Booking short courses

When do Short Courses run?

Our courses follow the academic year. Term dates for the 2020/21 academic year are as below (but would be extended if your tutor is ill and cannot teach a lesson, for example):

• Autumn term: Mon 28th September - Sat 5th December
• Spring term: Mon 18th January - Sat 27th March
• Summer term: Mon 26th April - Mon 12th July

Most courses are 10 weeks long, 2 hours in the evening, once a week - but please see individual course pages for specific information. Our one-day workshops tend to run mid-term.

Booking deadlines for courses starting in Week 1 of the above terms are: Weds 23rd Sept; Weds 13th Jan; Weds 21st Apr.

Courses for each subsequent academic year are published July/August.

Are Short Courses running online or on campus?

Our courses will be delivered online for the foreseeable future. Any class advertised as being online will remain online for its duration.

A very few courses will be delivered on-campus using social distancing.

The online / on campus information can be found in the Key Information box on any course page.

How are Short Courses delivered online?

Lessons are given online at the advertised times using either MS Teams or Zoom according to the tutor's preference. City holds licences for both of these platforms and you'll use your City IT account to log in. Course material may be distributed through these channels or hosted on our learning platform.

Students need to attend online lessons in order to be counted on the register to be eligible for the certificate of attendance (min. 70% attendance).

Who can enrol on a Short Course?

Anybody can enrol for the part-time Short Courses at City, University of London - these are open access courses.

N.B.

• You need to be at least 18 years old.
• If you are a non-EEA national you will need to make your own enquiries as to whether you will need a visa in order to study on campus.

Please note that the University does not issue visa support letters for Short Courses. See also the International section below.

Are the courses formal qualifications?

No, the courses are not qualifications or diplomas, as they are not accredited. A Certificate of Completion will be awarded in/after the final class to delegates having 70% attendance or better. The certificate may be taken into account at other higher education institutions and many of our delegates put our courses on their CVs.

What does '10 weekly classes' mean? What days are the lessons?

Weekly means once a week, so for example, '10 weekly classes' means one lesson per week for 10 consecutive weeks.

Classes are held on the same day each week as the start day and any variation is stated in the Key Information box.

If there is more than one instance of the course running that term, you attend on the day that you sign up for.

How do I see whether places are available?

Go to the course page of interest, select a date then hit 'book now'. The places available are shown on the Estore.

If the places available is showing '0' then the course is fully booked and it is not possible to enrol. We suggest bookmarking this page and checking it regularly in case places become available because of cancelations/transfers.

Where are the courses held?

All classes delivered on-site take place at the Northampton Square campus of City, University of London.

Can I take your Short Courses by distance learning?

No, our courses are not intended as distance learning. Any notes provided are intended to supplement the classroom/online lessons and not as stand-alone material. In addition, delegates must attend 70% of lessons to be eligible for the certificate.

The course I want to enrol on is fully booked. Can you put me on the waiting list?

We don't keep waiting lists (unless there is one in place on the course page already) and suggest that interested parties hit the 'book now' button on the course page and bookmark the Estore where availability can be checked.

The course I want to enrol on is fully booked. Can you squeeze me in to the class anyway?

No, we cannot enrol additional delegates once a class is fully booked. It is likely that we will have turned away many others also. Adding delegates beyond the sensible limit adversely impacts the learning experience of all participants.

What qualifications do I need?

Short Courses require no formal qualifications / degrees / documentation etc. However, we ask that you carefully read the Eligibility section on each course page to determine whether it is suitable for you.

Is there a minimum age requirement for studying on a Short Course?

Anyone who is 18 and over can enrol for our courses. There is no upper age limit.

I am not a native speaker of English. Do I need an IELTS certificate?

No, we do not require formal proof of an applicant's proficiency of English, but, as our Short Courses are University level courses, the guideline is that you should at least have English equivalent to IELTS 6.5 in order to fully benefit from it.

How do I enrol on a Short Course?

Enrolment is by payment on our website using a card or PayPal. Click on the “Book Now” button on the course page to be taken to the Estore, our secure online payment system. After completing payment the account holder is sent an automatic receipt from the Estore. Joining instructions will be sent to the delegate(s) closer to the start date.

N.B. Please note PayPal’s refund T&Cs of 180 days when booking courses far in advance: refunds after this period will have to be processed manually by our finance office, which will take longer.

What's the deadline for enrolment to a Short Course?

Enrolment is possible while there are places available and until just before the second class of a 10 week course. It's advisable to enrol as soon as you can, because courses often fill up long before the start date. Please note that for most courses you need to activate your computer access in advance of the course start.

You can check the number of places left on a course by clicking on the 'Book now' button after choosing the start date from the drop-down menu.

What is the fee for EEA / international participants ?

The fee is the same for everyone and is shown in the Key Information box on each course page.

Is it possible to pay the course fee in instalments, or reserve a place?

No, it's not possible to pay in instalments or reserve a place. The course fee must be paid in full in order to enrol.

Can I take more than one Short Course at the same time?

Yes, you can enrol on more than one Short Course in the same term, provided the days on which they run do not clash. Check the start days of each course which you are interested in on the course pages.

Why is a course showing TBC - when will it start?

TBC = To Be Confirmed.

The next start dates are not yet confirmed. Please keep checking the website for updates.

How many people will be in a class?

