Our aim is to make learning as accessible as possible by helping
you get the skills, training and qualifications you want, in a way
that lets you decide when, where and how you learn. We strive to
provide you with all the information you need, before, during and
after you have completed your chosen course.
Here are some of our students' most frequently asked
questions.
Remember, you can also contact us online through
live chat or by
calling
0800 056 3983
Monday to Thursday
8.30am to 7.30pm and Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm. We will be happy to
help and answer any questions you might have.
What do I need to get started on an ICS
course?
For each course you'll find information on any qualifications or
previous experience you might need in the 'Entry Requirements'
section of the course overview page. We will also inform you
about any special equipment, such as a computer with Internet
access, which you might require. However, you will probably be
pleased to know that many of our courses don't require any previous
experience, qualifications or special equipment to get started on
your way to success.
If you meet the requirements specified on the course overview
page, you don't need anything else, except for the ambition to
achieve and a willingness to learn. We will provide you with all
the materials and support you'll need and, if for any reason you
get stuck, we are here to help.
How does Distance Learning work?
Distance learning allows you to learn where and when you want to
achieve your goals on your terms. What's more, you can often
spread the cost of your
studies. So, with a distance learning course you don't have to
give up your job or get into financial difficulties to get where
you want to be.
It works like this: all our paper-based courses are divided into
bite-sized modules made up of clearly identified study
units. You work through each unit at your own pace. At
the end of each unit there's a test paper for you to complete and
submit online (unless stated otherwise in your course materials)
for your tutor to mark. Your tutor returns this to you with
your mark and any comments; some assessments are online
multi-choice, so you will instantly know how you have
done. When you successfully complete a module and feel ready,
you move onto the next one.
With useful tips and self-assessments at every stage, your
confidence and ability should increase steadily as you progress.
Most courses have a study and support period, which
tells you how long you have to complete your studies (you
can do it more quickly if you wish). This should give
you the time you need to complete your study and we will
assist you as you go. If you find near the end of your support
period that you need some extra time, you can contact your student
advisor who may be able to arrange an extension for an
additional fee.
At first, you might think you won't be able to cope, perhaps
because you haven't done any formal education for a long time, but
we will make sure you get all the help and support you need and,
with some perseverance and willingness to achieve, you will get
where you want to be.
How much will it cost?
The price of your course will vary depending on the
qualification that you choose and enrol upon. The price of each
course is clearly shown on the course page and payment plans are
often available (subject to a minimum deposit) so you can
enrol and spread the cost. You may of course prefer to pay
in full upon enrolment. If you do this online you will benefit
from our 10% online enrolment discount.
For more information on our payment plans, please speak to one
of our courses advisors by calling free on
0800 056 3983
or online through live
chat.
What is the Online Student Community?
Your Student Community has been designed
to allow you to interact with, and learn from other students, ICS
support staff and tutors. As a member of the community, you'll be
able to share information, engage in discussions, browse our
resource library, and voice your opinions through student
surveys. You'll also have access to online Student Services,
where you'll be able to update your personal details, make payments
and, in most cases, submit test papers and queries to your
tutors.
You don't need to be a student to join the Student Community, so
if you want to find what it's like to study with us, why not
register? It's free and easy to do.
How long should it take to complete my
course?
Course length varies so on each course page you'll find
information on the approximate number of study hours involved in
that course, as well as the support period we provide. You can
study your course quicker than this if you want or are able
to. If you think you need more time, we may be able
to extend the support period for some courses but there
will be an extra cost and you can only extend it so many times.
The length of time it takes you to complete your course will
depend on how much time you're able to devote to learning each
week. Most students complete their course within a year, although
some of our courses require longer periods of study. Whatever the
time you dedicate to studying, we will guide and support you from
the outset so you can achieve your goals.
How quickly will I receive my course
material?
For online courses you'll be able to start learning as soon as
your payment has been processed. For other courses your
enrolment should be processed within two working days and your
course materials delivered within two weeks.
What support will I receive from ICS?
Studying at home doesn't mean studying alone. For all of
our paper-based courses you'll benefit from the support of an
experienced and knowledgeable tutor. Your tutor will mark and
comment on your work, providing feedback and encouragement, and
will also answer any questions you may have. What's more, you
can contact our Student Advisors, who can provide you
with practical assistance throughout your course. And last but not
least, you'll also have access to our online Student
Community.
Will I have to sit an examination?
To acheive your ambition and gain the result you
want, you will need to go through some form of
assessment.
Each course page will tell you about the assessment
breakdown and any known extra fees, so you know what you need
to do and pay to complete your qualification. Once you
enrol and if applicable, you will receive full details of who these
fees have to be paid to and when you have to pay them.
For some courses and to achieve your qualification, you
may need to sit one or more exams. However this is not
the case for all courses since assessment can also
be on a continuous basis. You will find this detailed on each
course page.
In some cases, we will also liaise with the Awarding Body
to organise your examination for you. However please note
that depending on your chosen course, you may have to
make the arrangements directly. If this is the case don't
worry, we will provide you with all the information you need to
make your exam arrangements along with your course
materials.
If you have any questions about either the assessment or
exam arrangements for the course you are interested in, please do
not hesitate to contact us.
Can I study from outside the UK?
All of our courses are available to overseas students. In fact,
we have students from all over the world so, although the majority
of our students are based in the UK, there are no borders when it
comes to learning with us. Please note that if your course
involves an examination, you may have to come to the UK to sit
it. Sometimes it is possible to arrange to sit an exam at your
local British Council office, but we suggest you contact a Course
Advisor first to discuss your options and see if your course
requires an examination. Call 0044 141 302
5487 from outside the UK.
What qualifications will I receive at the end of my
course?
On the successful completion of your course, you'll receive a
qualification from the relevant
awarding body (e.g. from the University of East London or
Edexcel). Each course page specifies exactly what
qualification you'll receive upon successful completion.
We offer accredited qualifications recognised by employers all
over the world and the qualification you get has the same value as
the one you would get from a traditional school, college or
university, but you will have gained it on your terms in the way
that suits you.
How do I enrol?
Enrolling is easy. Just call one of our Course Advisors free on
0800 056 3983
(from within the UK) or
0044 141 302 5487 (from outside the UK).
You can also enrol on most courses online: just click "Buy now"
and then proceed to checkout. Some course require you to
apply for a place before you can enrol. You can also apply
online: just click the "Apply now" on the relevant course page
and submit your application.
We hope you have found all the information you need. If we
haven't answered your questions or if you would like further
information on how distance learning can help you, please contact
one of our Course Advisors.
You will find our contact details on every page, as well as on
the contact
us page.