Flexible Learning FAQs – Midwest

A Major Award is normally a Higher Certificate (120 Credits), Ordinary Degree (180 Credits) or Honours Degree Programme (240 Credits).

The Level of your award links to the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).  This is a nationally agreed framework which allows education providers to match the level of their academic programme with the demands of the qualification.  For example the Level 5 Certificate is a Level 5 award.  The Level also reflects the amount of independent work and analysis that you are expected to do with this increasing as you move up the various levels.  Details of the NFQ can be found at http://www.nfq-qqi.com/

ECTS stands for European Credit Transfer System and has been developed in line with the Bologna Accord.  This allows for your credits gained in an Irish HEI to be recognised throughout the world. See http://ec.europa.eu/education/ects/ects_en.htm for details.  In TUS we normally have 5 Credit or 10 Credit modules.

A module is a particular unit of study on a particular topic e.g. Maths or Web Development 1.  Each module has a number of credits and a defined schedule for delivery.  A programme is made up of one or more modules and a student completes the individual modules to complete a programme e.g Higher Diploma in Business Management or Certificate in Near Zero Energy Buildings.  The Award is what the student receives having completed their full programme of study e.g. Pass or Distinction.

TUS is an approved City & Guilds Centre.  TUS provides the modules, completes the majority of assessments and facilities examinations.  Exams are set by City & Guilds and held on the TUS Campus.  Students receive a City & Guilds Award and credits these programmes can be used to apply for a entrance onto programmes in TUS or other Higher Education Institutes.  Full details on the City & Guilds Programmes are available at www.cityandguilds.com

There are no discounts available on programme fees in general.  If you receive funding from a particular agency, your employer or via a funding programme e.g. Springboard this is normally termed as being Sponsored.  The Flexible Learning Department will arrange with you and the Sponsor in relation to payment of fees. Some programmes are approved for Springboard funding or sometimes other forms of funding through Skillnet groups. If a course is approved for funding this will be stated on the fees section of the course website page.

The application process for each programme is different.

If your course dates are not yet set on our site make sure to register your interest by emailing flexible.midwest@tus.ie

Tax relief is available at the standard rate of income tax for tuition fees paid by or on behalf of students who attend an approved programme of study which must be at least two years in duration. Further information and an application form for tax relief on tuition fees is available from the Revenue Commissioners’ website, www.revenue.ie A receipt for fees paid must accompany the completed application form.

Students are advised to review www.studentfinance.ie or contact the Dept. of Social Protection or Local Employment Services who may be able to provide assistance. Some programmes are approved for Springboard funding or sometimes other forms of funding through Skillnet groups. If a course is approved for funding this will be stated on the fees section of the course website page.

The fees for each programme are listed on the page for each programme. Search for your programme of study using the search function on this website and you will see the fee information on the course page.

On-line content normally includes a mixture on recorded lectures, on-line resources for review by the student, on-line discussion forums and other collaborative means which allow for student interaction.  Some programmes may include live webinars where both the lecturer and students engage in live, synchronous discussions and exchanges.

An on-line programme normally has over 80% of the content delivered fully on-line and there is limited actual ‘class time’ where students meet each other, and their lecturer(s) in person.  Blended learning programmes can have between 20-80% of the content delivered on-line with the remaining involving either lectures/practicals/tutorials delivered at one of TUS’s campuses.

If you are doing an on-line/blended learning programme you will need regular access to a computer/laptop which has the following characteristics:

Recognition of Prior Learning is the generic term for systems such as Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) or Advanced Academic Standing which are used within Higher Education to describe the awarding of credit to applicants on the basis of demonstrated learning that has occurred prior to admission. The philosophy underlying RPL is to enable and encourage people to enter or re-enter formal education, leading to qualifications, by awarding exemptions or recognising credit for what they already know from the programme curriculum. The onus is on the applicant to demonstrate the prior learning, by preparing and submitting adequate evidence, under the guidance and advice of the institution.

Only if you are studying on-line/blended learning programmes is a computer absolutely necessary.  However, most programmes do provide notes via the Institutes Virtual Learning Environment (Moodle) and often you have to submit assignments and assessments in electronic format.  Access to a computer would be beneficial for most programmes.

Normally a 5 credit module equates to 100 Total Learning Hours.  Total Learning Hours includes the time you spend in class (lectures, tutorials, practicals) and the time you spend completing work outside of college.  So if you have 3 hrs per week of class time for a module you should plan to spend at least another 4 hours per week doing your own study.

A Lecture normally involves the lecturer providing information to you in various formats (presentation, reviewing book chapters etc.) and there can be limited interaction/discussion on the topic.

Students can access the Institutes’ Library once they are a registered student.