F.A.Q's

Questions and answers most commonly asked by students.
 

Enrolment

Q. When can I enrol/start?

A. You may enrol and start at any time of the year – it’s all self- paced.

Q. Can I study from anywhere in the world?

A. Our courses are available to any one, anywhere in the world from the comfort of your own home. The course content is relevant to any country, culture or economy. We believe education needs to be more generic than what most colleges teach in order to produce graduates who can better adapt to change.

Q. When do I have to complete the course?

A. You complete the course at any time that is convenient to you. You’re under no pressure to finish by a certain deadline.

Q. Completing the course- how long will it take?

A. Completion of  modules varies from student to student.  Many factors come into play  such as work commitments and family life.  There are always distractions.  Some students work quicker than others.  For a 100 hour module many students will take up to 4- 6 months,  others take less time and some are even longer. It's all up to you.  There is no pressure to complete or deadline. Naturally, longer courses will take more time.

Q. Our tutors - who are they?

A.  Our tutors are experts in their chosen fields. Not only are they highly qualified but also experienced, knowledgeable and professional.  They bring many years of experience and are active in their profession.  They come from all parts of the world. To view our tutors please click on the “About Us” box and then “Tutors & Administrators”.

Q. What learning options are there?

A.  You have a choice of three options:- CD-ROM, online  and Correspondence (printed notes).
Not sure which one to choose then please click on the “About Us” box above and then “Learning Methods”.

Assessments

Q. Assessment - how does it work?

A. For each 100 hour module you are assessed by assignments (at the end of each lesson) and a final one and a half hour exam (or you may elect to complete a project instead of sitting the exam) - the choice is yours – you sit for the  exam in your own location.  There are no exam fees.

Q.Text Books – do you supply?

A. You do not have to buy text books for our courses since each module has been written  by highly qualified tutors and writers, and our  courses are updated on a regular basis, adding new information, methods and knowledge. The course material focuses very specifically on the subject matter.  Text books therefore, are not applicable.  Tutors will of course make suggestions to additional reading material where required.

Q. Assignments- how do they work?

A. At the end of each lesson there is an assignment. You submit it to the academye who then submits it to the tutor for marking, comments and feed back. Our policy is to have a grade for you within 5 to 7 days.

Q. If my assignment is not up to standard is there an opportunity to resubmit my work?

A. Yes - If you’re not happy with your work submitted you may re-submit the assignment again.

Q. How many assignments do I need to complete for each module?

A. At the end of each lesson there is an assignment - so if a course has say, 10 lessons there would be 10 assignments. The number of lessons per module varies from module to module. See the course content from our website for further details.

Q. When do I have to hand in my first assignment?

A. There is no deadline for handing in the first assignment. Submit when you are ready. There are some students who hand in assignments within the first couple of weeks of enrolment – while there are others who submit their work 6 months later. It’s all at your own convenience to suit you. Everyone has different work and home commitments and we cater for these needs.

Q. How do I do workshops?

A. If your course requires attendance at workshops; alternative arrangements can be made in your country; however there may be an additional expense. We can appoint an appropriately qualified person anywhere to work through curriculum documentation supplied by us, to satisfy the requirements set down in a course.

Qualifications

Q. What qualification will I receive?

A. For individual modules you would receive a Certificate (providing you complete all assignments and the exam). If you just want to complete the assignments only, then a Letter of Achievement would be awarded. For more details on qualifications awarded please visit:  http://www.adlhomestudy.co.uk/our-courses/qualifications-available

Q. Is there a next level to progress to?

A. Yes – you can progress from one module to a combination of many modules and to higher qualifications i.e. Advanced Certificates, Diplomas and Higher Advanced Diplomas.

Q. I see I can design my own certificate/diploma?

A. Not all educational institutions certificates /diplomas meet everyone’s needs. The opportunity to design your own certificate/diploma at ADL (subject to our approval) is an added bonus, not found at other colleges. It’s a very popular option and widely used by many students.

Exams

Q. Do I have to sit for an exam?

A. Exams are optional but need to be undertaken in order to receive the Certificate or higher qualification. They are one and a half hours long. You appoint an adjudicator (subject to our approval) to supervise the exam. You sit for the exam in your own location.

Q. I don’t cope well with exams – what can I do?

A. If you feel you don't  cope well with exams you may elect to undertake a Project (set by the tutor) instead of sitting the exam.  Many students prefer this option as they find researching the material for the project sharpens their research skills.

Q. If I don’t sit for the Exam do I still get a qualification?

A. If you don't sit for the exam (or complete a project) and providing you have completed all the assignments you would be awarded a Letter of Achievement.

Q. Do I have to sit for the exam at the academy?

A. No – you sit for the exam in your own location. You appoint an adjudicator to supervise the exam. Please see "Enrolments" then "Examination Procedures" for further details.

