Distance Learning FAQs

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Q) How many assignments are there in the course?

 

A) The number of assignments will vary from course to course.  As a guide the list below shows the number of assignments in some of our most popular courses:

 

Course	No. of Assignments	Course	No. of Assignments
Child Care Learning and Development	9	Health and Social Care	14
Child Psychology	4	Substance Abuse and Drugs Misuse	6
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy	7	Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools	7
Community Mental Health Practice	7	Treatment of Eating Disorders	11
Counselling Skills	4	Understanding Safeguarding Children	11
Counselling and Psychotherapy	8	Working with a Diagnosis of Personality Disorder	7

Each assignment will have between 3 – 5 questions on average.

 

 

Q) How will I contact my tutor?

 

A) You can contact your tutor at any time through our online helpdesk at www.mydistance-learning-college.com/helpdesk We do not offer telephone support.

 

Q) How will I submit my assignments for marking?

 

A) We have a dedicated student portal in which to submit your assignments.  When you enrol on your course, you will be sent an email with your login details for this system.

 

Q) I am looking for an NVQ 3 in Health and Social Care – what is the difference between this and your Level 3 Health and Social Care course?

 

A) Good question! There is a great deal of confusion, and also a great deal of difference! They are simply not the same.

 

National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) set out to recognise a candidate’s competence in the workplace, and is therefore primarily based on the practical application of knowledge and skills; occupational competence. By its very nature, NVQ training has to be undertaken in the workplace, which may be inappropriate or inconvenient for some students. 

 

By contrast, NCFE is a recognised National Awarding Organisation, who provide the accreditation from courses to say they're fit for purpose, and certification for candidates who successfully complete them.

 

All MyDistance Learning College courses are primarily knowledge-based, and therefore very suitable for home or online study, as learning can take place in spare or recreational time, at the students' own pace, and in their own comfortable surroundings. Our students tell us that studying through MyDistance Learning College is fun, stimulating, flexible and convenient. Our course prices are among the lowest in the marketplace. 

 

My Distance Learning College has been approved as an NCFE IIQ (Investing in Quality) centre. We have designed our training courses specifically to meet the needs of learners who prefer to study from home. All of our courses have been accredited under our NCFE I IQ Licence and measurable learning outcomes have been benchmarked against a defined "equivalent" level on the QCF (Qualifications and Credit Framework), to allow you to consider the depth of study, difficulty, and level of achievement involved.

 

Q) What methods of payment do you accept?

 

We accept payment by credit / debit card either through our secure online checkout, or for telephone. We can only accept cheques from businesses.  Sorry, but we do not accept postal orders.

 

You can also pay for your course via an instalment plan by signing up for our direct debit service. When selecting this option, you would pay £29 (A level courses deposit: £60) at the time of enrolment – your course fees are then split into 6 monthly payments, the first of which is due within 15 working days of enrolment. Details of the instalment plan and the total amount payable can be found on the course pages.

 

Q) Who are NCFE?

 

A) NCFE are the awarding body.  For more information, please visit their website

 

Q) What is the National Counselling Society?

 

A) The National Counselling Society is a professional body for counsellors.  For more information, please visit their website

 

Q) What do I receive when I sign up for a course?

 

A) If you sign up for the ‘course pack’ option, we will send you a folder in the post which contains all of your course materials and the assignments you will need to answer. Your pack will also contain a study guide, notebook, pen and your welcome letter, which contains details of your tutor and unique student number.

 

Q) Do I need to complete a placement, or be working in order to complete the course?

 

A) No, your certificate is awarded based on your written assignments – there is no requirement to undertake a placement, or to be currently working in the area you are studying in order to complete it.

 

Q) Are there any deadlines?

 

A) When you enrol on a course with us, you get 12 months of tutor support in which to complete your studies (although this can be extended for a fee, if necessary). Other than this, there are no deadlines for the assignments. Once you have received your course materials, you simply work through the assignments at your own pace and submit your work to your tutor (one at a time) when you are ready.

 

Q) Will I receive a certificate?

 

A) Yes, upon successful completion of your course you will receive an NCFE certificate of achievement.

 

Q) Will I be able to get a job or go to university after taking the course?

