hnd business course handbook - etgs.org.uk · hnd business course handbook school of business gants...

Version 2.0 January 2015

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HND BUSINESS COURSE HANDBOOK

School of Business

Gants Hill Campus

412-416 Eastern Avenue

Ilford, London IG2 6 NQ

Tel: +44(0)202 518 5190

Fax: +44(0)207 987 0762

This handbook belongs to the student named below.

NAME:

STUDENT ID:

If found please hand in to Reception.


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Contents

Topic Page

Welcome 3

Purpose of the Handbook 4

Prograrmme specification 4

The Challenge of the programme 9

Outline description of units 10

Typical structure of units taught across the programme 12

Assessment and Submission 12

Live Campus 14

Grading 14

Plagiarism 15

Appeals 17

Results published 17

At the end of the HND - Diploma 18

Top Study Tips 19

Progress after HND 19

Ask the E-Team 20

Timetable (sample) 21

Course Dates 22

College Holidays 23

EThames Support Network 23

Your Personal Support Network 24

English Language Support 25

Attendance 26

Actions taken on Absenteeism 27

Behaviour in College 29

Comments, Suggestions, Compliants 30

Course Feedback 30

Informal Complaints 30

Formal Complaints 31

Fee payments 31

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Message from the Course Manager

Welcome

Welcome to EThames Graduate School and to the Higher National Diploma (HND) in Business course

awarded by Pearson BTEC the largest awarding body in the UK, with qualifications recognised

worldwide It is my pleasure as your interim course manager to welcome you to EThames Graduate

School and we are delighted that you have chosen to study with us. This programme is designed to

provide you with the knowledge and skills to pursue a career in Business or further studies in the

Business field. As you progress through your programme you will develop skills needed in all walks of

life.

Making a decision to study for an undergraduate programme can be both an exciting and daunting

experience. I hope that the information provided in these pages will stimulate an even greater

enthusiasm for the programme. The purpose is to introduce you to EThames Graduate School

norms and practices, to your programme and key members of staff you will be working with when

you arrive here and London life.

I am available to you throughout your programme of study for help and advice. Please feel free to

contact me via my email or through the Course Administrator in Student Services. I am certain that

you will find this programme to be both challenging and rewarding and, that by the end of it, you

will have developed both personally and professionally. The senior management, the teaching team

and I hope that you enjoy your studies with us, and we are looking forward to celebrating your

graduation together.

Priyangani Ariyanwansha Interim Course Manager Higher National Certificate & Diploma in Business.


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Purpose of Course Handbook

This handbook contains key programme information and, since you will need to refer to it

continually throughout your studies, and you should keep it in a safe place. You will find information

in this handbook relating to the structure of the programme, the key people responsible for

managing the programme, your responsibilities relating to the planning and progression of your

study, as well as general College information. I hope this handbook will be useful and will answer

many of your questions. If there is anything in it you do not understand, or if you have any questions

about your programme, please do not hesitate to contact me.

This handbook must be read in conjunction with the College Regulations, detailed in your Induction

sessions and in the College Handbook .The material in this handbook is as accurate as possible at

the date of production.

About the Programme – HND

EThames Programme Specification Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this programme specification. Programme specifications are produced and then reviewed annually by the relevant teaching teams and revised where necessary. However, we reserve the right to withdraw, update or amend this programme specification at any time without notice.

PROGRAMME TITLE: Higher National Diploma in Business

1. Awarding body Pearson BTEC

2. Teaching institution EThames Graduate School

3. Accreditation details QCF Accredited and Centre Approved

4. Name of final award Higher National Diploma

5. Mode of study Full-time

6. Duration of programme 2 years

7. Course Manager Nishi Mishra- Patricio (Maternity Leave)/ Priyangani Aryawansha

8. UCAS code: [For undergraduate programmes only]

9. Relevant QAA benchmark statement(s)

10. Credit & Qualifications framework level

Level 5 - QCF

11. Date specification produced November 2013

12. Date specification last reviewed

Overview. EThames Graduate offers higher education programmes in Health and Social Care as part of a broader suite of qualifications. The programmes are intended for students who wish to work as professional at supervisory or management level , and allow students


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to develop a clear understanding of the health and social care sector.

Programme structure (Include mandatory and optional units with levels and credits)

The programme consists of 8 mandatory units and 8 specialist units to provide a total of 245 credits. Mandatory core units (125 credits) 1. Business Environment – Level 4, 15 credits 2. Managing Financial Resources and Decisions – Level 5, 15 credits 3. Organisations and Behaviour – Level 4, 15 credits 4. Marketing Principles - Level 4, 15 credits 5. Aspects of Contract and Negligence in Business – Level 4, 15 credits 6. Business Decision Making – Level 5, 15 credits 7. Business Strategy – Level 5, 15 credits 8. Research Project – Level 5, 20 credits

Specialist units a total credit value of 120 credits 14. Working with and Leading People – Level 5, credits 20. Sales Planning and Operations – Level 5, 15 credits 21. Human Resource Management – Level 4, 15 credits 33. Small Business Enterprise – Level 5, 15 credits 34. Operations Management in Business – Level 5, 14 credits 37. Company Law – Level 5, 15 credits 38. Business Events Management – Level 4, 15 credits 43. Administrative Services – Level 5, 15 credits Students must complete all sixteen units and pass all assessments to gain their qualification.

