Frequently asked questions

The Ultraversity BA (Hons) Learning, Technology and Research (BALTR) degree is designed for people who are in work and do not have the opportunity to attend university full-time but would like to develop their skills. Typically our researchers (Ultraversity undergraduates are called researchers) are support staff in schools, such as learning assistants and ICT technicians, but many other work settings are also considered appropriate. The BALTR is an inquiry-based learning degree, and its content is largely defined by the individual's work context.

As the degree is based on the work environment, researchers need to incorporate their everyday work activities into their studies. Researchers identify their own learning programme and turn this into a portfolio of work and assessed products that enable them meet the assessment criteria for an Undergraduate degree awarded by Anglia Ruskin University. Using this approach our researchers normally complete the degree in three years.

It is important to realise that there is no face-to-face contact in this degree. Researchers are supported through an online community of fellow researchers and learning facilitators whose job it is to help researchers plan their research and guide them through their degree experience. An online portfolio tool also helps researchers to structure their learning. To be successful on this degree, researchers need to take responsibility for their own learning and be highly motivated self-directed learners.

Applications are welcome from candidates without formal qualifications. All applicants need to be in full or part-time work, paid or unpaid.

You do need a degree to teach but beyond a degree you need to follow a course approved by the Training & Development Agency for schools (TDA).

Some of our graduates have been accepted for teacher training at primary and secondary level.

If you wish to teach in a secondary school then you have to have a relevant curriculum subject, like Maths, French etc., at degree level. This degree could cover ICT if you can demonstrate that at least 50% of your studies relate to ICT. (This would typically be achieved through making ICT the focus of your studies- being in a work roles involving ICT can affect your ability to achieve this focus). If you wish to teach at a primary level, there is typically no restriction about the specific subject of the degree. There are other requirements in addition to a degree demanded by the TDA - these are currently summarised here .

Decisions about accepting students onto a teacher training course approved by the TDA are made by individual institutions and studying a particular degree course does not guarantee that a place will be offered.

In Scotland for PGCE Primary, you will need:

• An SCE higher grade award in English or a National Course award at higher level at C or above in English and Communication;
• An SCE standard grade award (grades 1 or 2) in Maths or a National Course award at intermediate 2 level in Maths.

In Scotland for PGCE Secondary, you will need:

• An SCE higher grade pass in English (band C or above), or a National Course award at higher level at C or above in English and Communication.

Please remember however that the government do change the regulations depending on the shortage of teachers.

For more information look at this government website

The next cohort starts in September 2008 with a module on induction, where researchers are helped to profile their personal development plans for the years work.

Not formally but it would be hard to do the Ultraversity degree if your organisation disapproved of your study. The more the organisation support you the easier it will be so it is best to get them onside.

If a member of staff will help mentor you then this would be good but please reassure them that there need be no cost involved for them as an organisation.

It depends on the level and the number of credits you have. Certainly if these credits are at degree level from a University, for example the Open University, you may be able to take the credits onto the Ultraversity programme.

If you have other qualifications (or in some cases work experience) you may also be able to get credit for these. This can be discussed with the APL co-ordinator upon registration.

The Ultraversity degree is fully accredited by Anglia Ruskin University. The degree title is BA (Hons) Learning, Technology and Research

No, sadly this is not possible

This is an online degree so you will need a knowledge of using the Internet, email and the ability to upload, download and store information. Apart from this, a willingness to learn is the most important qualification.

As this degree is entirely online you must have access to a computer with an Internet connection (preferably broadband) and an email account with a minimum of 1MB of space available.

The online platforms we use are free to download by our students.

Recommended minimum specification for a computer would be:

• PC: Pentium II 400 MHz, 128MB RAM, 56k modem, monitor that displays in 1024x768 resolution, Windows 98 SE or above, Web Browser (Firefox recommended - get Firefox here).
• Mac: PowerPC G3, 128MB RAM, 56k modem, monitor that displays in 1024x768 resolution, Mac OS 9.2 or above, Web Browser (Firefox recommended - get Firefox here).

No this degree is fully online and researchers will be supported in an online environment. There may well be other Ultraversity researchers in the same organisations and hopefully they will support each other.

