Posted By srd
Hi Les, and a special hi to Graham Cann (see below).
I have just completed this course at Greenwich uni. It was very enjoyable, but hard work during term time, be prepared to put your personal life on hold for a couple of years!
There are three 12 week 'terms' per year, starting in September / October, then January, then April. There is a one day optional study day at Greenwich at the start of each term where you will receive all course materials for the next 12 weeks (attend if you can as it offers useful pointers for the forthcoming assignments, but study materials can be posted if you can not attend).
Especially attend the very first study day, as this covers the online computer access and all of the passwords that you will require to access the various functions.
During each 12 week term you cover 2 different subjects, say risk assessment and environmental aspects / impacts. FOR EACH SUBJECT you will have 2 pieces of work, one to be handed in after 6 weeks, the other after 12 weeks.
That means handing in (or rather emailing) 2 assignments every 6 weeks of term time - 1 for each subject. Unless you have both assignments on the go at once, effectively this means allocating 3 weeks per assignment.
Assignments range from 1,500 words to 2,500 words. Later in the course 2 assignments are replaced with evening exams at Greenwich, but you can arrange to take them at a local college / uni at your own cost.
Assignments are marked and returned to you with feedback. marks are also available on the uni web site, which you will be able to access from home. You also have access to journals and articles courtesy of the 'Athens' searchable online 'library'.
Core books are supplied, but you may want to purchase others as well, although you can conduct a good deal of research using Athens.
A final dissertation is required which is 10,000 words on a subject virtually of your choice but agreed with your tutor.
If you can, and you pass of course, go along to the awards ceremony, this takes place at the Old Royal Naval College Campus on the banks of the Thames. This is a really magnificent building in a really splendid setting, you can get some good photos of your special day.
Graham, if you are still reading this, I am Stephen Davies, I attended the evening exam in June? with yourself and the other Graham, just to let you know that we both passed, and so did Andrew and Stuart, who you may also have met, but who finished 1 or 2 terms earlier than us.
I should explain to Les that as there is a flexible entry system, you may well be doing the same subject as others who are at an earlier or later stage than yourselves. This is because people who enter the course at different times end up doing the assignments in a slightly different order. Don't worry about this though, each assignment is self contained so it doesn't matter which order they are completed.
One tip I will give you, based on my experience and of my fellow students, start each assignment on the day you are given it, and don't put it off, as the 6 weeks soon rolls around, and you are then faced with a last minute panic as deadlines loom! Been there, done that.
Best wishes with your course.
Stephen.