Get supportive, rigorous degree-level teaching online
Studying online is the ideal option for those looking for flexibility while elevating their creative career prospects. Our online degrees have all been designed from the outset to be taught and learned online. This means that they're crafted specifically for you to study remotely.
Through a combination of lectures, webinars, tutorials and collaborative work, you'll be encouraged to push your limits, explore your creativity and develop professional skills and expertise that make you ready for industry.
Got questions? Speak to an advisor
Lectures & webinars online
The weight of your academic teaching will take place through lectures from practicing professionals and webinars where you can connect with your fellow students for stimulating discussions. This part of your studies takes place through our dedicated Virtual Learning Environment that allows you to connect with what's being taught, ask questions and collaborate. Our lectures are pre-recorded and re-watchable, so you won't have to worry about attending them live. Your course materials will be uploaded to the Virtual Learning Environment at the end of each week, giving you plenty of time to plan your workload for any upcoming studies.
Creative collaboration
Here at Falmouth we encourage open innovation throughout your online studies. This might mean participating in stimulating discussions with your fellow students or working together on projects to develop your teamwork skills. It'll give you the chance to push each other's creative boundaries and connect with your global learning community.
It's so important to feel part of your learning community. Find out more about how we encourage this atmosphere.
Supportive Tutors & Student Advisors
While you're studying you'll be supported academically by Tutors and in all other ways by the Student Advisor team. Your Tutor will offer continuous feedback on your work and be your first point of contact for any academic queries. They'll run a weekly live session, usually in an evening, that you can either attend live or will be recorded so you can catch-up later if it doesn't fit your schedule. The Student Advisor team is on hand throughout your studies to answer questions and help you access any support you need. They'll help you make the most of your online learning experience offering suppport via email, phone, WhatsApp and video meetings. It doesn't matter how big or small your questions are, from money matters to mental health, building academic skills to accessibility, if you have a question that isn't directly related to your course material then our Student Advisors are on hand to help.
Face-to-face events
We offer optional face-to-face events for our online students that usually happen twice a year. While they're not essential, they'll be an enhancement to your chosen course. They're great opportunities to meet your course-mates and Tutors and to explore course related topics through additional activities and discussions. You'll get the chance to hear from industry experts, offering a wider professional context for your learning and a deeper insight into your chosen industry.
Event dates and locations may vary. We'll cover the costs relating to the events themselves, so you'll just need to pay for your travel, accommodation, food and drink. More information about these events will be given to you when you start your course.
Please bear in mind that the Covid-19 pandemic may impact these events. You can view the latest information here.
What will I spend my time doing?
The general rule of thumb in Higher Education is that you should study for ten hours for each credit of study you earn. However, this doesn't mean that you'll be in the Virtual Learning Environment for all of these hours. The hours will be a combination of directed study and independent study and the study hours per week will vary based on your course, level and pace of study. You may find that, depending on your experience and aptitude, you need to spend more time on some modules and less on others to meet the learning outcomes.
Falmouth University's online courses are delivered over 3 'Study Blocks' per year, each Study Block consists of 12-13 weeks of taught content culminating in assignment submission, and 2-3 weeks during which your assignment is assessed by your tutors and feedback is given. During the 2-3 week marking period students who are in good academic standing will not have to commit any time to their studies, other than receiving feedback, and therefore this is an additional break period.
Directed study includes engaging with written content, video content, presentation content and podcasts; it might also include taking part in forum discussions, completing structured learning activities and attending webinars.
Independent study includes assessment, research, preparation, planning, reading, skill/subject practice and reflective practice; so, this is very flexible by nature and individual to your course and learning preferences. If you're working in a related or complementary field, that experience and your practice could form part of your independent study as you apply your learning from your real-world context.
With the exception of the optional webinars and optional face-to-face events, nothing has a scheduled time so you can complete the activity at times that suit you. Content is released weekly, and whilst the completion of learning activities isn't time bound it is recommended that you study regularly to keep pace with your cohort and ensure that your studies remain manageable.
In addition to the assessment periods, there are typically five weeks of University holiday each year, in addition to bank holidays. Full details of study blocks and term dates can be found here.
An indicative breakdown of study expectation as hours per week for each 12-week study period is provided below by pathway:
|
Pathway |
Directed study |
Independent study |
Total study hours |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Under-graduate Part Time |
8 hours | 25 hours | 33 hours |
|
Under-graduate Full Time |
12.5 hours | 37.5 hours | 50 hours |
|
Post-graduate Part Time |
4 hours | 21 hours | 25 hours |
How you're assessed
Our assessments all take place remotely, so you won't need to attend a campus to submit them. This allows our students total flexibility over their studies. Depending on the degree, your work will be assessed in a variety of ways.
These can include:
- Submission of portfolios
- Presentations
- Reviews and reports
- Pitches
- Reflective journals
- Competition analysis
- Final projects
Submissions usually take place at the end of each study block, and occasionally during a block to ensure you're on the right track.
You'll be offered verbal and/or written feedback after you complete your assessments; an invaluable opportunity to reflect on your work, or access additional support if you need it.
Studying and working
We understand that many of our online students are looking to continue working alongside their studies. We offer flexible studying options so you can get the best experience during your time at Falmouth.
Read about studying while working