Frequently Asked Questions
- What are course credits?
- What do the different levels of credits mean?
- How many modules should I take?
- How will I be assessed?
- What do I need to pass?
- How much work will each course entail?
- I am not sure that I will be able to study and juggle significant family or work commitments.
- What will it cost me?
- Is there any financial help available?
- How long does it take to complete the Exploring the Past Foundation Pathway?
- Will all Exploring the Past Foundation Pathway courses be available every year?
- How can I progress from the Exploring the Past Foundation Pathway to a degree in the School of History, Archaeology and Religion at Cardiff?
- I want to enrol on an Exploring the Past course but am not certain that I wish to proceed on the Exploring the Past Foundation Pathway?
- Who should I contact for advice and guidance?
What are course credits?
Credits are part of a national scheme which allows you to work towards a nationally recognised award at most universities. Credits are recognition by the university that you have successfully completed a unit of study. Credits are usually assigned to a unit of study in multiples of 10. They give an indication of the level at which you are working, and the amount of work involved.
What do the different levels of credits mean?
Higher Education Credits are offered at different levels as summarised below:
Level 1 which is equivalent to first year undergraduate study, Level 2 which is equivalent to second year undergraduate study, Level 3 which is equivalent to third year undergraduate study
ALL credits within the Exploring the Past Foundation Pathway are Level 1.
How many modules should I take?
The Foundation Pathway is designed with flexibility in mind. You may take any number of courses that you wish to during one academic year (up to a maximum of 60 credits). All we ask is that you complete all six courses, including the compulsory core course, in no more than four academic years from the date of your first course. However, it is highly recommended that you take at least one course per semester* in order to keep you in the habit of studying. *Academic years run from September to June and are split in to two semesters or terms: an autumn semester from September to January and a spring semester from January to June.
How will I be assessed?
Assessments are a vital part of all Exploring the Past courses. They are just as important as the classes themselves! Each course is self contained and has its own assessments. Assessments are often embedded within the structure of our courses and will not necessarily take the form of ‘tests’ or formal written exams. They are designed to provide you with a range of skills, knowledge and understanding and include a wide variety of activities.
Assessments may therefore include some of the following: source commentaries, artefact analysis and/or web/media reviews to assess analytical skills, spoken presentations/class debates to assess communication skills, written assignments/essays/learning journals to assess knowledge and understanding, blogs and/or web based research to develop IT skills.
All assessments are designed to enhance your learning experience; they will hone your skills to enable you to study at a Higher Education level. The assessment process is two-way and will involve one-to-one feedback and guidance from your course tutors. As assessment is integral to all of our courses, we expect that all students enrolling on Exploring the Past courses will participate in the assessment process.
What do I need to pass?
If you have enrolled on an Exploring the Past course you will be expected to try to obtain the credits associated with that course. To obtain the credits, you need to attend each course regularly and complete all the assessments successfully, obtaining an overall pass mark of at least 40%.
How much work will each course entail?
For all courses, you will need to undertake a certain amount of personal study over and above the time you spend attending classes. It is very difficult to give a precise measure of the amount of time you will need to set aside, as this varies according to the educational background of the individual concerned. However, as a rough guide you should expect to spend around two to three times the number of taught hours in personal study. Exploring the Past courses are normally taught over 18 hours, which means you will need another 36-54 hours of personal study. Remember that this will be spread out over a nine or ten week period (meaning that your average study time per week including attending a two hour class would be around 6-8 hours per week). Personal study includes background reading and research for classes and preparing for assessments.
I am not sure that I will be able to study and juggle significant family or work commitments.
Exploring the Past courses allow you to study within a timescale, framework and environment designed to specifically cater for the needs of busy adult learners. Most of our classes our scheduled during the evenings, with some day time options to allow you to structure your study around existing family and work commitments. Face-to-face classes are supported by online teaching resources and discussion groups via our online teaching resource (called ‘Blackboard’). Although you will be expected to attend classes regularly - turning up and talking about subjects is half the fun of learning and studying at a higher level - we understand that this is not always possible, and we therefore operate a flexible and supportive approach to learning and teaching.
