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1.
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I am not sure I can cope with a course in Higher Education? Have I got the ability?
Judging by the experiences of our first intake of students, many started off with some self-doubts and worries. But after the first couple of assignments (and examinations!) had been successfully completed, these doubts tended to fade - particularly when the group seemed to out-perform 18-20 year students undertaking similar courses.
GOOD NEWS!
Our first cohort of Certificate students actually achieved an overall average of 60+ and three of them acquired distinctions in their final Certificates. They all graduated in Winchester Cathedral in October, 2003.
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2.
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How much time a week do I have to spend in study?
As a rough 'rule-of thumb' we think that you spend at least as much time in private study as you do in the classroom i.e. a minimum of 4-6 hours a week. Inevitably, there will be some peaks and troughs, particularly when you have to submit assignments or prepare for examinations.
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3.
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Will it help me to do my job better?
The Foundation Degree is a course of higher education and not a form of 'on-the-job' training. Nonetheless, you will learn a lot about the wider context of your work from your academic studies and there are some modules which will enhance your skills in IT, Customer Care and Research Methods. You will also acquire new skills e.g. preparing and delivering a presentation in PowerPoint which will stand you in good stead for later stages of your career.
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4.
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How is the course organised?
Each Tuesday afternoon you will be taught two subjects in approximately two hour sessions. Some material will be formal (usually a Powerpoint lecture) and some will be discussion and activity based. It is intended to schedule subsequent years of the course on the same afternoon so that students can meet with each other - and so that guest speakers can have a larger audience!
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5.
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Do you have Open Days for me to visit the College?
The College organises regular Open Days in which you can visit the college and have a guided tour of the facilities - email us if you wish to be sent details of the next available Open Day.
In any case, you can always make an individual appointment to visit the College and discuss an intending application with a tutor.
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6.
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Can I talk to any of the existing students who will tell me what it is really like?
Shirley Thorne at HCC has a list of students who have agreed to release their email addresses so that you can email them to arrange a chat.
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7.
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I wasn't very good at exams at school - will I manage?
Not many of us actually like exams! But education has evolved over the years and you will find a varied diet of assessment. In some modules there are no 'exams' at all in the traditional sense - in others, you may be asked to prepare and deliver a presentation. Some of the examination papers in the Foundation Degree are seen papers which help to reduce your anxiety level. After you have successfully passed your first exams, you will wonder what you had to worry about.
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8.
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Do I have to attend classes every week?
Yes, during term times. [All course materials are put on the web, however, as an assistance for all of you should an over-riding work based commitment occur]. Terms are defined as 12 teaching weeks followed by two weeks of examinations (one in week 13 and another in week 14) and then a final week 15 (in which tutors mark the work). So you are actually taught for only 24 weeks in the year. However, activities and some guest speakers are planned so that you can make use of the weeks immediately before or after the end of term.
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9.
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Is it true that you are planning a subsidised trip to Brussels?
Yes - it is true! We hope to organise this trip early in the Autumn or the Spring term of each academic year.
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10.
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Can I go on and complete an Honours degree after completing the Foundation Degree?
We have designed the Foundation Degree so that after completing it, you can get a BA(Hons) in Business Management with Public Service Management after undertaking a further six 3rd level modules and a Final Year Project. This can be completed in one calendar year (or spread over three terms, if you prefer) Most of our first year intake on the preceding Certificate course are now completing the full degree programme in the 2004-2005 academic year.
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11.
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Is it necessary to have a home PC to undertake this course?
No it isn't. However, in practice we find that most of our students do have PC's at home and it helps in researching and writing up your assignmments if you do have a home PC.
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12.
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Is the course only applicable to front-line staff working in Information Centres and Libraries?
The course is open to any person who is working in an information-giving or information-disseminating capacity in a local authority, government department, or not-for-profit organisation. In other words, the scope is exceptionally wide. We welcome applications from all workers in authorities in and around the Hampshire region.
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13.
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Is it advisable that I acquire some IT skills before starting the course?
We assume that you have some basic IT skills before you start the course (e.g. Word,Outlook) but we will enhance these skills as the course progresses. We may also provide you with some more specialised training either before the course formally starts or as an adjunct to the course (e.g. using spreadsheets in Excel).
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14.
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Will my employer be informed of my progress?
As your employer will be paying your course fees, it is custom and practice that a short formal report will be sent to your line-manager at the completion of each year. This will typically show the results that the whole group has attained and you will not be identified as an individual. Students receive their individual results directly from the Registry at University College - most students to date have been more than happy to show these to their employer and have them included in their personal progress files, but they are under no obligation [under current legislation] to do so.
You may view a copy of the latest annual report here.
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