Undergraduate and Graduate Programs

Whether you are looking to enhance your skills, improve your team or pursue a professional education, the Online Alathena College’s learning pathways can provide you with all you need.

The Online Alathena College delivers online university pathway programmers with full undergraduate and postgraduate diploma awards to learners from all corners of the world. Learners can fast track their way through to a UK university qualification on campus or by distance learning.

Choose a course
Study the course modules
Complete online multiple choice tests and written assignments
Receive your certificate and university credits
Top up your qualifications and earn a BA degree or MBA

Level Explained

For an official breakdown of what each level means, please visit https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/compare-different-qualification-levels

Level 3 Diploma

The level 3 course is a 120-credit course, which is equivalent to 2 A levels. The course is made up of 6 modules and 6/12 written assignments. This course provides entry onto the first year of undergraduate degree course, or a level 4 course.

Level 4 Diploma

Level 4 is the equivalent to the first year of a bachelor’s degree programme. The level 4 course is made up of 6/10 modules and 6/10 assignments, which are equivalent to 120 university credits.

Level 5 Diploma

Level 5 is the equivalent to the second year of a bachelor’s degree programme. It is also equivalent to a HND diploma. The level 5 course has 5/9/10 modules and 5/6/7 assignments, which also provide the student with 120 university credits upon completion.

Level 6 Diploma

Upon completion of a level 6 course, you will be eligible for admission onto a postgraduate business programme, including an MBA course. The level 6 course is made up of 10 modules and 5 written assignments.

Level 7 Diploma

The level 7 course carries 120 credits which gives entry onto the MBA top Up (one module or one module + dissertation). This can be completed by studying either online or on campus at a recognised UK or overseas university. Our level 7 is made up of 30 modules and 8 written assignments.

University Entry Level 3 programme requirements

For entry on the Level 3 qualification learners would generally be aged 16 or above. For learners who have recently been in education or training the entry profile is likely to include one of following:

Undergraduate Level 4/5 programme requirements

Entry to a level 4 programme generally requires a full secondary education and a minimum age of 18. Entry to a level 5 programme depends on a student gaining level 4 or equivalent. Level 4 is equivalent to the first year of a degree or HNC or local equivalent. Level 5 is equivalent to the second year of a university degree.

If English is not your native language, you may need to provide verification of your English language capability. There may be an IELTS or TOEFL English language requirement or equivalent. Please note specific university requirements will differ between universities. Normally, universities will accept the 240 credits offered by the Online Alathena College programme at Level 4/5 for final year completion, but students should check with their chosen university for specific entry requirements before enroling with OAC.

Graduate Level 6 programme requirements

Entry onto the level 6 programme is for non-graduate mature students of at least 25 years of age with 5 years of work experience who wish to progress to a postgraduate qualification.

Postgraduate Level 7 programme requirements

You will be eligible to study the level 7 courses if you are a graduate in any discipline and are aged 22 years or over. Non-graduates aged over 24 years with at least 5 years experience in management may also apply.

After you have completed an online module, you will have an online assessment to complete. This assessment contains 30 multiple-choice questions. You will have one hour to complete these questions, which are answered in sets of five, so you will have plenty of time to review and edit your answers. After an hour, the test will automatically time out.
After you have completed the test, your results will be displayed immediately. If you have passed, you will receive a certificate of completion. If you don’t pass, you will receive a notification of a “refer’’ where you will be told how to retake a module assessment. You can complete these modules at your own pace, as there is no deadline to complete the course.
When the online modules have been successfully completed, you will then be able to take the final written assignments provided by Online Alathena College that test your knowledge and understanding of the modules. After successful completion of these eight assignments, you will receive your diploma from the OFQUAL awarding organisation.
You will then be eligible to apply for progression onto a top up course through a recognised UK university on campus or by distance learning.

At Online Alathena College, we are committed to ensuring we deliver the educational and social experience you deserve. Our programmes are not just about qualifications. We look to develop you as a person with personal skills and self-belief to catapult you onto your chosen career path. The overall student experience is our top priority. That’s why we’ve created support resource Hubs to enrich your experience. When you learn with us, you get unlimited access to our support Hubs: a range of specialist and focused resources to support and develop you alongside your learning.

