FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of Distance Education?

There is a huge range of benefits to studying via distance education:

Flexibility

We believe distance education is all about convenience and flexibility. You can plan your study around your work or lifestyle commitments, so you’re only studying at times convenient for you. Plus, you can improve your education without having to attend classes at a physical location. What’s more, with Stonebridge, you can study when and where you like without the stress of deadlines or time limits and complete your course at your own pace.

Affordability

We don’t have the same level of high overhead costs (e.g., classrooms and large campuses) as do most traditional schools, colleges or universities, so we’re able to pass on these savings to you by reducing our course fees.

Choice

We offer over 650 home study courses for you to choose from, with an unrivalled selection of quality distance education courses accredited by some of the most respected awarding bodies in the UK and internationally.

Support

You have access to a dedicated tutor who is an experienced professional in their field of study. Your tutor is totally committed to helping you succeed and is on hand to answer any questions you may have, no matter how big or small. Add our team of friendly course advisors and professional administrators, plus our online student discussion forum, Facebook Page, Twitter profile, and Google+ profile and you can be confident of receiving all the help and support you need

Can I study if I live outside the United Kingdom?

We encourage and welcome international students to join our learning community. All of our courses are specifically designed to be delivered via distance education and home study, so you can complete your course from anywhere in the world. There will be no need for you to attend any physical location like a test centre or campus.

Are there any time limits or deadline dates?

Unlike other Distance Education Colleges, we impose no time limits or pressures on you to complete your course material. Your course will not expire, and it will not become invalid until you have successfully completed it. All that we ask, is that you inform the College if you are intending to take a break from studying for a period of 6 months or more.

How do I know which course is right for me?

This is a very common concern with students when they first embark on a new course. We understand you may be feeling apprehensive and that’s why, if you are in any doubt, we encourage you to contact us and have a chat with one of our friendly course advisors. Rest assured you’ll receive sound and impartial advice about your future with no strings attached.

Do I need any prior qualifications or experience before I can enrol?

All of our distance learning courses are available to all students of all academic backgrounds. If you’re concerned that you may have difficulties please feel free to contact our friendly course advisors. They’ll be happy to discuss it with you.

What if I haven't been a student for a long time?

When you enrol on your course, you’ll receive a comprehensive study guide particularly useful for those students who are either new to study or are returning to study. It contains useful tips, guidance and advice on a variety of study methods to help you through your course. Furthermore, our Student Support team is just a phone call or email away and will always be available to deal with any queries you may have, even if you just need to chat.

Can I study more than one course at a time?

Absolutely! You’ll find that by studying this way you create a steady flow of work for yourself. Many of our courses are highly complementary to one another and work well together. Our students tend to start with one course, discover how easy it is to study from home, and quickly move on to another course.

What are the study methods available?

You can study either via the paper-based or the online method:

Paper-based

With paper-based study you receive one lesson at a time through the post. Once you’ve completed the question paper for the assignment you submit your work via e-mail, post, or your unique online student account. After your tutor has received and marked your answers you can view your feedback in your student account. We also post your feedback to you along with the next question paper and the following lesson. This process continues until you’ve completed your course.

Online study through ElearnUK

Many students find this to be a faster and more convenient way to study. With this method you have immediate access to your course material online as soon as your enrolment is complete. You submit each of your question papers to your tutor using your unique online student account, and once your tutor has received and marked your answers we send you an e-mail containing your results and feedback. With the online method you need only a standard web browser, and there’s no complicated plug-in software required. Plus, you always have the option of printing your course material or saving it to your hard drive if you feel more comfortable studying from paper!

When do the courses start?

Unlike traditional schools, colleges or universities there are no terms, semesters, or specified intake dates for our uniquely flexible distance education courses. Our system of continuous enrolment means that our students can enrol on any day and at any time of the year. This allows our students the freedom to plan their studies to fit in with their lifestyle or work commitments.

How do I enrol?

You can enrol easily and quickly by clicking on the ‘Enrol Now’ button on your preferred course’s description page on our website. Simply complete the secure online registration form and we’ll do the rest. If you prefer to call us to enrol, feel free to do so by dialling 0121 392 8288.

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Are there any further costs involved?

No, once your course has been paid for there are no further costs involved. But there is a cost for optional practical training.

Can I pay by instalments?

If you would like to pay for your course by instalments, we do offer an affordable payment plan scheme that allows you to spread the cost of your course over a period of roughly six - nine months. When you enrol on your course you simply pay a small deposit followed by a structured small monthly repayment plan. What's more, the total amount payable over the term's period, is no more than the total cash price of the course, thus the APR = 0%.

Do I need any additional study material once I have enrolled?

No, all of our courses are complete (in the very rare case were a course text book is advised, this will be clearly displayed on our website). However we always encourage our students to conduct their own further reading.

Do I obtain a qualification once I have completed my course?

Stonebridge Associated Colleges' Nationally Accredited courses lead to Internationally recognised awards. Our courses are recognised by a wide variety of groups, including employers, professional associations, governing bodies, as well as National and International licensing authorities across the World. On successful completion of your course your qualification is awarded. You will receive an attractively presented Diploma or Certificate issued by Stonebridge Associated Colleges, this will also allow you to use the letters SAC. Dip. or SAC. Cert. after your name. If you complete a course accredited by another one of our awarding bodies, you may also receive another certificate or be eligible for professional membership. There are various associations that the College is recognised by and you will therefore be able to apply for membership to these on the basis of our qualifications.

