How Does Online Learning Work?

Our online courses are delivered using an interactive virtual learning environment.  All of the resources you require for you studies will be available for you to access any time you need them.  

Content varies between courses;however, each course is delivered through a variety of mediums including: 

• Regular online tutorials with teaching staff to support your learning and assist you with any queries or assessments
• Access to core reading texts through the learning environment and The University of Manchester library online
• A variety of formative activities and knowledge checks worked into learning materials to help you succeed throughout the course
• Video content including recorded tutorials when attendance is not possible
• The ability to download materials via PDFs, presentation slides and transcripts to suit your learning needs. 

Upon receiving an offer for one of our online courses you will be asked to confirm that you can meet the following technical requirements for successful completion of the course:

• An average of 15-20 hours available to devote to studying each week
• Regular access to a computer with internet access fast enough to run video conferencing and stream video lectures 
• A computer that meets the software requirements of video conferencing and other software, broadband internet connection, desktop or laptop PC with windows 10 or later, 4GB RAM, 6GB disk space for installation (administrator rights are required to install software) 
• A smart phone on Android 11.0 or greater, or iOS 11.0 or greater, as you'll need to authenticate your credentials to access your learning materials
• If your course is blended and includes some face-to-face activity, further information will be sent to you about expected attendance once you have received an offer
• Some courses will also require you to download relevant software for completing tasks which you will be provided access to

Our online courses are designed with the same academic rigor as an on campus postgraduate qualification. To successfully complete the qualification you will be assessed throughout your course. The way you are assessed can vary between courses and can take a formative or summative form.  

Formative assessments are not graded but still needed to be completed so that academics can provide feedback. These assessments will also support you with your summative assessments which form the grades for your course. Formative assessments can include: 

• Reflective posts 
• Journals 
• Quizzes
• Reports

There are an average of 2-3 summative assessments per course unit and these can include: 

• Coursework
• Presentations
• Essays
• Exams

You will get a different academic lead for each course unit. There will be a drop-in session where you can join and ask for support with your studies as well as contacting the academic team directly. 

Feedback opportunities from your tutor are also built into the formative tasks (including peer feedback for some tasks). You will also receive feedback from tutors on all summative assignments, for most courses this feedback will be given in 15 days although this may be longer for higher credit units such as your dissertation.