The Exploring the Past Support Network can put you in touch with other students studying on the Foundation Pathway allowing you to help, support and motivate one another. The Support Network provides our students with opportunities and venues at which to meet, socialise and work together.
The University’s Student Services and LEARN’s Widening Access Team are ready and willing to provide you with pastoral care assistance and to put you in touch with peer support networks (please contact the Widening Access Office, tel. 029 20876182).
What will it cost me?
Each course is priced individually and because you enrol on a course-by-course basis, you pay for your studies as you go (courses are likely to be @ £164 per 10 credits, this will be confirmed shortly). Payment on a course-by-course basis means that enrolling on the Exploring the Past Foundation Pathway does not cost you anything or commit you to any initial financial outlay or rigid programme of study. Because you can take up to four academic years to complete the Exploring the Past Foundation Pathway this allows you to study as many or as few modules as you can afford.
Is there any financial help available?
With the support of Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) Cardiff University is offering a fee waiver scheme for eligible students. Under this scheme, financial support is available. More information on www.cardiff.ac.uk/learn/choices/fee_waiver.php, or alternatively contact Reception at 029 2870000 or speak to the Foundation Pathway Co-ordinator.
How long does it take to complete the Exploring the Past Foundation Pathway?
The Foundation Pathway is designed with flexibility in mind. You may take any number of courses that you wish to during one academic year (up to a maximum of 60 credits). All we ask is that you complete all six courses, including the compulsory core course, in no more than four academic years from the date of your first course. However, it is highly recommended that you take at least one course per semester (a semester is an academic term, see above) in order to keep you in the habit of studying.
Aside from the compulsory core course, which we strongly recommend that you undertake near the outset of your studies, you may study courses in any order that you like. Our flexible approach allows you to complete the Exploring the Past Foundation Pathway within a minimum of one academic year and a maximum of a four academic years. Please note that this timetable will be dependent on course viability and tutor availability. In addition, it may be possible for you to gain credit for prior learning to the maximum of 10 credits by using credits from a relevant course within the Centre for Lifelong Learning’s Choices programme. The Foundation Pathway Co-ordinator will be able to advise you on this and other issues.
Will all Exploring the Past Foundation Pathway courses be available every year?
No. Some Foundation Pathway courses are part of a cycle which is repeated over a number of years. We shall do our best to put on as wide a range of Foundation Pathway courses as we can, but not all will be available in any one year and all are subject to the usual laws of demand – there are minimum numbers for courses below which they are liable to be cancelled for reasons of cost.
How can I progress from the Exploring the Past Foundation Pathway to a degree in the School of History, Archaeology and Religion at Cardiff?
All students completing the Exploring the Past Foundation Pathway (i.e. gaining 60 credits including a compulsory 10 credit core course) will automatically qualify for an interview onto either a full time or part-time degree scheme in the School of History, Archaeology and Religions. This does not guarantee you a place on a degree, but it does guarantee an interview. If the interview is successful, and you are accepted onto a part-time degree scheme then you will be eligible for advanced standing of 60 credits. This essentially means that your Exploring the Past Foundation Pathway credits can contribute directly towards the first year of your degree if you choose to follow part-time degree scheme. Please note that, advanced standing is not currently available if you choose to progress directly on to a full-time degree scheme, however, it may be possible to convert from the part-time to a full-time degree scheme at a later date upon the recommendation of your tutors and/or the Foundation Pathway Co-ordinator.
I want to enrol on an Exploring the Past course but am not certain that I wish to proceed on the Exploring the Past Foundation Pathway?
Of course! Enjoy the course. When and if you feel ready to commit yourself to the Foundation Pathway, speak to the co-ordinator and ask for the relevant enrolment form.
Who should I contact for advice and guidance?
The Foundation Pathway Co-ordinator is Dr Richard Marsden .
His email address is MarsdenR@Cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone: (029) 20 875610
Alternatively, contact Reception on Tel: +44(0)29 2087 0000;
email: learn@cardiff.ac.uk.