Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any questions about your studies, you can contact your assigned Administrator at any time. However, we have collated a number of questions that we are often asked. Take a look and see if your query has already been answered.
Enrolment
Can I take more than one module in a session?
We estimate that students need to spend a minimum of 15-20 hours a week studying in order to successfully complete one of our modules. Therefore, in most cases, we do not allow you to take more than one module per study session. In exceptional circumstances, and where you have previously demonstrated suitable capacity and capability, permission can be granted by the Programme Director to allow you to take one additional module in a session.
When and where can I find out in what sessions modules are running next year?
Study Calendars for each programme are uploaded onto the Programmes area of the website a few weeks before enrolment opens for Session One at the beginning of September. The calendars indicate in which of the five study session modules will be available so that you can plan your study sequence for that year.
Can I take a module from outside my current programme?
You can only take modules that make up the programme you are currently registered for. If there are specific modules from other programmes that you are interested in studying, you can take up to three additional modules, but only after you have completed your degree.
I have submitted my enrolment form but have heard nothing since. What is the status of my enrolment?
During enrolment periods we receive a very large number of enrolment forms and it can take some time for all of these to be processed. We will send a confirmation email to you once your enrolment has been successfully processed. If there is a problem with your enrolment, we will contact you by email. If, after 10 working days from when you submitted your form, you have still not received an email, you should contact us to check on the status of your enrolment.
I have missed the payment deadline for enrolling in this session. What can I do?
Each enrolment period is open for about four to six weeks. The session enrolment deadline is the latest date that we can accept new enrolment forms and payment of module fees. If you have missed the payment deadline, you will have to wait until the next session to take a module. You are advised to enrol early to avoid disappointment.
I have successfully enrolled. When should I expect to receive my module materials and OSC login details?
Module study packs are sent out via DHL during the month running up to the start of the study session in which the module is running. You will be sent a pre-alert advisory email by DHL to inform you that your materials are on their way. This email will include the Air Waybill number of your package, which you can use to track the shipment. Your OSC login details will be emailed to you approximately three days before the start of the session.
[back]Fees
Can I get a refund if I no longer want to study the module?
Once module materials are received, the fees for that module become non-refundable.
I require an invoice or my bank will not allow me to transfer money out of the country. How can I get one?
Contact your Administrator and ask to be sent an invoice.
[back]Studying
What specification will my computer need to have?
Hardware – PC or Mac- 64MB (RAM) minimum
- Minimum screen resolution of 600 x 800
- 56k modem or higher
For some modules you will require a CD drive and DVD player. Also, please note that you will need to have access to a PC rather than a Mac if you are using econometric software such as EViews.
Operating Systems and browser compatibility
Please access this site to find out which browsers, plugins and operating systems best support Blackboard 8.0.
What do I need an Athens username and password for and how do I get this?
You will need an Athens username and password to access the selection of electronic journals available through the University of London Online Library. To obtain your unique Athens username and password, you will first need to register with the University of London Online Library. A link to the library website can also be found on the OSC. Once you have registered, your Athens username and password will be sent to you via email.
I am currently in London. Can I use the SOAS library?
We can provide you with a form, which you need to take with you to the SOAS library to prove your eligibility. Having submitted the form, you will be given an annual library membership (including full borrowing privileges). With this membership, you will also be able to apply for borrowing rights at over 170 academic libraries throughout the UK and Ireland through the SCONUL Access scheme.
My circumstances have changed. Can I defer my module?
We understand that situations can arise that mean it is difficult for you to continue to devote sufficient time to your studies. You can defer your studies on a module at any point up until you have submitted both assignments. If you wish to defer a module on which you are enrolled, you should contact your Administrator by phone or email.
I have previously deferred a module and would now like to take it. How do I resume my study?
When you are ready to resume a module that you have previously deferred, complete and submit the enrolment form in the usual way. However, please indicate that it is a previously deferred module in the payment section. It is assumed that you already have the module materials. You will only be sent a replacement study pack if the module content has been revised during the intervening period. The new assignment questions will be available for you to download from the OSC when the module commences. If you have received a mark for either of the two assignments from when you previously took the module, this mark will stand. On resuming your studies, you will be required to complete the outstanding assignment.
Can I change modules once I have started it?
Once you have received the study pack for the module you have enrolled on, you are committed to completing that module as part of the programme.
Can I change programmes and will the modules I have already taken count towards my new programme?
Students may request to transfer their registration to a different programme by completing a Student Request to Transfer form. Permission to transfer a student’s registration is granted at the discretion of the Programme Director. Only modules completed that are part of the new programme can be used as credit towards the award of this qualification.
My registration has expired but I have not finished my degree. What can I do?
