Skip navigation

Frequently Asked Questions

Below we answer some frequently asked questions about part time study at Northumbria University.

What are the advantages of part time study?

  • Flexible learning which fits around your life
  • Balance existing work or family commitments with your studies
  • Earn the same qualification as you would studying full time
  • Complete the same course with the same modules as a full time student
  • Affordable fees and payment plans
  • Enhanced career prospects and employability
  • Work while you study
  • Access the same facilities and levels of support as full time students
  • Your employer may contribute to your fees

How will I study?

In most cases you will attend one of our well equipped campuses in Newcastle upon Tyne or London. You will also have access to our award-winning library and other support facilities, as well as our eLP. You may also take part in debates and discussions with academics and fellow students as part of your course.

What should I do if I am struggling to juggle work, life and commitments?

The first thing you should do is contact your designated tutor or the Student Support Team. They have years of experience in helping busy students to succeed.

What is the eLP?

The eLP, or eLearning Portal, is Northumbria University’s Virtual Learning Environment where you’ll find all the resources for your modules and programmes including lecture materials, study notes, discussion boards, virtual classrooms and much more. The university uses Blackboard Learn as its eLP.

Can I access the eLP on a mobile or tablet?

Yes.* You can access the eLP on your mobile device via the Blackboard Mobile app. The app is currently available for Android, iOS and Blackberry platforms. The app can be downloaded for free from your device’s app store.

*Please note, not all learning materials may be compatible with your mobile device.

Will my qualification be different than if I had attended a full time course?

There is no difference between the qualification you receive on a part time course and the equivalent qualification which you might study for on a full time basis.

What courses are available?

Part -Time -Course -ButtonWe offer over 70 undergraduate and postgraduate part-time courses across a range of subject areas including; • Art • Business • Law • IT • Teaching

What are the tuition fees?

Discovermore _buttonTo find out the tuition fees for the course you are interested in, please visit the appropriate course page and click on the 'Fees Calculator Tab' for more information.

Fees for part-time courses (undergraduate and postgraduate) vary according to their length. To obtain the most accurate tuition fee information for a specific course, please search for it in our course directory, then look for the Fees tab near the end of the individual course information page.

Fees can be paid in full at enrolment or by monthly instalments by Direct Debit where the fee is greater than £600.00. If a student is being sponsored by their employer, the university will require proof of sponsorship.

I'm an international student, can I study a part time course?

The University has a thriving overseas community and applications from International students are welcome for distance learning programmes. However, immigration regulations do not allow International students entry to the UK solely for the purpose of attending a part-time taught programme. Advice is available from:

International Office
Northumbria University
21 Ellison Place
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 8ST
UK

Email: international@northumbria.ac.uk
Tel +44 (0)191 227 4274
Fax +44 (0)191 261 1264

(However, if you have already applied to Northumbria and have a query, please contact internationaladmissions@northumbria.ac.uk or telephone 00 44 191 243 7906)

How do I apply for a part time course?

Applications for the majority of part time and Distance Learning courses should be made direct to the University using the online application form on the webpage of the course you are interested in.

The only exception to this is the Part-time Postgraduate Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) which has a different application procedure - for information about how to apply for this programme, please visit the Bar Standards Board website.

Application Deadlines

Whilst most courses do not set an exact deadline for applications, you are advised to apply early to secure your place and organise any sponsorship or funding.

Decision Making Process

Most courses require at least one reference, but some may need two. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure Northumbria receives a satisfactory academic reference. If you have not been in education for a number of years, then a reference from your employer may be acceptable.

We try to reply to applicants as soon as possible but you should receive a response within 10 working days, and this will be one of the following.

  • Conditional offer which will normally be upon the completion of your undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification and achieving a particular classification or grade. You will be required to send us a confirmation that you have passed your current degree course as soon as you receive notification to enable us to confirm your offer.
  • Unconditional offer is made if you have already met the entry requirements of your chosen course.
  • Reject your application.

You will be asked to confirm your acceptance in writing of any offer made.

Fairness and Transparency

The University is committed to a system of admissions that ensures fairness, transparency and equal opportunities within the legal framework of the UK and best practice. All reasonable effort will be made to ensure that no prospective or existing student is unreasonably treated less favourably on the grounds of age, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, creed, disability, sexual orientation, gender, marital or parental/carer status, political belief or social or economic class, or any other type of discrimination.

Selection Process

Interviews

Applicants who may not have the standard entry qualifications are welcome to apply and may be interviewed. Some courses will interview as part of the selection process. This applies particularly to courses in art and design, teaching and health.

Health Screening

Applicants for Nursing, Midwifery, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Primary (Early Years) and Social Work will be required to complete a health questionnaire. They may be required to attend for doctor or nurse assessment at the University Health Centre.

Prior to beginning their programme, all applicants to Nursing, Midwifery, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy are advised to start a course of Hepatitis B vaccinations, available from their own GP. In addition, Midwifery applicants must provide evidence before they commence training that they are immune to Hepatitis B or have Hepatitis B non-carried status.

Applicants to these courses who have had contact with MRSA in the previous 6 months may be asked to provide evidence that they are not colonised by submitting negative swabs results prior to commencement of training. Alternatively, they may be screened on commencement of the programme.

All applicants will receive vaccination screening at the University Health Centre on commencement of their programme.

Disclosure of Criminal Background

To help the University reduce the risk of harm or injury to any member of its community caused by the criminal behaviour of other students, it must know about any relevant criminal convictions an applicant has.

If you are applying for courses in teaching, health, social work and courses involving work with children or vulnerable adults, you are required to undergo police clearance for entry and will need to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) enhanced disclosure form. The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children. It replaces the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). Access to the DBS checking service is only available to registered employers who are entitled by law to ask an individual to reveal their full criminal history, including spent convictions - also known as asking 'an exempted question'. The University is such a 'registered employer' and will send you the appropriate documents to fill in if you are offered a place in the course.

If you are convicted of a relevant criminal offence after you have applied, you must inform the university immediately. Do not send details of the offence; simply tell the University that you have a relevant criminal conviction. You may then be asked to supply more details.

Anti-fraud Checks

Please note that the University follows anti-fraud procedures to detect and prevent fraudulent applications. If it is found that an applicant supplies a fraudulent application then it will be withdrawn.

Plagiarism

The University reserves the right to cancel an application or withdraw any offer made if it is found that an application contains false, plagiarised or misleading information.

Disabled Students

Northumbria welcomes enquiries and applications from disabled students whether disability is due to mobility or sensory impairment, specific learning difficulties, mental health issues or a medical condition. Applications from disabled students are processed in the usual way, but applicants should declare their disability at the application stage so that the University can contact them to assess how to meet any support needs they may have. Disabled applicants may be invited to visit the University so that this can be done in person.

To find out more contact:
Disability Support Team
Tel +44 (0)191 227 3849 or
Minicom +44 (0)191 222 1051

Provision of Information
The University reserves the right at any stage to request applicants and enrolling students to provide additional information about any aspect of their application or enrolment. In the event of any student providing false or inaccurate information at any stage, and/or failing to provide additional information when requested to do so, the University further reserves the right to refuse to consider an application, to withdraw registration, rescind home fees status where applicable, and/or demand payment of any fees or monies due to the University.

I have further questions, who do I contact?

We understand that choosing to study a part time programme is an important decision and we would like to be able to provide you with as much information as we can to assist you. Please visit individual course pages to find out which department you need to contact for further information.

Not found the answer you were looking for? Click here to contact us.

Back to top