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How do I apply for a course?
You can choose your course and enrol online through Berkshire College London home page. Alternatively, you can call the Berkshire College London admission staff on 0044 (0)20 3542 7202, and they will guide you through the Enrolment process.
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Are there any English language requirements?
For students who do not live or come from an English language speaking country, then we recommend taking an IELTS course to improve your language to level 5.5 or higher. This can be done alongside our courses. Your minimum level of English may vary depending upon which university you decide to complete your top up qualification from.
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Do I need any previous experience and qualifications?
You will need to have an IELTS score of Level 5.5 or above on completion of the BCL course. You can study an English course alongside the BCL course. At Level 4/5, you will require a full secondary education to be eligible to enrol onto the course, and universities will require a minimum age before embarking on the university top-up programme. At Level 7, you will require 5 years of managerial experience if you do not have a Bachelore degree. This may vary for various University partners. However, we will look at every application individually and some exceptions may be made
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Will there be an interview?
There is no interview process. You will have to fill out a short application form to make sure you meet the criteria.
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How do I choose the best course for me?
Learners should first visit the Berkshire College London Course page to view the range of courses on offer. It’s important you choose a subject you enjoy and will help you reach your goals. Here are some things to consider when choosing the right subject for you: • Review the modules within the course: Do they interest you? Are they relevant to your chosen career path? • How is the course taught and assessed: Do you have the motivation to study via distance learning? Are you able to work independently? • It is important that learners do not try to extend themselves too far and too quickly, so should ideally choose a path that comfortably moves on from their existing level of skills and experience.
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When can I start?
You can start when it suits you: just like studying with us, our enrolments are flexible too.
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Is this course accredited?
All courses are fully accredited by recognised awarding bodies who are regulated by the OFQUAL, the official regulator for Access to Higher Education. This means that our Certificates and FE Diplomas are accepted by the majority of universities and Higher Education Institutions in the UK.
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Can i get through to higher education through BCL?
The BCL programmes are mapped against UK higher education qualifications which are fully transferable to a range of other higher education routes and professional qualifications. On completion of the BCL level 4/5 programme students will be awarded 240 credits (The first 2 years of an Undergraduate degree). They can then top up to their final year at one of our University partners who recognise the ATHE qualification. Similarly at level 7 students gain 120 credits from a total of 180 credits for an MBA. Again they can top up at a BCL University partner.
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What potential job opportunities are there after I finish the course?
Once you successfully complete your final year at university, you will have a full BA degree or postgraduate qualification that will open doors to many career options
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Do I have to pay for my assignments?
All assignment submissions are free of charge.
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Do I receive help and guidance while writing assignments?
Yes – all students are encouraged to arrange an initial 30 minute ‘assignment preparation’ session with one of our tutors. The session will be conducted via Zoom and cover all aspects of assignment writing, particularly key areas that students need to be aware of. In addition to this, students have access to tutors who work with Berkshire College London. The tutor details are available via the Dashboard and will show which areas they specialise in and when they are available. If a student wishes to arrange a session, they can do so directly from the Dashboard, specify which topic they need assistance with, or contact our support team at student@Berkshireuk.com. Further information is available in the Student Handbook and the relevant course information packs.
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How do I submit my assignments?
Submissions need to be uploaded to via the LMS dashboard, in the ‘Assignments’ area. Students must also provide a plagiarism report for all submitted assignments
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How many words do I have to write for my assignments?
We recommend students write between 5000 – 8000 words for each assignment. You will not be penalised for going over this word count limit as long as the work is related to the assignment question.
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When do I receive the assignments?
Assignments are released to students upon enrolment.
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How long does the marking process take?
After an assignment has been submitted, our markers will return the results within 10 working days. Once all assignments have been completed and marked, an Internal Verifier will view the work, which usually takes up to 10 working days. After the Internal Verification has come back and agrees with the initial marking, all of the assignments are sent to ATHE for External Verification. ATHE will then check all of the work to ensure it is of the correct standard. This process can take up to 30 working days. In total, once you have completed all assignments and had them marked, it can take up to 40 working days to receive your final result.
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Is the online payment taken immediately?
Yes. Once BCL has received the cleared funds your course material will be released to you immediately.
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Is there any financial assistance available?
BCL offers an interest free payment plan so that you can pay for your course over a set number of months. Contact one of our student advisers for more information about this. UK students may also be eligible for student loans for the university top-up programme. Learners should make enquiries directly to their chosen university.