Aims of the Programme (Information may be included from the main national BTEC specification)

The BTEC Higher National Diploma aims to help student to develop the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills for success in employment in the health and/or social care sector at supervisory or management level. The programme will help students develop skills and techniques along with personal attributes, attitudes and qualities essential for successful performance in a working context. Students will also be supported to develop transferable skills and knowledge which will prepare them to progress to further professional development or career enhancement.


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Knowledge and understanding

Through study on the BTEC higher nationals, students will develop higher level skills including:

the ability to analyse, synthesise and summarise information critically

the ability to read and use appropriate literature with a full and critical understanding of its value

the ability to think independently and solve problems

the ability to apply subject knowledge, research and understanding to address familiar and unfamiliar problems

the ability to recognise the moral and ethical issues of research; appreciating the need for ethical standards and professional codes of conduct

the capacity to give a clear and accurate account of a subject, assemble arguments in a mature way and engage in debate and dialogue both with specialists and non-specialists.

Skills and other attributes

Through undertaking higher level study, students will also develop a broader range of skills and attributes, some of which will be transferable to other fields of study or areas of work including:

A. Cognitive Skills

State a personal position on an issue

Critical judgement

Integration of theory & practice

Investigative and scholarly capabilities

Reflect on evidence and exercise judgement in a range of situations B. Intellectual Skills

Analyse problems and identify underlying issues

Access, critically analyse and present aspects of current research in health and social care sector

Implement theory into practice

Devise and sustain arguments, and /or to solve problems, using ideas and techniques relevant to the area

Have the capacity for independent thought and judgment work with others and develop interpersonal skills

Demonstrate integration of theory and practice

Consider unfamiliar ideas and ways of thinking, and to examine critically pre-suppositions and methods within the discipline itself


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Teaching methods

Teaching will be through a combination of lecturers, supervised and interactive activities, role plays, question and answer sessions, group work, case studies and broader supervised research. Students are expected to be active participants in their own studies and to undertake directed study and research as well as identifying issues for discussion in groups. Students will be encouraged to engage in formative assessment activities and feedback will be provided to support students to improve their work.

Assessment methods

A range of assessment methods will be used including both group and individual work. These will include practical activities such as role plays, and devising care strategies in response to identified care needs. Students will also be assessed through presentations, reflective journals, essays, quizzes and written reports. All assessment requirements will be clearly set out in assessment briefs and linked clearly individual learning outcomes. Grading criteria will be contextualised as appropriate. Students will have clear deadlines for each assessment and penalties for late submissions will apply. Formative assessment will support students to develop their written, presentation and team working skills.

Entry requirements

To be accepted on to a BTEC higher national programme, applicants should be able to demonstrate that they will be capable of studying at higher levels, normally through having achieved one or more of the following:

a BTEC National Certificate or Diploma , an AVCE/Advanced GS/NVQ in an appropriate vocational area

a GCE Advanced level profile which demonstrates strong performance in a relevant subject or an adequate performance in more than one GCE subject. This profile is likely to be supported by GCSE

grades at A* to C

other related Level 3 qualifications

an Access to Higher Education Certificate awarded by an approved further education institution

relevant work experience.

be aged 18 years or over

Progression routes and options


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Students who successfully complete an HNC are able to progress to the HND, normally along the same subject pathway. If a student has a specialist option at HNC this will normally also be followed at the HND level 5. Upon completion of an HND, students may progress to a top-up year to achieve a Bachelors’ degree with Honours. Thereafter, students may elect to go on to study at Masters level. EThames has progression options validated by 3 partner universities.

Student support

A range of materials will be placed on LiveCampus, the School’s virtual learning environment. Students will receive log-in details as part of induction and will have a training session on how to use Live Campus.

In their first term of study students will receive 12 weeks of academic skills support and development, both as academic writing classes and through Course Essentials. In addition, students can access English language support. Pastoral and academic needs are supported through access to a personal tutor, who will refer students to other sources of help and information as appropriate. Students will be allocated a personal tutor at the start of each year of study.

Graduate employability and career destinations

Students who complete the HNC or HND are able to work as supervisors or in junior management capacities. Students who progress to degree level study may have access to a wider range of professional roles within the broader sector.

Management of teaching quality and standards (Reference internal verification procedures, teaching observation and performance reviews, etc.)

The key approaches to management of quality and standards of teaching and learning include:

All assessments are internally verified prior to being given to students.