How difficult will my course be?

Obviously this is dependant upon the nature of the course you enrol on. As an estimate, the levels of learning for our courses range from a vocational standard all the way up to a certificate in higher education. All of our courses have been written and structured especially for home study, thus you will always find that the course material is written in a clear, concise and easy to understand format. If you would like to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to contact one of our friendly course advisors who will be more than glad to help.

How do I return my completed question paper to the College?

Your question papers may be returned to us in one of several ways: 1) You can post your question paper directly to your personal tutor at the College in the envelope provided, 2) You can fax your question paper into the College, 3) You can e-mail your question paper into the College, and it will be forwarded on to your personal tutor.

How does Home Study via Distance Education work?

Once you have enrolled with us, your welcome package, instructions and first two lessons of learning material are sent out to you, as well as the name of your personal tutor at the College. At the end of each lesson you will find a question paper on the work that you have covered. Only when you feel ready, do you complete and return this to your personal tutor at the College. Your personal tutor then marks your paper and returns it to you with your feedback, you are also sent your next lesson and question paper.

How long will it take to complete the course?

Depending on the course you study, each lesson should take you between 3 - 6 hours of study. Please note: This is only an approximate figure and is dependant upon how much time you can dedicate to your studies and how well you grasp the learning concepts in the course material. Furthermore, at the end of each lesson there is a question paper that needs to be completed and returned to your tutor. You should allow at least 1 - 2 hours of study to complete each question paper.

How will I be tested throughout my course?

After each lesson there will be a question paper, which needs to be completed and submitted to your personal tutor for marking. This method of continual assessment ensures that your personal tutor can consistently monitor your progress and provide you with assistance throughout the duration of the course. All of the question papers for your course can be completed from the comfort of your own home. There will be no need for you to attend any physical location like a test centre or our campus.

I intend to study more than two courses, do you offer any optional study plans?

If you are intending to study more than two courses with us, you may want to take advantage of one of our affordable student study option plans. We offer you the choice of: 1) The Student Achiever Plan - This allows you to unlimited FREE enrolments to any of the Colleges' courses. You choose any 2 courses at the enrolment stage and once you have finished either one, you can the start another one. The plan runs for a period of twelve months (your courses do not need to be completed in this period), and can be renewed thereafter. 2) StudyMate Plan - When you and a family member or a friend enrol on one of our courses together, we will subsidise BOTH your courses by 15%. This provides an ideal opportunity for family or friends who wish to study together. The plan is also suited to those who intend setting up a business together (Students can study different courses). 3) Stonebridge Membership Plan - Membership entitles you to a 15% reduction on all of our courses. It also allows the use of the designatory letters MSAC. All of our member's names are added to the Register for referral and the Membership is open to non-qualified students.

What about practical training?

Optional practical training is available for many of our courses. These practical training days are held at various locations throughout the Untied Kingdom. The goal of our practical training is to provide students with on-the-job practical experience. Practical training in this context provides the opportunity for our students to apply the theory-based knowledge they have experienced during their course to "real-life" working situations and environments. Our high standard of practical training offers students the necessary hands on experience to obtain additional qualifications.

What happens if I have any further questions?

If you still have any queries (or doubts) whatsoever, please do not hesitate to contact one of our friendly course advisors who will be happy to provide you with sound, impartial and professional advice, with no strings attached. So, if you're ready to make a fresh start, why not contact us today. For more information on our contact details, please visit the "contact us" section.

What type of questions will I be asked to complete?

The types of questions you will be asked will vary from: multiple-choice questions, true or false, a single word answer, a single paragraph, to a short essay. Either way, you can be assured that you will be able to successfully answer the questions from the work you have covered in the course materials.

When will I receive my first lessons and welcome pack?

We know that you are eager to start your course. That is why we process your enrolment and dispatch your course materials to you within three working days.

Where can I find additional study resources?

The Internet and local libraries normally provide a large source of information. We also encourage our students to contact their personal tutor for additional sources and reading lists.

Will I receive professional help throughout the duration of my course?

All of our students have access to their own personal tutor who specialises in their field of study. It is your personal tutors role to ensure that you receive constructive feedback and to deal with any queries you may have. You are more than welcome to phone, fax or e-mail your personal tutor. Our students also have access to a dedicated and friendly team of administrators and course advisors who offer sound and professional guidance and advice, this ensures that a Stonebridge Associated Colleges student never feels neglected and a Stonebridge Associated Colleges student always SUCCEEDS! Stonebridge Associated Colleges' commitment to the needs of its students quite simply makes it the best and most flexible Distance Education College in the World!

Will I succeed if I have had an extended break from study?

When you enrol on your course, as well as receiving your course materials, you will also receive a study guide. This is an in-depth guide, which is aimed to support those students who are either new to study, or who are returning to study. It contains useful tips, guidance and advice on a variety of study methods that will assist you throughout your course. Furthermore we pride ourselves on our high level of student support. You can always be assured that, your personal tutor, a member of our professional administration team or a friendly course advisor will always be available to deal with any queries you may have, even if its just for a chat.

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