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What is included in my course fee
All course material, including online modules and written assignments Personal tutor support with 1-2-1 Zoom sessions Dedicated student support Access to an online social learning forum Assignment marking and feedback FREE TOTUM Student Discount card
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Are there likely to be any additional costs?
There is a registration charge by the relevant awarding body for registering a student on course, this cost is NOT included in the course fee. This cost is paid at the time enrolment. Books: Student must buy relevant course text book or reference material where ever applicable. This cost is NOT included in your course fee. Resubmission of assignment: if you fail in any of the module in your first attempt then there is a charge of £15 for each resubmission of assignment and marking. There are NO additional costs except the above, and all additional learning resources including tutor support, e-books, and short business courses, are included in course tuition fees.
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What payment options are available?
Payment can be made online through Sage Pay by credit/debit card, bank transfer or PayPal through any of our international banks.
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How much do assessments cost?
Assessments are included with the course purchases.
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Who are OFQUAL?
Ofqual's role is "to maintain standards and confidence in qualifications”. The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England. Ofqual collaborates closely with the UK government and the Department for Education on general qualifications, such as GCSEs and A levels, and with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on vocational qualifications such as NVQs BTECs and Diplomas
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Who are ATHE & Qualifi?
ATHE (Award for Training and Higher Education) & Qualifi are the awarding body for the qualification we offer, they are regulated by OFQUAL (The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England). They provides colleges with qualifications in management, business, tourism and health & social care, ATHE & Qualifi have made a name for themselves with good customer service, rewarding qualifications and happy learners with progression routes to university degrees. ATHE & Qualifi provide bespoke training support, great value for money, comprehensive university progressions, dedicated support from an ATHE& Qualifi officer, simple easy to use documents and website, innovative qualifications, External Verifier support, flexible delivery solutions, a global focus and a close business development relationship..
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How are Universities linked to the modules?
Learners who achieve an BCL qualification are automatically mapped against a standard UK Higher Education qualification framework. This is a universally recognised framework of credits. Universities can therefore award credits against the BCL study to give exemptions from large parts of their formal programmes. BCL and ATHE have pre agreed arrangements with certain universities to provide credits against programmes either on campus or off campus. This is termed ‘university top-up’.
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Next step after gaining the certificate or Diploma qualifications
You can study for a Bachelors or Master’s Degree after completion of the programmes. All our qualifications come with progression agreements with universities. Other qualification: We have agreements with a number of professional bodies who offer exemptions to holders of our qualifications. Career: Our qualifications can help you to get a better position, increase your confidence in your current role, gain a promotion, set up your own business or to change careers. For more details on what you could do with your qualification, please click here.
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UCAS Application
For many, making the UCAS application is one of the most important moments in the Access journey, and we support you throughout the process. Our strong relationships with universities mean that we liaise with them to ensure that you are always given the most relevant and up to date advice, and we keep you abreast of up to date information from UCAS. From the first stage of your application, to your interviews, and accepting a place – we are there with you every step of the way. We will work with you to plan and draft your personal statement, will guide you through every step of applying through UCAS, and will check every single application, personal statement and reference before they are submitted. We work to ensure that every application is the best it can be.
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UK ENIC (formerly UK NARIC) Statement of Comparability
If you already hold qualifications that were studied outside the UK, your university may wish to see a Statement of Comparability to exempt you from GCSE or Level 2 credits entry requirements. UK ENIC can be contacted through enic.org.uk.
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Who are Berkshire College London?
Berkshire College London is the trading name of Berkshire London ltd, is a company registered in the UK under English law.
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What do BCL do?
The Berkshire College London is dedicated to providing a wide range of Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses at an affordable cost. All learning activities, materials and content are provided online using modern delivery models to make learning more engaging and cost effective. On completion of a BCL course, it will give you recognised University credits to then “top up” at one of our UK University partners, saving you time and money.
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How do I change my personal contact details once I have given them to BCL?
You can edit personal details via the student dashboard. Once a student has enrolled, they can login and view their course progress, edit their profile and chat with fellow students in the forum.
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Can I still access my Student Dashboard if I have finished my course?
Access to the BCL Dashboard is for a maximum of 4 years from date of enrolment. This can be extended if a request is made in writing to BCL Student admin.
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I have forgotten my username/password and cannot login to my dashboard, how can I get access?
If learners have lost or forgotten their login details, they can request a new password on provision of their email address. Email admin@Berkshireuk.com for more assistance.
