Guide to Your Studies
Planning your study timetable
The study year commences in February and modules are examined in October of each year. This time includes a period of 30 weeks for study and 4 weeks for revision. This applies also to modules taken under the Short Course Scheme.
On average, students take two or three modules a year and you will need to be able to allocate approximately 7-8 hours’ study time per week per module for the duration of the study year.
You will select and enrol onto modules before the start of each study year, using our online enrolment form. The form will automatically allow you to enrol onto the modules you require, you will be sent reminders by email when enrolment for the next study year opens and again before the enrolment deadline.
Course materials
Before the start of each course, we will send you everything you need to study by DHL courier. You must provide us with a delivery address. It must be a building address where you or someone else is available to sign for your package, not a PO Box number, for us to successfully send this to you. Also, if you move to a different address during your studies, please ensure that you let us know.
The components that you will receive vary from module to module. Your study pack will include:
A detailed study guide
All of our modules use a core text which is specially written and this will take you through your self-directed study. Exercises, assignments and other activities, such as self-assessment questions, film clips and animations are included to help you with learning. Most module study guides are now provided in electronic, CD-ROM format.
Books and key readings
Most modules also include other textbooks, and key extracts and articles, which accompany the core text. A wide range of sources are provided as required readings. Information is also supplied suggesting sources of further reading as well as links to relevant web pages.
Supplementary study materials
These are included where appropriate, and include items such as computer software.
If you think any element of the course materials is missing from your package, contact your administrator straight away.
Accessing the online learning environment
Login details will be emailed to students at the start of the study year. You will receive a SOAS email account, which acts as your username for access to the online learning environment.
Deadlines for uploading Examined Assignments and the Research Report are FINAL as they are formally assessed. We strongly recommend that you check your computer system settings for upload to the online learning environment prior to the submission date. Please be advised that you should not leave uploading your work until the last minute – CeDEP cannot accept responsibility for missed deadlines if last-minute upload attempts are unsuccessful. Should you encounter any problems, please contact a CeDEP learning technologist in good time.
Individual Professional Award students
If you are an IPA student, we are pleased to have you with us. CeDEP continues to attract a growing number of students wishing to study individual modules for professional enhancement, making you a distinct and important part of our student community.
Whichever module you are studying, it is self-contained, with all the materials you need included in the module study pack.
If, at the end of studying your module(s), you wish to extend your studies, you may re-register to take additional modules as an IPA student. Alternatively, if you have completed examinations successfully, you are eligible to transfer to the Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma or the MSc programme. Any relevant modules taken successfully as a IPA student may be credited towards your final qualification. Please contact the Student Services team for further advice and information.
Help and advice
Remember that help and advice is always available to you. Don’t suffer in silence. If you are experiencing any problems or difficulties with your studies or using the OLE, let your administrator know. cedepadmin@soas.ac.uk
The next chapter of this online handbook looks at the avenues of communication open to you and the support available to help you succeed in your studies.
When you finish your studies
Each year, usually in March, a ceremony is held in London at which graduates from all degree programmes are presented to the Chancellor or Vice-Chancellor of the University of London. The University of London will send you further information about the presentation ceremony with your notification of results when you successfully complete your MSc or Postgraduate Diploma.
Further information is available from the Graduation page of the University of London International Programmes website.
email: ceremonies@london.ac.uk
Alternatively, CeDEP MSc students can attend the SOAS graduation ceremony which takes place in July. See www.soas.ac.uk/graduation/ for further information.
For either ceremony, we recommend that you apply as early as possible, as although spaces for graduates are not restricted, tickets for guests are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and there is always a high demand.
