FAQ

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Learn more about how our courses work with these commonly asked questions, or visit our terms and conditions page.

Is Your Training Accredited?

Borders Connect . is accredited by the Open and Distance Learning Quality Council – this means that our tuition, learning materials and student support are subject to regular, rigorous assessment and that you can be confident about the quality of the courses we offer.

Why Home Study?

Distance learning is an effective, flexible way to learn. It means that you study at a distance from your tutor rather than in a classroom. You work through course materials written by specialists and send your assignments to a qualified personal tutor for feedback on your work. You can also contact your tutor at any stage if you need additional help or advice.

Most students enjoy working through their learning materials and assignments. You’ll work through carefully structured modules with defined learning objectives, and try out activities to practice your skills. Each course has a set number of assignments. The course materials give full guidance on how to prepare and complete each one.

How Much Time Will I Need?

This will depend partly on the course you choose, but it also depends on how much time you can spend on your studies. The advantage of our courses is that you can study at your own pace and in your own time. On average students study for just 2-3 hours per week, and as there are no set class times, these can be fitted around your other commitments. You can also take a study break of up to 12 months if you need to.

Because our courses are designed to be extremely flexible, we do not set deadlines for assignments, but if you know that you work best when you have a timetable we recommend contacting your tutor to agree deadlines for each assignment.

What is Included in the Course Fee?

The course fee includes everything you need to complete your course: study material, free textbooks for many course and full tutorial support. (These are available for the duration of the course only.) Some of our courses, such as the RHS Levels 2 and 3, lead to external exams – please note that course fees do not cover exam fees.

How is the Course Delivered?

Our courses are normally delivered in a postal format. This means that the course material arrives in a large A4 folder printed in full colour. However, if you prefer your course delivered online, please select the ‘online’ enrolment option. Your course will then be delivered by pdf directly to your inbox. You can then save your material to your computer or print it off. Online courses do not include textbooks, but instead include alternative supplementary materials to support your studies.

How do I Enrol?

Getting started on a Borders Connect course is simple. You can enrol on-line, using the ‘Enrol’ button on each course page, over the telephone by calling one of our advisers on 01896 860661 or by sending us your information through the post.

Your course materials will arrive within five working days of us receiving your enrolment details, or within two hours if you choose the online option. You will also receive contact details for your personal tutor, so you can get started on your course and your first assignment straight away.

Can My Organisation be Invoiced?

Yes, we’re happy to accept invoiced enrolments from businesses and organisations. Please call or email with your details. We need to know:

• your name and the name of course you would like to enrol on;
• the organisation or company that you would like us to invoice;
• the address for delivery of your course;
• the address for delivery of your invoice.

Where Can I Study?

You can study at home, on the train or the bus, at work – wherever you please. There are no fixed classes to attend. Borders Connect courses comes to you, so you can decide where and when to study.

What if I Don’t Finish in 12 months?

Most Borders Connect courses can be completed comfortably within 8 – 10 months, although you have up to 12 months to complete your course altogether. However, if you are unable to complete within this time, we can extend your course for a further twelve months for a small extra fee of £20.

How Much Will it Cost?

The fees for each Borders Connect course are listed after the course description. You can spread the cost by paying instalments if you wish. This means that you pay a deposit when you enrol then the rest of the course fee is spread out over 6 payments.

Note that if you decide to pay by instalments there is an administration fee of £20. We will remind you before your instalment payments become due.

Your course fee includes:

• your course materials, which are yours to keep;
• individual tuition for the duration of your studies;
• e-mail and telephone support from your personal tutor;
• general support and guidance from Borders Connect advisers.

Borders Connect Tutors

Borders Connect tutors are chosen for their subject expertise, their knowledge of open and distance learning, and their experience of working with adult learners. They’ll give helpful advice and encouraging feedback on your work so you can progress quickly. You will be supplied with direct contact details for your tutor, so you can contact him or her quickly if you have any questions or there is anything you are not sure about.

You can also arrange a tutor call-back at any time simply by calling one of our advisers or dropping us an email. This includes evenings and weekends, allowing you to deal with any problems or questions quickly.

If you prefer, you can also submit assignments and contact your tutor by e-mail. This a quick and convenient way to discuss problems and receive marked assignments back from your tutor, particularly if you live outside the UK. Tutors are also happy to hear from you if you would like a general chat about how your course is going, or advice on matters such as further study.

Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Please contact us. We’ll be happy to hear from you!

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