 

Although our courses do not carry UCAS points, they are generally looked upon favourably by universities and we have a large number of students who go on to study at degree level upon completion of their course with us.

 

As with universities, our courses are looked upon favourably by employers. If you are looking to apply for a position in which the employer specifically asks for an NVQ, you will need to undertake an NVQ course.

Current Students

 

Q) Change in Personal Details 

 

A) If there are any changes in your personal details, such as name, address or email, it is important that you update your details on your student dashboard. The changes can be made by clicking on your name on the upper right hand side corner of your dashboard. 

 

Q) How do I receive feedback?

 

A)Once your assignment is marked, your feedback will be available on the system. A notification will be sent to you via email for the same, an sms message is sent as well. You will then need to login to the student portal in order to check your feedback.

 

Q) How do I extend my tutor support?

 

A) You can extend your tutor support through the student portal by clicking on the ‘Expired & Additional Services’ link on the right upper corner of the dashboard.

 

Q) How do I attach a cover sheet to my assignment?

 

A) To attach your cover sheet/submission sheet to your assignment, simply copy and paste your whole assignment content on to the cover sheet. 

 

Q) How long do my responses to questions need to be?

 

A) There is no set word count for most questions although there are many issues to consider here. Think about the level of the course you are studying, the higher the level the more detail you need to put into your responses.  Your tutor needs to see that you have understood the question fully and you have thought of the answer from more than one angle.

 

Q) Can I submit more than one assignment at a time?

 

A) No.  Your tutor needs to see that you are taking any feedback from them into consideration when receiving your next assignment and they cannot be sure of this if you have submitted more than one assignment. The system will not allow you to submit your next piece of work until feedback is received for your prior submission.

 

Q) What about volunteering? When should I apply?

 

A) Students are advised to apply as soon as possible due to the limited amount of places available to those studying through MyDistance Learning College. Applications to volunteer will be considered on a first come first served basis.

 

Q) How should I format my assignments?

 

A) Please use 1.5 line spacing, with your name, student number and address at the top of the first page of your assignment. Should these details not be provided your work will not be marked. Please also send all work in Microsoft Word format.

 

 Q) I haven't received my feedback yet! How come?

 

A) Please allow up to 10 working days to receive your feedback. If you haven't after this time then please submit a ticket. Reasons for it not being marked could be because you didn’t include your student details or you sent your work in a format other than Microsoft word.

 

Q) My tutor support is going to expire soon, what are my options?

 

A) You will need to pay to extend your tutor support for another year.  Please contact your tutor for details on how to pay. 

 

Q) How does the grading system work?

 

A) Each assignment you submit is given either a ‘PASS’ or ‘REFER’ mark. The feedback you receive for each assignment will explain what you have done well, and – if the assignment has been referred – give details of what areas need improving. An assignment that has been referred will need to be resubmitted in order for you to be awarded a ‘PASS’ grade, and you can contact your tutor if you need assistance. All assignments for your course must have been awarded a ‘PASS’ grade in order for you to complete your course and receive your certificate.

 

Q) I am unsure of what is being asked by a particular question.

 

A) Contact your tutor with exactly what you are finding difficult (including the question) and they will be happy to expand on what is required. This is not to say the answers will be given but some suggestions may be offered.

 

Q) How should I reference my work?

 

A) The best assignments will reference books, journals or other resources that you have read. This can indicate that you have a broad understanding of the subject in hand. A guide to referencing can be found in the ‘Resources’ section on the student portal.

 

Q) Have you got another copy of the study guide for me?

 

A) Yes, a copy of the study guide can be obtained from 'Resources' section on the student portal.

 

Q) I cannot get full access to the feedback system

 

A) Sometimes we need to update the system or add new features to it, although this is very beneficial for everyone in the long run, occasionally you may get some unexpected errors. If you do receive an error or message, for example "I'm sorry but our records show that you have not kept up with your payments for the course as agreed." or " Your tutor support time has expired" and you believe this to be an error, please submit a ticket and we will look into this as quickly as possible.

 

Completed Students

 

Q) I have completed my course when will I receive my certificate?

 

A) Once your tutor has received all of your work, they will then need to send it off. Once received, your tutor's work is checked and then the request for your certificate and qualification is made. This process usually takes 2 - 3 weeks.