It depends on the type of course; generally around 20, but on some courses the available equipment limits the class size (for example, 16 for computing courses and fewer for some writing or language courses). You can often determine this by hitting 'book now' and looking at the places available for future terms, which have not yet enrolled.

Is there any homework outside class?

Your tutor might set exercises to be completed at home. Although the courses aren't accredited we recommend that you spend between 2-6 hours per week per class, or as needed in order to be comfortable with the material.

I will have to miss one or two lessons, is this a problem?

Many people miss a lesson here and there - participants will need catch up in their own time. You are required to complete 70% attendance to be eligible for the certificate.

I will have to miss three or more lessons, can I still attend?

In order to receive the certificate you must attend 70% of the lessons. You are welcome to enrol but it may be better to join a term when you can more fully attend.

Are the lessons recorded, so I can catch up?

No, lessons are not recorded.

Do I need to bring a laptop for my computing class on campus?

Mostly, no. For some computing classes including Cyber Security and Linux, you need your own laptop and to have admin privileges on it - this requirement will be stated on the course page. Otherwise, computing courses taught on campus use the University's PCs.

Are there lessons on Bank Holidays?

No, there are never lessons on Bank Holidays. Courses with lessons falling on Bank Holidays in the summer term (usually Mondays) will thus end later in July than others, in order to cover 10 lessons. Please hit ‘book now’ on the course page to view end dates on the Estore. These will also be on the receipt.

Is there a half-term break?

No, the university does not have half-term breaks and Short Courses do not have a reading week.

Is there an exam, or other formal assessment?

No - Short Courses are not accredited and so there is no exam or formal assessment. However, some courses will have work to complete between sessions and tutors may offer feedback. Some courses conclude with an individual presentation and/or group work as discussed with your tutor.

Do I get a certificate at the end of the course?

Participants who attend at least 70% of the classes will receive a certificate with City's logo, stating that they undertook a particular course at City, University of London.

How do I get a replacement certificate?

Replacement certificates are charged at £15 each and will be issued as a PDF. Please email the admin team quoting your full name at enrolment, student number, course details and year and term of study so that we may check your eligibility.

What's the difference between a CPD course and a Short Course?

CPD (Continuing Professional Development) is regarded as a more structured approach to learning and the means by which people maintain their knowledge and skills related to their professional lives. Some CPD courses may require certain professional experience and previous qualifications.

Short Courses can be taken by people who are new to a subject, or want to refresh their knowledge of it, but in some areas they may also progress to more advanced levels.

Anyone can take the beginner or intro level Short Courses. For higher levels, please check the Eligibility section on the course page (and 'What Will I Learn' tab on any pre-requisite course cited) as certain knowledge will be assumed.

Is there a discount if I am a current UG/PG student / alumnus / unemployed / book more than one course?

No, there are no discounts on the Short Courses.

What happens if I register for a course, but there are not enough people enrolled on it?

City, University of London reserves the right to cancel a course, if, for example, there are insufficient numbers. If this occurs, we will refund your course fee in full.

Can I cancel my enrolment and get a refund?

Refunds will be given, minus a £25.00 administration charge, if notification is received by email at least 14 days before the start of term.

No refunds will be given with less than 14 days' notice.

Please read our full Terms and Conditions. Section IV also applies to Short Courses.

Am I entitled to any student benefits?

Our Short Courses are unaccredited and so our delegates are not considered part of the main UG or PG student body. You will not be automatically enrolled for NUS membership, or be entitled to student travel discounts or council tax reductions, for example.

Usually the term 'student' in other departments' web pages refers to the UG/PG community so please check before attending any events or entering competitions advertised to students.

Will I get a Student Card?

No. On the first evening of your course you will receive a Short Course Card from your tutor and you must carry your card with you at all times whilst on City, University of London premises. Please note that this is NOT a student ID card, nor an access swipe card and is only valid at City.

Will I have access to the university library?

As a Short Course delegate, you will have access to the library for the duration of your course(s). You will need to present your Short Course card, which will be given to you by your tutor in the first lesson and your enrolment confirmation email.

Is there any help available finding a job or internship when I finish a Short Course at City University London?

Short Courses delegates are entitled to get advice on how to enhance their employability from our Careers Service.

I don't live in the UK - can I enrol for Short Courses? If yes, what are the fees?

The part-time Short Courses at City, University of London are open access courses: anybody can enrol for them, whether home or international residents. The course fees are the same for everybody.

Do I need to apply for a visa to come to study on the Short Courses?

If you are a European Economic Area (EEA) national, you do not need to apply for a visa to study in the UK.

If you are a non-EEA national, you will need to make your own enquiries as to whether you will need a visa in order to study.

Please note that the University does not issue visa support letters for Short Courses.

Can I extend my student visa in order to attend a Short Course?

It is not possible to extend a student visa to attend our Short Courses, as they are unaccredited and do not qualify for student visa support. A delegate's visa must be valid for the full duration of any Short Course enrolled on.

Please note that the University does not issue visa support letters for Short Courses.

Do I need to have an IELTS certificate to prove my level of English?

No. There is no formal proof required of the applicant's proficiency of English, but, as the courses are of University level, the guideline is that you should have at least a level equivalent to IELTS 6.5. The entry requirements for the Short Courses state that applicants should have proficient written and spoken English.

Do you provide accommodation if I enrol on one of the Short Courses?

No, we do not arrange accommodation for our Short Course delegates.

Is there any financial help available for international residents?

No, there isn't any funding available to international residents for Short Courses.