Get off to a flyer Your guide to making the most of your ICS course
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Welcome to ICS By your side throughout your studies You are not alone First things first Finding your way around your course Getting ready to start You and your tutor Make the grade Frequently asked questions Untangling the language Paying for your course Not so small print
Published by: ICS Ltd Skypark 5, 1st Floor 45 Finnieston Street Glasgow G3 8JU www.icslearn.co.uk Designed by Tayburn
Welcome to ICS Did you know that ICS has always been a pioneer in teaching skills by distance learning? In fact, our very first student enrolled way back in 1890, making us one of the oldest and most experienced distance learning organisations in the world. Today we offer around 150 different courses, and over 13 million people worldwide have already benefited from learning with us. By choosing to study by distance learning you’ll have already decided that you want the flexibility to fit your studies around work, home or other commitments you may have and to learn at your own pace and in your own time. Please remember however that you are not alone. You can interact with fellow ICS students through our Online Student Community at www.icslearn.co.uk and our experienced tutors and support staff are here to help you every step of the way. Hopefully you’re looking forward to getting started. This book will help you get off on the right foot and contains lots of essential information on how to get the most out of studying with us. We hope you enjoy learning with ICS and wish you every success.
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By your side throughout your studies We’ve made it easy for you to contact us. Whether you need to get in touch with your course tutor, enquire about materials or manage your ICS account we’re always available and ready to help. To make things even easier for you when you get in touch you should write your Student Registration Number in the box below so it’s always easy to find. You can find this below your address details on your enrolment form and also on the letter included with your study materials. Please remember to quote this reference on all correspondence.
Phone 0870 9000 384 www.icslearn.co.uk studentservices@ics-uk.co.uk
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By mouse Our Online Student Community is the simplest and most flexible way to keep in touch and has been designed to help you get the most out of learning with us. As well as being a fast link to ICS administration and a good way to stay in touch with your course tutor, it also provides access to other ICS students who you can share tips and knowledge with.
By post If you’d rather mail something to us, our postal address is: ICS Ltd Skypark 5, 1st Floor, 45 Finnieston Street Glasgow G3 8JU
You can access this free service today at www.icslearn.co.uk. By phone Our friendly Student Services team is available every day. Our offices are open from 9.00am to 6.30pm on weekdays and from 10:00am to 2:00pm at weekends*. Phone 0870 9000 384 Email studentservices@ics-uk.co.uk Fax 0141 302 5694 *Hours may vary.
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You are not alone Student Online Community website As well as enabling you to get in touch with ICS and your tutor, the ICS Student Online Community website has been designed to allow you to interact with, and learn from, other ICS students. The ICS Student Online Community is divided into two areas: General: > Share ideas and information with fellow students in the discussion forum > Keep up to date with important information in the News section > Browse our online resource library > Voice your opinion through our student surveys Student Services: > Submit queries and typed assessments to your tutor > Provide multiple choice answers to get an instant result
Logging in If you’ve already registered or enrolled online at icslearn.co.uk, you can log in to the Online Student Community using the email address and password you set up. If you haven’t registered or enrolled online, but you provided us with your email address when you enrolled, you have been automatically registered for the Community. Your login and password details were contained within the welcome email you received. If you haven’t provided us with an email address at any point, it’s easy to join the Community. Simply visit www.icslearn.co.uk and click on the ‘Community’ link.
> Make a payment
No internet access? You can call Student Services on 0870 9000 384 (0044 141 306 1178 from outside the UK). Our service team is there to help and can also arrange for your tutor to contact you. See page 3 for opening hours.
To access the Student Services area you will need your ICS Student Registration Number and your postcode.
Or, you can write to us at: ICS Ltd, Skypark 5, First Floor, 45 Finnieston Street, Glasgow G3 8JU.
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Please remember to include your name and your ICS Student Registration Number on all correspondence.
> Track your progress on your course > Update your personal details
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Technical Information Please note, if you have a PC running windows, this movie will run automatically.
If you are using an Apple Mac, insert the disk and it will appear on your desktop. Double click the disk icon to open it and then open the folder named ‘Mac Users’. Then just double click the ‘Start Here’ file to view the movie.