Q. Are there any exam fees?

A. There are no exam fees.  However, for some public examinations such as the ICB (Bookkeeping) and RHS courses exam fees do apply.  See course content for details.
Tutors

Q. Our tutors - who are they?

A. Our tutors are experts in their chosen fields. Not only are they highly qualified but also experienced, knowledgeable and professional.  They bring many years of experience and are active in their profession.  They come from all parts of the world.

Q. Can I contact my tutor at any time?

A. Yes- you have unlimited access to tutors. We strongly encourage students to develop dialogue with their tutor. This is why we encourage students to submit their first assignment fairly quickly at the beginning of the course.

Q. How do I contact my tutor?

A. Write, fax, email or phone the academy. Leave a message if your tutor isn't available and they will phone, write or fax back; whatever suits you.

Q. If I don’t agree with / like my tutor can I request a change?

A. Yes – we try to accommodate and meet student’s needs and a change of tutor may be arranged.

Q. If I don’t understand a question or a lesson may I contact the tutor?

A. You may contact a tutor as often as you like. There is no additional charge or restriction on this service.

Q. Are your tutors suitable qualified?

A. Most tutors hold a 3 year degree or diploma, 5 years industry experience and remain active in their respective industries.

Q. Where do your tutors come from?

A. Our tutors come from the UK, Australia. New Zealand, Canada, USA and other parts of the world. All out tutors subscribe to the academies philosophy –courses are globally relevant.

Q. Practical work - How is this done?

A. To find out more about this part of the course please visit the section on How Our Courses Work here.
General

Q. If I do a shorter course first, can I get credits towards a certificate or diploma later?

A. Yes. We will assess previous studies to give you appropriate credits. Doing it this way will probably take a little longer and cost more in fees though.

Q. Can I pay by instalments?

A. Yes, however full payment up front is the cheapest option. All courses can be paid in two instalments, some can be paid in three or more. (Please refer to fee schedule on enrolment form for more information)

Q. Do I get a discount if two of us enrol together?

A. You may claim a 5% discount on fees if you both enrol in courses at the same time.

Q. Do I get a discount if I enrol in a second course?

A. Yes, you may claim a 5% fee discount when you enrol in a second course. (Note: This does not apply however to the second stage or part of the same certificate or diploma.)

Q. What happens if I have to stop studying for a while? (eg. become sick, go on holidays, have a baby)

A. Apply for an extension. It's OK to take a break and start up your study at a later point in time. Just let us know.

Q. Do I need any text books?

A. You are supplied with all "essential" references. Extra books are always useful though, especially for special projects. Tutors will advise you what to buy if you decide you would like to have extra reading material.

Q. How long does a shorter course (ie. 80-120hrs) take to complete?

A.  Completion of  modules varies from student to student.  Many factors come into play  such as work commitments and family life.  There are always distractions.  Some students work quicker than others.  For a 100 hour module many students will take up to 4- 6 months,  others take less time and some are even longer. It's all up to you.  There is no pressure to complete or deadline.  Naturally, longer courses will take more time.

Q. How long does a certificate take to complete?

A. Commonly around 6-9 months, if studying full time; or around two years if studying part time. With dedication, part time students can complete a certificate in one year.

Q. Can I pay by instalments?

A. Yes- we have an instalment plan which is described on each course page.

Q. Is there an age limit?

A. There is no maximum age limit. We do however; have a minimum age limit of 18 years. Below that age parental consent would be required

Q. Course material – do I have choices on how I will receive my notes?

A. We have three (3) modes of delivery. The most popular being CD-ROM, then Online and Printed Notes (traditional correspondence).

Q. Can I undertake your courses for hobby purposes?

A. We welcome students who do not require a formal qualification but are quite happy to have access to the knowledge and notes and undertake the course for self enrichment purposes.

Q. Are there any hidden costs?

A. There are no hidden extras - the tuition fee covers all course material, unlimited tutor support, assignment marking/feedback and any text books where specified and exams. The only extras are for the public examinations fees for the ICB Bookkeeping course and the RHS (Royal Horticulture Society) exams.

Q. Are your courses up-to date?

A. Courses at ADL are continually updated. The course content can be rapidly updated and improved without the red tape and bureaucracy experienced at other educational institutions.

Q. Do you have a Refund policy?

A. We have a refund policy that is fair and equitable. For further details please click here.

Q. What Recognition do you have?

A. ADL is recognised by the International Accreditation and Recognition Council (IARC). Most ADL courses (Certificate and higher) are accredited by IARC. Our graduates come from many parts of the world that have used our qualifications for successful employment and progression onto higher education.

Q. Why should I enrol with ADL?

A. At ADL our students are our priority - we treat every student as a unique individual. This philosophy allows us to nurture those who are “slow and steady” learners rather than letting them fall through the cracks, while catering for those who are in a hurry to complete.

Q. What do our students think of ADL?

A. To see what our students think about studying at ADL, please visit our Student Testimonial page here.