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What do I do if I am struggling?
You can seek help from dedicated forums or request tutor help. Students can interact and help each other through the course content and share interesting and relevant links with each other. We also have a dedicated tutor support team all specialising in all BCL modules.
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Can I talk to other students?
All students that have enrolled onto a course can communicate with other students via the social learning forum.
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How much support is available for students
Learners can use the social learning forums without limitation and talk to fellow learners around the world. Tutors will also present webinars on demand which are available free of charge to all students.
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What modules do I need to achieve a qualification?
You need to complete all the modules detailed in your required course option plus all the associated assessments to complete the BCL course and receive the ATHE diploma. This will give you the recognized University credits. You can study the modules at your own pace and can purchase more modules at any time.
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Do I need a specific computer to study with BCL?
As long as you have internet access any computer or tablet can be used to complete online modules and courses. You can also study on your phone with our mobile friendly content.
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Can I access my dashboard and study on my mobile and tablet?
Yes, but this will only be accessible with an internet connection. All digital interactivity has been coded for compatibility on touch screens. You can also learn the material by printing it off.
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What study materials do I need?
The modules themselves are sufficient for passing the associated assessments. The modules contain additional accessible resources that learners may wish to follow through to enhance their learning and these are provided within the text. BCL also has extra learning resources like e books and webinars to aid your study, completely free of charge.
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Do I have to buy a book for an online course?
Course material would be provided by BCL. Some courses might require a text book to be bought by the student.
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What is a Certificate of Completion?
When you pass a module or an assessment, it generates a certificate of completion which details: module content, level of study and learning outcomes achieved. It is mapped against formal UK educational quality guidelines defined by QAA. Upon completing all modules, you can then complete assignments set by ATHE to complete your ATHE diploma with BCL.
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How long will it take?
Learners can learn at a pace that suits them. There is no time limits or deadlines with BCL. Learners can study the modules in any order at any time.
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Does my previous study and experience count towards an BCL course?
There are no exemptions or credits within the BCL system of study, and you have to study all the BCL modules to take advantage of our access route. However, if you think you may be exempt from a certain level, please contact us and we will advise you. We can also help you with your top up enquiries if you have already got the necessary qualifications.
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Can I personalise my study?
Students can study the modules in any order and at any pace. To qualify for the University Top-up, all of the modules and assignments must be completed.
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What do I get when all the modules and assessments are completed?
Learners who complete the full programme are awarded an ATHE or Qualifi certificate and official credits. This qualification is recognised by UK higher education authorities and by the university sector. The student can then apply to one of our University partners to complete their degree.
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Do all modules have an exam?
All modules have an online assessment. Completion of the requisite number of assessments and written assignments will give the participant a qualification recognised by many top line universities.
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How do assessments work?
Assessments are made up of 30 multiple choice questions and last for one hour. There is an assessment at the end of each module. Questions are answered in sets of five to allow for review and editing if required. If a session times out or an issue occurs throughout, the assessment will time out at the point of the previous five questions. Consequently, you will not lose your previous answers. Results are given immediately upon completion. You can find out more on the assessment page. Upon completing all end of module assessments, learners then undertake assignments set by ATHE or Qualifi to complete the full course.
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How does tutor support work when studying online.
When you enrol onto your chosen course and when you have any questions email the tutors at tutors@berkshireuk.com they will get back to you with for further explanation on course via email and throughout your course. Your tutor asses you assignment and give you feedback. You must request this via email to give you feedback on assignments.
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What is an interactive learning module?
The interactive activities in the modules include tests, exercises and assessments that provide a guide to a learner’s progress through the module.
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How can I pay for my fees as an overseas student?
BCL has a network of overseas banks that will take payment direct or by credit /debit card. Alternatively, we have representatives in many overseas countries, and you can contact them to make payment.
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Will BCL act as my sponsor for a student visa?
BCL cannot act as a visa sponsor but your chosen university partner can.
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Do I need a visa to complete modules/course through BCL?
No visa is required for online study. If a student chooses to take the university top-up programme on campus in the UK, a student visa will be required. Learners should request this through their chosen university.
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Can I study anywhere in the world?
Yes – as long as you’ve got access to an internet connection. You can do your studies from anywhere in the world.
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What if I want to cancel the course and get a refund of course fee paid.
Yes you can cancel the course, only if you have not accessed our LMS after enrolment within 48 hours, Please see the terms and Condition