This CD-Rom will guide you through the registration process and show you how to use the Community effectively for the most common tasks, e.g. submitting assessments and using forms. If your disk is missing, please let us know and we will rush you out a replacement. 05
First things first There are a few things you need to do before you begin your studies. This helpful checklist should ensure that you take care of the details: > Check the despatch note in this pack to ensure you have everything you should have. If any item is marked *** it is currently out of stock and will be sent as soon as possible. > Return your enrolment form to us (if you haven’t already done so) in the prepaid envelope provided. This confirms both your Agreement with us and our commitment to you – and protects your rights. Don’t forget to check that all of the details on the form are correct first and make sure that you’ve read the terms and conditions. > Decide how you will pay your monthly instalments (if you haven’t already done so). Direct debit is the easiest way – see the ‘paying for your course’ section on page 16.
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> Have a quick look through the Study Units to give you a feel for your course and set aside some time plan your studies. Page 8 gives you more tips on how to do this. > Note the length of your Support Period. This varies from course to course and is shown on your Statement of Account letter. Your Support Period is the length of time that you have access to your support network of tutors, our Student Services team and the ICS Online Student Community. The Support Period for your course will allow plenty of time to complete your course provided that you study regularly. We strongly recommend that you plan your studies with the expiry date in mind. If you do run out of time, we may be able to extend your Support Period for an additional fee. You will find the end date of your Support Period on the reverse of your Statement of Account letter.
Finding your way around your course Your Course Contents gives you an overview of what’s included in your course.
You’ll see here that your course is broken down into Study Units. Each Study Unit includes a Course Route Map to show you what to expect as you progress through your studies. Study Units also include Assessments and Practical Exercises. These may take the form of written papers or multiple-choice question papers. For most courses, you can submit all your assessments online via the Student Services area of the Online Student Community. If this is unavailable on your course, you must submit assessments by post. For all multiple choice question papers you can submit your answers online and receive instant results.
You may also find Activities throughout your study materials. Some Activities may be practical, such as asking you to visit a museum or retail store, but all will involve you using the knowledge acquired in the previous section of study. Some courses include a Course and Assessment Guide. This tells you important details about the exams, registration and Awarding Bodies for your particular course, where applicable. Finally, please feel free to write in your Study Units – we find that’s the most effective way to learn.
Some Study Units include Progress Checks designed to chart your learning. You don’t have to send us your answers for these, but please don’t skip them, as they provide a useful measure of your understanding. You’ll find the answers to these at the end of each section, or at the back of the Study Unit.
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Getting ready to start How you study is almost as important as what you study. We’ll give you all the support you need to successfully complete your course, but ultimately it’s down to you. So here are some handy hints to help you get going: > Motivate yourself. What’s your end goal? Write down why you want to complete the course and display the note in a highly visible place where you study. > Prepare yourself. Think about where you intend to study – is it free from distractions? Choose a good chair. Think about your body clock, when are you sharpest? How long is your attention span? Sort out anything else which may cause you anxiety before you begin. All of these things will help you concentrate. > Pace yourself. Although one of the advantages of distance learning is that you can study at your own pace, you should set a timetable for yourself to keep on track. We recommend that you work backwards from when you want to complete the course and set yourself target dates for the completion of Study Units or submission of Assessments. Display your schedule alongside your motivation note. Many successful students have told us that this simple step is essential.
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Perfecting your technique > Most students find that they prefer not to read the Study Units like a book, straight through from the beginning to the end. Far more effective is to first read two or three paragraphs. Then stop to see if you can recall the main points made. Then read the same piece again – you’ll be amazed how much clearer any points you didn’t quite understand will become.
> Progress Checks may be included in your coursework to allow you to test yourself. It may be tempting to skip these but please don’t. They are a very useful way of checking how much you’ve learned. Before attempting a Progress Check, read through your notes and check over your highlights. Then do the Progress Check, compare your answers with the answers provided and see how you got on.
> As you read, underline or highlight the key points. This is invaluable when later re-reading your Study Units for revision.
> Try to complete your assessments without having your study materials and notes in front of you. If you are unclear about anything it will be apparent in your answers and your tutor will then be able to help you.
> Take notes as you study. At the end of each section, go back over what you have read and write down the major points that have been covered. This is where the previous idea of highlighting will prove useful. When you come to revising, your notebook will be invaluable.
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You and your tutor Our tutors aren’t just here to mark your assessments. They are here to help you every step of the way.
