Why participate in Lifelong Learning?

If you hope to improve your career prospects by completing one of our programmes, it is worth noting that employers normally consider a degree as evidence of a certain level of intellectual competence, commitment and the ability to complete a substantial programme of study over a sustained period of time.

Alternatively, if you want to pursue a course of study out of interest then our undergraduate programmes could meet your needs. You can take the number of modules that fits the time you have available.

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How do we help you to succeed?

We provide a flexible system of educational delivery and support, specifically tailored to help you to achieve your qualification. As we are committed to your success, we have established a Student Support System that includes: Tutorial Support, Student Advisory Service and a network of Study Centres around Ireland.

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What are the entry requirements?

Undergraduate

No previous qualifications are required for our undergraduate programmes if you are over 23 years of age - except for the Bachelor of Nursing Studies programme, which is for registered nurses only.
Those under 23 years on 1st January of the forthcoming academic year must meet the normal entry requirements of Dublin City University , which are as follows:

Leaving Certificate (Ireland)

Grade C3 in two Higher Level subjects and Grade D3 in four Odinary or Higher Level subjects including Mathematics AND English or Irish.

Postgraduate

There are several routes of entry to the Postgraduate programmes.

Please check the section for the specific course you are interested in for further details or contact us.

All programmes

Programmes offered by Oscail require a high level of competence in the English language. DCU's English language requirements for non-native speakers of English can be found at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/english.shtml

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What costs are involved?

Fees are payable for Oscail programmes. Please see the section on the course you are interested in.

You should also budget for textbooks and other incidental costs such as internet connection charges, printing etc.

Tax Relief

Tax relief is available at the standard rate on fees for Oscail programmes. You can obtain further information by ringing the Revenue Commissioner's Information Office or visit their website at http://www.revenue.ie

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Where are the Study Centres located?

Depending on the programme for which you are registered, you may be assigned to a study centre for classroom tutorials. Tutorials on the BA programme were presented last year in a number of Universities including:

• Dublin City University
• NUI Galway
• NUI Maynooth
• University College Cork

The presentation of tutorials in any particular study centre will depend on viable student numbers and the availability of a local tutor. Study Centre locations are confirmed after registration.

The Masters' programmes are delivered entirely online with no compulsory attendance at Study Centres.

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Can I get credit for prior certified learning?

Applicants with suitable qualifications may apply to be exempted from the requirement to complete some modules on the BA programme and Diploma in IT. No exemptions are allowed on the Masters' programmes. Further information is available in the specific programme sections.

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Do I need a computer?

Students need to have access to a PC. Oscail makes extensive use of e-mail for communication with students and uses the Oscail website and the Moodle virtual learning environment to provide course materials, timetables, course assignments, past examination papers and other documentation. Also, students can access tutor details, assessment and examination marks online. Some modules are delivered in an online environment. So, regular access to a computer is essential.

Students on the BSc in Information Technology are required to have regular access to Microsoft Access.

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What supports are in place for students?

Oscail provides two types of tutorial support – classroom and online, depending on the programme and/or module selected.

You are appointed to a tutor for each module you are studying. Tutors are there to:

• assist you in developing your skills as an independent learner
• help you understand the course content
• assess your progress on the course, through assignments
• provide you with feedback in the form of detailed written comments on your assignments
• help you with course-related problems

Classroom Support

Classroom tutorials are intended to provide an opportunity for group discussion and amplification of issues in the course manuals, textbooks or assignments. To ensure that tutorials are lively and stimulating, participants are expected to prepare in advance by reading relevant material and, if appropriate, by advising their tutor of particular topics that they would like to have included in the session.

Tutorials for undergraduate students are either two or three hours' duration, usually held on Saturdays at monthly intervals. While participation in tutorials is not compulsory it is highly recommended. Please note that the schedule of tutorial support may vary according to the programme.

Online Support

Online tutorial support replicates the classroom experience and takes a number of forms. In all forms, students are registered in an online learning environment. (Oscail currently uses Moodle.) In this environment, students can communicate with their tutor and with the other students in their tutorial group in online group discussion forums. Tutors may recommend appropriate online (and offline) resources. They may also suggest discussion items or online exercises. Except when privacy is an issue, all communication between students and online tutors takes place in the online group discussion forums. Students may also make use of an online chat facility.

Student Advisory Service

Oscail has developed a professional support system for its students. While Course Tutors can assist with course content queries, Student Advisors are available to answer student queries and offer advice on:

• module choice
• workload
• leave of absence
• deferral of studies
• study difficulties such as illness, work or domestic circumstances that may affect students' studies.

The Student Advisory Service in Oscail can be contacted by telephone, e-mail, fax, post or by visiting in person. Contact details are available here.

Online Services

Oscail students are provided with an individualised, password protected, micro-website that provides them with up to date information on the modules they are registered for, who their tutors are and their assignment and examination marks. In addition, all other course related information is available through Moodle (DCU's virtual learning environment) or the Oscail website http://www.oscail.ie

Libraries

You will have access to the DCU Library. It is worth noting that you may browse or search library catalogues online. Students attending Study Centres other then that of the university with which they are registered are normally granted access to the library at that study centre (however borrowing privileges are currently not available).

Increasing use is being made of online journal databases which provide registered students with off-campus access to the full text of academic journal articles.

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How am I assessed?

Assessment of academic performance is through continuous assignment work and/or examinations.

Assignments

In general, participants are required to complete a number of assignments for each study module. The role of assignments is primarily to develop learning skills and active learning. You will benefit far more from active engagement with course assignments than from passive reading of course notes or texts. Reading of required and optional textbooks and frequent reference to relevant journals is also an important element of active learning and assignment preparation. The use of the Internet in researching assignment topics is also required in most modules.

Participants make use of computers in preparing and submitting their assignments e.g. spreadsheets and word processors, including use of drawing and presentation tools. Word processing of assignments is a minimum requirement.

Submission dates for assignments are the milestones in the programme.

Grades achieved in continuous assessment, based on course assignments, together with grades attained in written examinations will be considered jointly in determining the final award, normally on a 50/50 percentage ratio basis. Where appropriate, some module grades are determined by continuous assessment alone.

Examinations

In general there is one examination per module, held at the end of the academic year. However, some modules do not have examinations.

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How much time does it take?

The most common difficulty experienced by our students relates not to the course content itself, but to the difficulty of fitting study time into a crowded schedule. Ask yourself ‘How much time do you have available each week, after you take into account working, housework, family, and social activities'?

On average, you will need to spend at least 8 hours per week of the academic year studying each undergraduate module and 15 hours per week for each post-graduate module.

Oscail strongly recommends that new undergraduate students register for only two credit modules in their first year.

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Who awards my Degree/Diploma?

All programmes offered through Oscail are awarded by Dublin City University.

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