Student Support – Academic
One of the great advantages of studying at the NCA is that we are a small College focussed on the development of practitioners. You will find that all our staff members are committed to supporting you in your learning and your development. If you should encounter any kind of difficulty, there are plenty of people willing to talk with you and to provide practical help. In addition, all our systems relating to assessment, attendance, teaching clinics, and so on have built in flexibility in cases where students have genuine problems. All we ask in return is that you act with integrity and commitment to your studies and keep us informed of any issues.
As a College we take pride in our friendly and personal approach and we aim to provide you with high levels of support. To get the most out of the course you also need to play your part, using the time available to access the College library and/or local libraries and on-line resources and to work with the information you are acquiring so that you are able to use it in your studies.
Our expectations are that you will take more responsibility for your own learning as you progress through the course and learn the techniques associated with successful learning, become more confident in your study and library skills and writing abilities, and become more independent and challenging in your study. The College will continue to support you throughout your course, in different ways as you progress. You will also find your fellow students an important source of mutual support.
We are committed to supporting you in your efforts to successfully complete the course and there are a variety of mechanisms in place to achieve this. You can approach the Student Services Manager/Officer responsible for your course or the Course Director if you need extra support.
You are welcome to approach anyone at the College who you feel you can talk to. This might be a lecturer, tutor, clinic supervisor, or a member of the admin and management team. You will also find that a great deal of peer support is available from your fellow students.
If you need information about processes such as recognition of prior learning, you should contact the Registrar.
The Course Director and Module Leaders will ensure that you are aware of the practical arrangements for the modules. If you need information about a module, such as the content or assessment, please approach the module leader responsible, in the first instance, for guidance and discussion of your concern. If you are experiencing any study difficulties related to a module you should normally speak with the Course Director first. The College has specific resources, such as our study skills support tutors, who can be called on by the Student Services Manager/Officer responsible for your course or Course Director to help you if required.
Support with Assessment Difficulties
Assessment is an important aspect to your course, but you may find that at times personal circumstances can impact on your studies. Should you have circumstances which mean you need to defer your assessment, refer to the section “Unable to submit by the deadline?” and the following sections on requesting an extension, penalties for late submission and extenuating circumstances.
Study Skills Support Tutors
The College has several study skills support tutors; they can help students with a range of study skills such as producing written assignments, learning exam techniques, or planning your study and your assessments.
You can request a one-to-one session with a study skills support tutor by contacting your personal tutor, your Course Director, or Student Services. The College will normally fund two hours of study skills support, followed by a review to determine whether any further sessions would help.
International Student Support
The College cannot at present accept international students on courses that include substantial study hours taught in the College building. However, eligible international students form an important part of the cohorts on our online MScs and our MSc in Chinese Herbal Medicine.
Your Course Director is responsible in the first instance for ensuring you have access to support. For example, they may ensure that appropriate study skills support is provided via our Study Skills Support Tutors.
Please note that students for whom English is not a first language must normally have IELTS level 6.0 or equivalent to join the BSc course, or IELTS level 6.5 or a first degree from a UK University in order to be admitted to the MSc courses, apart from Nutrition Science and Practice which requires a score of 7.0. Where appropriate, students should discuss requirements with the Marketing and Admissions Manager.
For international students studying on the online-only MSc or the MSc in Chinese Herbal Medicine, we should be able to assist with study skills support or counselling using the tutors and counsellors listed above, though this will be via phone or online video meeting.
The College’s BSc and MSc degrees, like all UK higher education qualifications, are recognised under the Bologna Agreement by all countries that are members of the European Council. The European Council is separate from the European Union and covers a wider range of countries, so this recognition of our degrees is not affected by Brexit.