Your tutor is available to help if you have any difficulty in understanding any of the study material as well as to mark your Assessments and give constructive feedback. You can request contact from your tutor at any time. If you have not already had a tutor contact by the time we receive your first assessment we will allocate a tutor to you then. You can request your tutor’s help by submitting a query through the ICS Student Online Community website. Your tutor will then provide you with detailed written feedback and references to relevant course material.
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If you feel a one-to-one conversation would be more helpful, you can call Student Services on 0870 9000 384 and they will arrange for a tutor to call you back, usually within 48 hours. The tutor call back will nearly always be in the evening between 6 and 9pm. Always remember that your tutors are here to help you all the way through.
Make the grade Assessments will need to be completed to allow you to progress through your course. Here are some tips on what we are looking for come exam time and how you can achieve the best grades. > Contact your tutor Remember your tutor is there if you require help or just don’t know where to start. > Be true to yourself Assessments are designed to test what you have learned and to guide your future study. To really benefit from the course it is important that you submit work that is your own and is original. > Stay focussed When filling in written assessments attempt to answer every question, unless instructed otherwise. Make sure you write as much as necessary to answer each question fully whilst keeping your answer as concise, accurate and relevant as possible. > Identify yourself If you are submitting a practical assessment, please follow the advice given in your course materials and remember to include your ICS Student Registration Number and your name to identify your work. > Type please If at all possible please type your assessments using A4 paper with wide margins and double line spacing so your tutor can provide you with feedback.
> Prefer to write? Please write neatly, with paragraph breaks and plenty of space in the margins for your tutor to add comments. > Go online For most courses, you can submit assessments via the Online Student Community area at www.icslearn.co.uk. This is by far the easiest, quickest and most secure way to submit your work. Please ensure that your submissions are Word or Excel documents. > No internet? You can post your assessments. Please send all your answers for each individual assessment together, and keep a copy of your work. There is no need to enclose postage stamps for return of your work, as we will return your work free of charge. > Pace yourself We strongly recommend that you submit assessments one at a time, in the order they appear in your study materials. This is so you can receive and act on tutor feedback as you go along and before you attempt the next assessment. > Receiving your grades Unless stated otherwise, your tutor will grade your assessments, add comments, and return them to you within 5-7 days of receipt when submitted online, or within 14 days when submitted by post. Please allow a little more time if you are an overseas student and during holiday periods.
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Frequently asked questions Naturally, you’ll have some questions. We’ve included a shortlist of the ones we are most regularly asked by new students below. If you have a more specific question please feel free to contact our Student Services team who will be happy to help. Q What is my ICS Student Registration Number? A Your 8-digit ICS Student Registration Number (sometimes called your customer number) is the easiest way for us to keep track of you. You can find it below your address details on your enrolment form and also on the letter included with your study materials. Please remember to quote this reference on all correspondence. Q How do I contact ICS? A You can reach us: Online: login to the Online Student Community at www.icslearn.co.uk Email: studentservices@ics-uk.co.uk Phone: 0870 9000 384 (or 0044 141 306 1178 if calling from outside the UK) Post: ICS Ltd, Skypark 5, First Floor, 45 Finnieston Street, Glasgow G3 8JU Fax: 0141 302 5694
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Q When is my monthly instalment due? A Your statement of account letter shows your personal payment plan, outlining the amount due each month and the method of payment. Q How long does my course last? A Each course has a different time period. Your course expiry date is shown on the Statement of Account that has been sent to you. Q Who is my tutor? A You will be allocated a personal tutor on receipt of your first test paper submission or tutorial query. Q Can I speak to my tutor at any time? A You can request your tutor’s help at any time by submitting a query through the Student Online Community website or by calling Student Services on 0870 9000 384 and arranging a tutor call back, usually within 48 hours. The tutor call back will nearly always be in the evening between 6 and 9pm.
Q Where are the Assessments? A These are usually to be found in the individual Study Units in your course. Please refer to the contents page of the Study Units in order to find the exact whereabouts Q How long will it take for my results to be issued? A The turn-around period for written test papers is normally two weeks. However, at certain times of the year it may take a bit longer, for example at exam time and during holidays. Multiple choice results are issued instantly on the Online Student Community website or within two weeks if submitted by post. Q When will I receive my certificate? A This is dependent on your course, as often the certificates are issued by the Awarding Body. Generally, certificates are issued automatically when you have successfully completed your course and we have received full payment.