Are there any English Language Requirements?

For students who do not live or come from an English language speaking country, we recommend taking an IELTS course to improve your language to level 5.5 or higher. This can be done alongside our courses. Your minimum level of English may vary depending upon which university you decide to complete your top up qualification from.

Do I need any previous experience and qualifications?

You will need to have an IELTS score of Level 5.5 or above on completion of the OAC course. You can study an English course alongside the OAC course. At Level 4/5, you will require a full secondary education to be eligible to enrol onto the course, and universities will require a minimum age before embarking on the university top-up programme. At level 7, you will require 5 years of managerial experience if you do not have a BA degree. This may vary for various university partners. However, we will look at every application individually and some exceptions may be made.

Will there be an interview?

There is no interview process. You will have to fill out a short application form to make sure you meet the criteria.

How do I choose the best course for me?

Learners should first visit the Online Alathena College Course Page to view the range of courses on offer. It’s important you choose a subject you enjoy and will help you reach your goals. Here are some things to consider when choosing the right subject for you:

How do I apply for a course?

You can choose your course and enrol online via the Online Alathena College course page. Alternatively, you can call the OAC Admissions Team on 416-390-9666 or send the email to info@alathenacollege.com, and they will guide you through the Enrolment process.

Do I receive help and guidance while writing assignments?

Yes – all students are encouraged to arrange an initial 30 minute ‘assignment preparation’ session with one of our tutors. The session will be conducted via Zoom and cover all aspects of assignment writing, particularly key areas that students need to be aware of.

In addition to this, students have access to tutors who work with Online Alathena College. The tutor details are available via the dashboard and will show which areas they specialise in and when they are available. If a student wishes to arrange a session, they can do so directly from the dashboard, specify which topic they need assistance with, or contact our support team at info@alathenacollege.com. Further information is available in the Student Handbook and the relevant course information packs.

How do I submit my assignments?

Submissions need to be uploaded to via the dashboard, in the ‘Assignments’ area.

How many words do I have to write for my assignments?

Depending on the course, we recommend students write between 2,000 – 8,000 words for each assignment. You will not be penalised for going over this word count limit as long as the work is related to the assignment question.

When do I receive the assignments?

Assignments are released to students upon enrolment.

How long does the marking process take?

After an assignment has been submitted, our markers will return the results within 14 working days. Once all assignments have been completed and marked, an Internal Verifier will view the work, which usually takes up to 10 working days. After the internal verification has come back and agrees with the initial marking, all of the assignments are sent to the awarding body for external verification. The awarding body will then check all of the work to ensure it is of the correct standard. This process can take up to 30 working days. In total, once you have completed all assignments and had them marked, it can take up to 40 working days to receive your final result.

What is an awarding body?

Awarding bodies are also sometimes referred to as awarding organisations or exam boards, but they all mean the same thing. They are all terms used to describe an organisation that designs, develops, delivers and awards the recognition of learning outcomes. Online Alathena College works together with ATHE, Qualifi and OTHM. These organisations must all be approved by OFQUAL, The UK Governing body for higher education.

How are universities linked to the modules?

Learners who achieve an OAC qualification are automatically mapped against a standard UK higher education qualification framework. This is a universally recognised framework of credits. Universities can therefore award credits against the OAC study to give exemptions from large parts of their formal programmes. OAC has pre agreed arrangements with certain universities to provide credits against programmes either on campus or off campus. This is termed ‘university top-up’.

How do I change my personal contact details once I have given them to OAC?

You can request this by emailing student support at info@alathenacollege.com.

Can I still access my student dashboard if I have finished my course?

Access to the OAC Dashboard is for a maximum of 5 years from date of enrolment. This can be extended if a request is made in writing to OAC student admin.

I have forgotten my username/password and cannot login to my dashboard, how can I get access?

If learners have lost or forgotten their login details, they can request a new password on provision of their email address.

What do I do if I am struggling?

