Master's programmes take between 1 and 5 years, depending on how intensively you are able to study and whether or not you take breaks between modules. Postgraduate Diploma takes between 4 months to 4 years, while certificate takes 4 months to 24 months.

Graduation ceremonies take place in UCL. Attendance is optional, but many distance learning students welcome the chance to visit the University, meet fellow graduates and celebrate their success.

You will need to make sure that you effectively have regular access to the Internet, as this is 100% internet based course. This will also help you to benefit from the resources available at the UCL. The University's online environment will then be available to you, at any time, from anywhere to suit your busy lifestyle. Through Video conferencing, chat room, you will be able to participate in weekly case conferences, “meet the experts” sessions and contact your lecturers and tutors and your fellow students. You will be able to access:
• Departmental web sites, resources and informational services
• Resources from the e-library
• Information about future course events
• UCL and TIF Study support and welfare services

Regular connection to the Internet via broadband access from your home, workplace or through a learning centre or Internet café is essential. If you are travelling on business or privately, you will be able to connect with UCL online from anywhere with internet access and through any networked computer, simply by knowing your user name and password, which will be provided to you at the start of your programme. We suggest you aim to log on at least once a day during your studies to benefit the most.

All course materials will be available on line. You will also be provided with a suggested timetable of study. Coursework is interactive and student directed. You can access literature through “on line”. Some books are available as e-books and can be accessed on the University's Library website, as can e-journals.

Teaching and learning at the University is supported by use of an online virtual learning environment called “Moodle”. It can be accessed by registered users from anywhere in the world using the Internet. Moodle forms an integral part of the learning experience for distance learning students and provides a learning environment that enables:

• course materials and reading lists to be published in a course site;
• online discussion between students and tutors using discussion boards and online synchronous classes, such as presentations and tutorials, with students and tutors logged into a virtual classroom;
• the creation of group areas to support group tasks such as online discussion and file exchange and
• the setting and taking of online assessments with automatic marking and feedback facilities.
There is also a network of local mentors and TIF resource centres around the world.

You submit essays and course works electronically by email. The course includes unseen examinations, which takes place at British Council that are local to you. The final stage of Master's programme is a written dissertation on a topic agreed between you and your tutor.

A detailed feedback will be provided from your personal tutor who will be available to talk to you via video conferencing, instant messaging or you can also correspond via email.

Studying at a distance doesn't mean that we will leave you to it. You will be provided with a strong network of support.

The support staff will be able to advise you about how best to do this. You will be sent a handbook that details who everyone is in the department and provides you with contact details. Tutors will always be available to you to discuss any aspect of your study either by vido chat or by email.

Sometimes teaching events may be organised in collaboration with local partners. You can also attend “ meet the experts”in the in video or e- mail discussion forum.

The University encourages local networks of students studying via distance learning with us. The network means that students can receive peer support from each other.

The first thing you should do is to contact your tutor or the support staff or your mentor- they have years of experience in helping busy students to succeed. There are many options available, including the chance to take study breaks.

Many students study our distance learning programmes to develop their careers and find that their employers are keen to support them, either financially or by providing study leave.
The University of London offers you a number of flexible payment options, including monthly instalment to enable you to take advantage of our excellent academic programmes. For detail information see http://www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/tuition-fees/

The programme-specific tuition fees can be found on the
See fees section

See entry criteria

If your first language is not English, you will need to reach a suitable standard in an approved test of English as a foreign language. We recommend that you take the IELTS (International English Language Testing Service) examination available through local offices of the British Council. The University's entrance requirement is a score of 6.5 for the IELTS, although some departments specify higher scores. http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate-study/application-admission/english-language.