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Untangling the language This list explains what we mean by certain key terms that you may come across while studying with ICS. Activities You will find Activities dotted throughout your study materials and while some may be of a practical nature, e.g. asking you to visit a museum or retail store, all will involve you using the knowledge gained in the previous section of study. Assignments Assignment should be completed and sent to your ICS Tutor for marking. These assignments are sometimes referred to as Assignment Briefs or Test Papers. You are strongly recommended to submit these in order as and when they appear in your study materials so that you can receive and use tutor feedback before attempting the next assignment. Multiple Choice Assessments Multiple-choice assessments contain a number of questions which ask you to identify one or more correct answers from a list of possible responses. Submitting these test papers online is by far the fastest and easiest way of receiving an instant result.
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Pre-requisites/Previous study required A pre-requisite is anything that you need to already possess in order to enrol and begin studying a particular course. This varies greatly between courses, from a few GCSE’s to a number of years’ work experience within a specific industry. Progress Checks Progress checks are found at the end of each section within your study materials and usually take the form of a few written questions. As the answers to these questions are provided there is no need to send these to your tutor for marking; simply use them to check on your progress (the clue is in the name!).
Double Spacing To help your tutor mark your assignments effectively and provide you with feedback, it is necessary to double space the work you hand in. Within Microsoft Word, this function can be found by accessing the ‘Format’ tab, selecting ‘Paragraph’, and using the drop down menu under Line Spacing, select Double Spacing. Your text should look like this!
Support Period This refers to the length of time ICS will offer you unlimited tutor support and indicates how long it should take you to complete your studies. This can vary between 6 and 24 months, depending on your chosen course.
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Paying for your course The information below explains how to pay for your course if you haven’t already made arrangements. UK Students Direct Debit The easiest way to pay is by direct debit. To set this up phone Student Services on 0870 9000 384 or return the direct debit form that was provided with your enrolment form. BACS Transfer Account name: ICS Ltd Account No. 00180585 Sort Code: 83-20-27 Republic of Ireland Students We have a separate Irish bank account so we can accept your payments in Euros. Account name: ICS Ltd Account No. 71090631 Sort Code: 95-15-01 Overseas Students You can pay through any local bank that is associated with a UK bank (they will pay us in Sterling and charge you in local currency). Account name: ICS Ltd Account No: 00180585 Sort Code: 83-20-27 IBAN numbers For payments in £: GB17 RBOS 8320 2700 1805 85 BIC/SWIFT Code: RBOSGB 2L
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For payment in €: GB77 RBOS 8375 8010 0076 38 For payment in US$: GB95 RBOS 1663 0000 1058 84 Credit/Debit Card Please contact Student Services on 0870 9000 384 to pay for your course in full by card or to set up payment by monthly instalments. Cheque/Postal Order Please make cheques and postal orders payable to ICS Ltd, and send them to: ICS Ltd, Skypark 5, First Floor, 45 Finnieston Street, Glasgow G3 8JU Please remember to quote your name and ICS Student Registration Number with all payments. This is the easiest way to pay and you can set up a direct debit via our Student Online Community website, by phoning Student Services or by returning the direct debit form issued with your enrolment form. Credit/Debit Card Contact Student Services to make payment or set up automatic debit of your instalments each month.
Not so small print
Credit Transfer You may pay through any bank to the following ICS account:
Now you’re all set and ready to go. We hope that you’re happy with everything and looking forward to getting started.
The Royal Bank of Scotland Westergate Chambers 292 Argyle Street Glasgow G2 8DD
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can call us on 0870 9000 384 or email us at studentservices@ics-uk.co.uk.
ICS Ltd Account No. 00180585 Sorting Code: 83-20-27
We sincerely hope that you will not have any cause for complaint or concern but below are links to relevant information should you require them.
Please ensure that you or your bank always quotes your ICS Student Registration Number. Cheque/Postal Order These should be payable to ICS Ltd, with your name and ICS Student Registration Number on the reverse (see contact details for our postal address).
Complaints and appeals www.icslearn.co.uk/policy Privacy statement www.icslearn.co.uk/privacy-policy Cancellation policy Should you wish to cancel your Agreement and return your materials to us, you have 10 working days from receipt of your materials to do this. Please follow the instructions on the back of your Despatch Note or go to www.icslearn.co.uk/policy
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