Each researcher will have a learning facilitator who will work with them. Researchers will develop a profile of themselves and their work and discuss this profile, and their work progress at regular intervals with their learning facilitator.

Researchers will work in groups in an online community where they will share tasks set and offer comment on each other's work, seeking to develop and improve on the quality from feedback and collaboration. Learning facilitators will be in the communities to guide, support and mentor researchers.

A number of ‘guests’ who are experts on various subjects will be invited into the online community and researchers will be able to seek advice from these experts.

The degree title is a BA (Hons) Learning, Technology and Research.

There is no individual subject as such. This is an individualised learning degree which is negotiated between the researcher and the learning facilitator assigned to them.

The very first module is called induction and built around individuals developing their own personal development plan in collaboration with their learning facilitator. This will establish how they can progress in their work setting, what learning they need to achieve their goals etc. They will develop their personal learning plan which will be changeable but outline how they will progress. In this sense there are no subjects - the subject is what you choose to make it.

The work that you are doing comprises a large part of the course and much of the research can be done through observation at your work setting. This means that we think that you will need to study two evenings and one block of time at the weekend - although unlike face to face programmes this will be completely flexible and you can adjust your hours to what best fits your home circumstances.

The degree is built around your work setting and your interests within that setting so it can be carried out completely at your own work place. Of course nothing is preventing you from visiting and comparing your work circumstances to other researchers on the programme if there are any who live near you.

No you will not, although you might find it helpful to use a person at your institution as a mentor.

There are no exams but there is an exhibition in year 3. We anticipate that researchers will want to share their learning journey and research findings with their organisation and this will be something they would welcome - rather than the end of year 3 exams which are often viewed with dread!

All the work is assessed on a module by module basis and the credits are awarded. It is possible to take 6 years to reach the 360 credits required for a degree to be awarded but our researchers will normally complete the degree in three years.

For our next Cohort starting in September 2008, the tuition fees charged to individual students have been set at just £1800. (Please be aware that Anglia Ruskin University reserves the right to increase fees in the future).

Yes you can pay by seven instalments using the University's secure online payment system. The first payment is taken when you've successfully registered, the next six payments are taken monthly.

This is a full time degree, however as the study is conducted as distance learning, students are deemed eligible for part-time financial support.

The support available will depend upon where you are currently living:

• If you are resident in England, you can receive financial support of up to £1150 towards your fees and/or a course grant of up to £250 by applying to your Local Education Authority. The amount you are entitled to is dependent on your household income and is influenced by your family circumstances such as the number of dependent children in your family and if you have a partner. To check eligibility and to apply please visit the Student Support Direct web site.
• If you are resident in Northern Ireland, you can receive financial support of up to £1150 towards your fees and/or a course grant of up to £250 by applying to your local ELB. The amount you are entitled to is dependent on your household income and is influenced by your family circumstances such as the number of dependent children in your family and if you have a partner. To check eligibility and to apply, please visit www.studentfinanceni.co.uk
• If you are resident in Wales, you can receive financial support of up to £885 towards your fees and/or a course grant of up to £1000 by applying to your Local Education Authority. The amount you are entitled to is dependent on your household income and is influenced by your family circumstances such as the number of dependent children in your family and if you have a partner. To check eligibility and to apply, please visit www.studentfinancewales.co.uk
• If you are resident in Scotland, you can apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland for a loan of up to £500. Please visit www.saas.gov.uk and read the advice for "Loans for part-time and distance-learning students".
• If you are resident in the EU, you can receive financial support for up to £1150 towards your fees and/or a course grant of £250 by applying to the DfES. The amount you are entitled to is dependent on your household income and is influenced by your family circumstances such as the number of dependent children in your family and if you have a partner. To check eligibility and to apply please visit the DfES web portal where you will find more information about how to obtain an EU5PT application form and guidance notes.

No formal qualifications are required although all applicants need to be in full or part time work, paid or unpaid, within an environment that provides learning of some kind.

As all communication between the researcher and facilitator, and interaction within groups of researchers will be conducted online, a good understanding of written English is required i.e. IELTS 6.0 or equivalent.

For our next Cohort starting in September 2008, fees for non-EU students are £6675. The costs for applicants from the European Union will remain the same as UK residents.