you find particularly challenging or fascinating. These will also come in handy for any research-based modules such as your final project or dissertation.
Assessments
All of our assessments are delivered through the VLE. There’s no requirement to go to external testing facilities or exam centres and the majority of our courses don’t have any exams at all. Instead, you’ll submit written assignments, be assessed on your discussion forum participation, complete reflective journal entries or take part in group work.
For the few courses that do have exams as a requirement, we use a virtual proctoring system which allows you to take the academically rigorous exams from the comfort of your own home.