If you have not completed the assessment requirements for all of the modules on your programme within five years, you will be withdrawn. However, you do have the opportunity to apply for an extension of your registration for an additional year. You will need to complete and submit a Registration Extension form before your registration period expires.
[back]Online Study Centre (OSC)
I posted a question on the Tutor Queries section of the OSC, but have not received a response. How can I contact my module tutor?
Our module tutors should respond to academic queries posted on the OSC within three working days. If you have not received a response within this time period, please notify your Administrator immediately. If you have a query relating to the academic content of a module outside of the study session, email your questions to your Administrator.
I have just uploaded my assignment to the OSC but have realised that this was my draft version. Can I change it?
You can only submit each assignment once to the OSC. If you have uploaded the wrong assignment, please contact your Administrator immediately.
[back]Assignments
How do I write a bibliography?
Information about how to write a bibliography can be found in section 6.8 of the textbook Studying at a Distance by Talbot, which is included in your first study pack. There is also a document entitled 'How to Reference' available on the OSC in the Announcements section of the 'Centre for Financial and Management Studies' Organization.
I have submitted my assignment. When will I receive my assignment feedback and mark?
Module tutors will return marked assignments ten working days after the submission deadline. If you have not received your feedback by this date, please contact your Administrator.
I am in a different time zone to London. How will this affect the assignment deadline?
Provided that you submit your assignment to the OSC before the end of the day of the deadline, your local time, you should not incur any late submission penalties.
My circumstances have changed. Can I get an extension to the submission deadline for my assignment?
An extension of the assignment deadline will only be given in exceptional circumstances. You will need to contact your Administrator to discuss this. Often you will need to send through suitable documentary evidence to justify your request.
What happens if I submit my assignment late?
If you submit an assignment late, without an agreed extension, you will incur a penalty. If your assignment is up to a week late, you will incur a 5 mark penalty. If it is up to two weeks late, your assignment will be deducted 10 marks. If you submit your assignment more than two weeks after the published deadline, it will not be marked. In this case, you will need to defer the module and resume your studies when you can devote sufficient time to complete the module successfully.
I have just received the mark for my first assignment. It is lower than I expected. How do UK grading conventions compare with other countries?
University grading conventions vary considerably both between and within countries. The pass level for our modules is 50%, with a distinction awarded for marks of 70% or more. You should refer to the grading criteria listed in the University’s Regulations for details of what is required from students at each grade band. This information is also included in the Introduction unit of each module.
I disagree with my tutor’s feedback. Can I appeal my mark?
If you have any concerns regarding your assignment feedback or the grade awarded then you should, in the first instance, raise these with your module tutor using the Tutor Queries function of the OSC module. If you are unable to resolve the matter at this level, the issue can be referred to the Programme Director. You should write to your Administrator outlining your concerns and they will follow standard procedure.
[back]Examinations
Why is there only one exam period per year?
The cost of running more than one examination period each year is prohibitively high. If we were to run a second exam period, the cost of each module would need to increase by at least £300. We want our modules to be affordable to as many people as possible, so we try to keep our costs down. As a result, we only have one exam period held during October each year.
I have a problem with the date/location of my examinations. What can I do?
The date and location of an exam can only be changed in exceptional circumstances, such as the exam centre being closed on the scheduled date of the exam. In this situation, contact External Examinations by email or phone (+44 0) 20 7664 4186. Please note that it is not compulsory for you to sit the examination for a module in the same year that you studied that module.
How do I know if my exam entry forms were received?
All students registered to sit an examination will be sent an admissions notice (usually via the local exam centre) no more than two weeks before their first exam. If you would like to ensure that your exam entry forms have been received and your exam registration completed, you will need to contact External Examinations by email or phone (+44 0) 20 7664 4186.
Can I have some past exam papers / model answers?
We do not make past exam papers or model answers available to students. A Specimen Exam paper is included in the Introduction unit of each module. Whilst the actual questions set in the exam will be different from those on the Specimen Exam paper, these do provide a valuable guide as to the structure of the exam and format of the questions that you can expect.
[back]Graduation
I am registered on the MSc [subject] and I am about to take my fourth exam for this programme. Looking at your website, I notice that these four modules are the same as the Postgraduate Diploma in [subject]. If I pass this exam, am I awarded the Diploma?
The University does not allow credit for one module to be used across multiple programmes. If you are awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in one subject, you would not be permitted to re-register for any other related awards at a later date.
I have just applied for a job/PhD and they require references. Am I able to ask a tutor or Programme Director to provide me with a reference?
As a current student or graduate, we can provide you with a letter of academic reference. This letter, signed by the Programme Director, will outline the programme that you studied and your academic performance across the modules.
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