FAQs

Q: Are there any additional costs involved other than the course fee displayed online?

A: We try to make our fees all-inclusive. For the vast majority of the courses, the fee you see displayed is the fee you will pay. Optional practical training costs apply as and when required. (Selected courses only). A-Level & GCSE courses, all exam & practical fees are payable direct to the examination centre. Fees do not include any recommended reading.

Q: Are there any time limits on the courses?

A: Time and duration for each course are clearly displayed on each course listing. Typical limits are six-twelve months from the date of enrolment. This allows students plenty of time to complete their chosen course.

Q: Can I pay my fees as I study?

A: In most cases, the answer is yes. To enrol in pay as you study basis you will need to enrol and pay your deposit online or call 0121 792 3872 who will set up a Guaranteed* finance plan for you. All payment plans are available to UK students only. A deposit is required at time of enrolment with the balance spread typically between 2 – 12 months. See individual course details as this can vary. *Personal details and bank account accepting direct debit required.

Q: I live outside of the UK can I still enrol with the college?

A: Yes of course! We encourage students to enrol with the college from all over the world. With today’s technology distance is no barrier.

Q: Are there any age limits or restrictions?

A: We do recommend that students are aged 16 or above for the majority of courses. GSCE courses students need to be 14 or above. Education should be available to all and we try to impose no limits at all. If you are under 16 and want to study please contact us before you enrol as we will need to speak to your parent/guardian.

Q: Is it possible to study more than one course at a time?

A: Yes. Look at the course duration on each listing and as long as you feel you can find the time you should have no problem at all. Discounts are available to students enrolling onto more than one course when paying in full upon enrolment

Q: Do I need additional materials?

A: In most cases No! it is clearly listed in the course details if materials or books are required. If this is this case these will need to be purchased separately.

Q: What are the entry requirements for your courses?

A: 90% of our courses require no previous skills or qualifications to enrol. If required it is clearly listed in the course details.

Q: When do the courses start?

A: The flexibility of home learning means that there are no term times at all. Students can enrol whenever they feel the time is right at any time, 365 days of the year.

Q: Are your courses accredited?

A: 90% of the courses we offer are fully accredited by the appropriate government bodies such as  NCFE CACHE, CIW, TQUK  & ABC/Certa Awards. We also offer a series of Endorsed courses which are a very cost-effective way of learning a subject for personal use and Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

Q: What qualification will I receive upon completion?

A: This will depend on the course: Our Nationally Accredited courses lead to Internationally recognised awards and QCF/RQF Listed qualifications. Our courses are recognised by a wide variety of groups, including employers, professional associations, governing bodies, as well as National and International licensing authorities across the World. On successful completion of your course, your qualification is awarded. The qualification received will vary and details will be clearly displayed in the course details. If you complete a course accredited by another one of our awarding bodies, you may also receive another certificate or be eligible for professional membership. There are various associations that the College is recognised by and you will, therefore, be able to apply for membership to these on the basis of our qualifications.

Q: Are the courses difficult?

A: A very common question that is not always easy to answer. The difficulty will vary on the chosen level of study. Certificate courses at levels 1 and 2 tend to be the easier courses to complete whilst diplomas, A levels and Higher diplomas would offer most a good challenge. This will also be determined by the student’s effort, discipline and ability. All of our courses are designed and written to be studied from home and are laid out in a simple, easy to follow manner. This will allow students to work through them at a reasonable rate without having to call in for continual support.

Q: How do I enrol?

A: The enrolment process is simple. Students can register and make payment in two different ways. Choose to register and make payment online or over the telephone on 0121 792 3872.

Q: How do I submit my coursework?

A: We offer two ways of submitting coursework. Choose to use our student portal or simply email the work over to student support or direct to your tutor. This does vary course by course so please check the individual course details. Once received we will forward the work to your tutor for marking and assessment.

Q: What kind of assignments will I have to complete?

A: These will vary course by course. As a general guide, these range from multiple-choice questions, one-word answers, a few paragraphs all the way through to detailed essays.

Q: How long does it take to finish a course?

A: This will vary greatly dependant on the course is taken. We try to display an average completion time within each course listing to use as a guide. Please take into account marking/assessment times if you have a personal target to meet. An assignment can take 3-4 weeks to pass if it has been referred for amendment.

Q: What If I want to cancel my course?

A: All students have 14 days from the date of receipt at the registered address to cancel their course if they feel the course is not right in any way. All requests for cancellation must be put in writing to [email protected] within 14 days of receipt. This complies with distance selling regulations. View our terms and conditions

Q: Can I swap courses if I change my mind?

A: No! Unfortunately once a student has received their course and the cooling-off period expired we are unable to offer any course exchanges.

Q: I need to stop my course due to my circumstances changing, what happens?

A: In these instances, this is beyond the control of the college. It is the student’s responsibility to complete and manage their time within the allowed duration of their course.  We do not issue refunds of any kind due to students not being able to complete for any reason. Extensions can be arranged at an additional cost if required allowing students more time to complete.

Q: Can I obtain funding for my course?

A commonly asked question, but students find funding very difficult to obtain. Students receiving funding for studies from the government are normally expected to attend their local college. We have no direct access to funding and the government at this point offer no funding towards home learning.

Q: Are there any discounts as I’m unemployed?

A: Unfortunately no discounts are available to unemployed students.

Q: Can I obtain a scholarship to study with UK Open College?

A: Scholarships are not available to study with the college.

Q: Do I need to attend any classes or lectures?

A: In the majority of cases the answer to this question is simply “no”. Most of our courses can be studied entirely from home. Be advised some courses do require external examination and practical training. See Individual course listing for details.

Q: I’ve found the course cheaper with another college, can you beat their price?

A: We aim to make studying affordable to the majority. If you can provide a link to the course you have seen and the course is the same like for like we will guarantee to beat it by £10. Guaranteed!

Q: I enrolled in a course recently and have now found it cheaper elsewhere. Can I cancel or can you beat the price?

A: We will happily beat the price of any other provider within 14 days of purchase. Students also have the right to cancel within the 14 days cooling-off period. No claims to Price match or Cancellation can be made after the 14 days period has expired.