Integrate your studies seamlessly into your everyday life. At Solent University Centres, we recognise the importance of balancing education with work and other commitments. That’s why our courses are structured to give you the flexibility you need, allowing you to:
- Embrace a blended learning approach: Enjoy the perfect mix of engaging online sessions and in-person classes, giving you the flexibility to fit your studies around your lifestyle.
- Choose the right study timetable for you: Whether you prefer daytime, evening and weekend, or weekend-only schedules, select the option that best matches your personal and professional commitments, making it easier to balance study and life.
- Start when it suits you: With multiple start dates available throughout the year, you’re in control of when to begin your degree, allowing you to plan your studies around your own unique circumstances.
We’re here to help you succeed with flexible study options that make your education work with your lifestyle, not against it.Find out more about our blended learning and timetables below.
Our approach to blended learning combines timetabled live online learning with timetabled face-to-face on-campus sessions. We have designed this approach following student feedback to offer the best of both live online and on-campus learning opportunities.
Blended learning offers students greater opportunities to interact with tutors and classmates, build friendships and a sense of community, as well as the flexibility to balance study alongside other commitments.
The benefits of blended learning:
- Study full-time whilst balancing work and family commitments
- Cost and time in travelling to campus is reduced
- Live online sessions allow for real-time interaction and engagement during your class
- Watch recordings of live online sessions back when preparing for assessments
- Experience a vibrant campus community, access the study facilities and support services whilst making friends and connections
- Enhance your employability by demonstrating you successfully studied in a blended learning environment as part of your degree – a key requirement in today’s digitally focussed businesses
Working virtually is an important aspect of professional life and active participation and engagement in online lectures provides excellent opportunities to practice your digital soft skills in areas including collaboration, teamwork and communication. These are all important skills for many career areas and highly valued by employers.
In the same way as in many workplaces, it’s important that you give your full attention during the online sessions so you can get the maximum benefit for your learning and development.
You’ll be expected to actively participate and engage in online classes, delivered over an online videoconferencing platform, this involves:
- having your camera on* for the session
- responding to questions and instructions from your lecturers
- using the online chat function, reaction buttons and microphone as necessary
- actively contributing to breakout sessions, including having your camera on*
If there are any occasions where you are unable to fully engage with the online class due to unforeseen circumstances, it’s important to inform your lecturer.
* The platform has a background feature you can use if you wish to hide the environment you’re in from view. Self-view can also be turned off if you find your own webcam footage distracting. For students who may have neurodiversity or disability considerations that affect their ability to have their camera on – our Welfare Team are available to support and make any necessary provisions.
You will need:
- a reliable internet connection to access your live online sessions and learning resources.
- access to a computer (desktop/laptop) that is less than 5 years old
- speakers/headphones/earbuds for listening to audio or video presentations
- a webcam – lots of laptops will have these inbuilt
The live online sessions can be accessed via smartphone, but we recommended that you have access to a laptop or a PC for ease of use, joining class discussions and completing assessments. If you have any queries or concerns around the equipment you plan to use, please contact our very helpful ACE Team for advice via email – ACELDN@qa.com.
You will be given access to Microsoft Office 365 once you are registered on your programme, free of charge.
Timetables are made available in advance of semester start to help facilitate planning your schedule. It is important to attend both live online sessions and face-to-face on-campus learning, engagement is essential for success and progression on your course.
Below are sample timetables designed to show what studying on different schedules may involve. Please note that this is a guide and is not your final timetable. Students will typically receive their timetable after our enrolment team confirms they are enrolled, and ahead of induction activities.
You will also need to dedicate time outside of your timetabled learning for self-directed learning and preparing for your assessments. You can find more information about the time commitments on your course’s webpage.
Daytime timetable example
If you are a daytime student, you will typically have 2 days of tuition per week, with classes running from 9:30am-4:30pm both days. For one of these days, your sessions will be face-to-face on-campus, and the other day will take place live online.
| Example | 9:30-11:30am | 11:30am-1:30pm | 1:30-2:30pm | 2:30-4:30pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday 1 | Module A Lecture – online |
Module B Lecture – online |
Module C Lecture – online |
|
| Weekday 2 | Module B Seminar – campus |
Module C Seminar – campus |
Module A Seminar – campus |
Evening and weekend timetable example
Each week, you’ll have classes on 2 weekday evenings and 1 weekend day. The evening sessions are scheduled from 5:45-8:45pm, while weekend classes run from 9:30am-4:30pm.
Evening and weekend blended timetables will typically follow one of the below patterns each week with the pattern staying the same for the whole semester:
- 2 evenings live online and 1 weekend day face-to-face on-campus, or
- 2 evenings face-to-face on-campus and 1 weekend day live online
| Example | 9:30-11:30am | 11:30am-1:30pm | 1:30-2:30pm | 2:30-4:30pm | 4:30-5:45pm | 5:45-7:45pm | 7:45-8:45pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday 1 | Module A Lecture – online |
Module B Lecture – online |
|||||
| Weekday 2 | Module C Lecture – online |
Module B Lecture – online |
|||||
| Weekend day | Module C Seminar – campus |
Module A Seminar – campus |
Module B Seminar – campus |
Weekend only timetable example
Teaching takes place on 2 weekend days: 1 live online and 1 face-to-face, on-campus, with classes running from 9:30am-4:30pm.
Those choosing to study a weekend only timetable option may also be assigned some preparative reading ahead of weekend classes.
| Example | 9:30-11:30am | 11:30am-1:30pm | 1:30-2:30pm | 2:30-4:30pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekend day 1 | Module A Seminar – campus |
Module B Seminar – campus |
Module C Seminar – campus |
|
| Weekend day 2 | Module A Lecture – online |
Module B Lecture – online |
Module C Lecture – online |
Yes, our centres in London, Birmingham and Manchester are open Monday to Saturday, providing access to study spaces, learning resources, and support teams even outside class hours.
You can even access our support services online too, including outside of your timetabled days.
This includes appointments with the following teams:
- ACE Team
- Student Welfare Team
- Student Finance Team
- Student Futures and Careers Team
Your tutors will also be available for appointments if you would like to talk through any of your modules, ask questions, discuss assignments etc. Please email your tutor to arrange these.
No. Our approach to blended learning involves timetabled live online learning and timetabled face-to-face on-campus learning. Attendance at all sessions, live online and in the classroom, is compulsory with attendance taken and followed up in line with our attendance policy. As a result, eligibility for maintenance loans is not impacted.