You can seek help from dedicated forums or request tutor help. Students can interact and help each other through the course content and share interesting and relevant links with each other. We also have a dedicated tutor support team all specialising in all OAC modules.

Can I talk to other students?

All students that have enroled onto a course can communicate with other students via the ‘Buddy Hub’.

How much support is available for students?

Learners can use the social learning forums without limitation and talk to fellow learners around the world. Tutors will also present webinars on demand which are available free of charge to all students.

Will I be able to get through to higher education through OAC?

The OAC programmes are mapped against UK higher education qualifications which are fully transferable to a range of other higher education routes and professional qualifications. On completion of the OAC level 4/5 programme students will be awarded 240 credits (The first 2 years of a undergraduate degree). They can then top up to their final year at one of our university partners who recognise the qualification. Similarly at level 7 students gain 120 credits from a total of 180 credits for an MBA. Again they can top up at an OAC university partner.

What potential job opportunities are there after I finish the course?

Once you successfully complete your final year at university, you will have a full BA degree or postgraduate qualification that will open doors to many career options.

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What modules do I need to achieve a qualification?

You need to complete all the modules detailed in your required course option plus all the associated assessments to complete the OAC course and receive the diploma. This will give you the recognized university credits. You can study the modules at your own pace and can purchase more modules at any time.

Do I need a specific computer to study with OBS?

As long as you have internet access any computer or tablet can be used to complete online modules and courses. You can also study on your phone with our mobile friendly content.

Can I access my dashboard and study on my mobile and tablet?

Yes, but this will only be accessible with an internet connection. All digital interactivity has been coded for compatibility on touch screens. You can also learn the material by printing it off.

What study materials do I need?

The modules themselves are sufficient for passing the associated assessments. The modules contain additional accessible resources that learners may wish to follow through to enhance their learning and these are provided within the text. OAC also has extra learning resources like e books and webinars to aid your study, completely free of charge.

What is a certificate of completion?

When you pass a module or an assessment, a certificate of completion is automatically generated which details: module content, level of study and learning outcomes achieved. It is mapped against formal UK educational quality guidelines defined by OFQUAL. Upon completing all modules, you can then complete assignments set by the awarding body to complete your diploma with OAC.

How long will it take?

Learners can learn at a pace that suits them. There are no module or assignment completion deadlines with OAC, apart from the overall 5 year deadline. Learners can study the modules in any order at any time.

Does my previous study and experience count towards an OAC course?

There are no exemptions or credits within the OAC system of study, and you have to study all the OAC modules to take advantage of our access route. However, if you think you may be exempt from a certain level, please contact us and we will advise you. We can also help you with your top up enquiries if you have already got the necessary qualifications.

Can I personalize my study?

Students can study the modules in any order and at any pace. To qualify for the university top-up, all of the modules and assignments must be completed.

What do I get when all the modules and assessments are completed?

Learners who complete the full programme are awarded a certificate and official credits. This qualification is recognised by UK higher education authorities and by the university sector. The student can then apply to one of our university partners to complete their degree.

Do all modules have an exam?

All modules have an online assessment. Completion of the requisite number of assessments and written assignments will give the participant a qualification recognised by many top line universities.

How do assessments work?

Assessments are made up of 30 multiple choice questions and last for one hour. There is an assessment at the end of each module. Questions are answered in sets of five to allow for review and editing if required. If a session times out or an issue occurs throughout, the assessment will time out at the point of the previous five questions. Consequently, you will not lose your previous answers. Results are given immediately upon completion. Upon completing all end of module assessments, learners then undertake assignments set by the awarding body to complete the full course.

What is an interactive learning module?

The interactive activities in the modules include tests, exercises and assessments that provide a guide to a learner’s progress through the module.

Do I need a visa to complete modules/course through OAC?

No visa is required for online study. If a student chooses to take the university top-up programme on campus in the UK, a student visa will be required. Learners should request this through their chosen university.

Can I study anywhere in the world?

Yes – as long as you’ve got access to an internet connection. You can do your studies from anywhere in the world.

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Online UK University Degree or MBA | Online Alathena College

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