All assessed work is internally verified to ensure marks have been fairly and consistently awarded

Where there are boarder-line grades, the work is second marked.

Where agreement between the first and second marker cannot be achieved, an independent third party will review the marking and award the final grade.

Work will be submitted to the standards verifier for consideration

Comments and feedback from the standards verifier will be reflected in an action plan which will also form part of the Annual Programme Monitoring report, and reviewed by the Course Managers and Director of Student Learning.

All lecturers will be observed teaching at least once per year and feedback provided to support enhancement of teaching.

Students will be asked to complete a satisfaction survey at the end of each unit.

Course Boards will be held each term and student representative invited to attend.

Exam Boards will be held each term to monitor student achievement, progression and overall rates of completion.


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Quality indicators (Include reference to achievements, student feedback surveys , external verifier reports, Course Boards and Exam Boards)

The main quality indicators are:

Student satisfaction surveys and student feedback analysis

Confirmation of academic standards by the standards verifiers

Analysis of retention, achievement and success rates through annual monitoring reports

Progress against action plan points

Course Boards and Exam Boards which look at module and programme performance

End of module lecturer reports

Performance Reviews for academic staff

Teaching observations

Meetings between Student Council and senior managers

Links to further information

Use of the UK Quality Code for Higher Education which is mapped to the Teaching & Learning procedure and other key institution policies and procedures.

The Challenges of the programme

Motivating and organising yourself:

You need to be motivated to learn and succeed at anything. Keep thinking about why you are a

student and keep remembering what goals you are trying to achieve – and why these are important

to you. Organisation and self-discipline are also keys to success. But remember it is your own

responsibility to organise yourself and your life – what you study, when you study, how you study.

Ultimately, you have come to EThames to learn – not just to be taught. Learning at EThames is a

much more active experience than being taught and is something you must do for yourself. It is not

something that someone can do for you; you need, therefore, to be motivated to learn.

The process of learning at this level involves you actively discovering information, reading for

yourself and thinking about what you are reading. It also includes discussing and arguing with other

students. That is one reason why you will spend only fifteen hours a week in formal classes along

with Home Office policy for HNC Level for non – EU international students. Your timetable has been

organised to ensure that you have time to become an independent and autonomous learner. With

all the so-called ‘free time’ available, you will often face a choice between study, work and play.

When you are faced with that choice, remember why you came to EThames, and choose study

whenever you can.

At the end of the day, it is up to you. You must manage your learning for yourself, using your tutors

and lecturers as guides and facilitators and your fellow students as contributors as a basis for your

learning.


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One of the main challenges that some students face with their programme is that they will find that

a few units are “difficult”. One of the reasons for this is that students do not apply themselves from

the start and fail to develop a basic understanding of the subject. You also need to ask for help if you

feel lost. Your tutors, your peers and the various leaning systems are there to guide you. A brief

guide is also available in this handbook, later on, to help you overcome this problem.

Description of Units

Unit no

Unit Description

1 Business Environment The aim of this unit is to provide learners with an understanding of different organisations, the influence of stakeholders and the relationship between businesses and the local, national and global environments..

2 Managing Financial Resources and Decisions The unit aim is to provide learners with an understanding of where and how to access sources of finance for a business, and the skills to use financial information for decision making.

3 Organisations & Behaviour The aim of this unit is to give learners an understanding of individual and group behaviour in organisations and to examine current theories and their application in managing behaviour in the workplace.

4 Marketing Principles This unit aims to provide learners with understanding and skills relating to the fundamental concepts and principles that underpin the marketing process.

5 Aspects of Contract and Negligence for Business The aim of this unit is to provide learners with an understanding of aspects of the law of contract and tort and the skill to apply them, particularly in business situations.

6 Business Decision Making This unit gives learners the opportunity to examine a variety of sources and develop techniques in relation to the four aspects of information: data gathering, data storage, tools to create and analyse and present information. Learners will gain an appreciation of ICT systems currently used at all levels in an organisation as aids to decision making.

7 Business Strategy The aim of this unit is to give learners the knowledge and understanding of how a business unit can strategically organise and plan for likely future outcomes in order to be successful.

8 Research Project This unit aims to develop learners' skills of independent enquiry and critical analysis by undertaking a sustained research investigation of direct relevance to their Higher Education programme and professional development.


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14 Working with and leading People. The aim of this unit is to develop the skills and knowledge needed for working with and leading others, through understanding the importance of recruiting the right people for the job.

20 Sales Planning and Operations The aim of this unit is to provide learners with an understanding of sales planning, sales management, and the selling process, which can be applied in different markets and environments.

21 Human Resource Management This unit provides an introduction to the concepts and practices of human resource management within the United Kingdom and focuses on the management of recruitment, retention and employment cessation.

33 Small Business Enterprise This unit gives learners the opportunity to focus on the processes involved in small enterprises through change management, and strategies for the review and improving of performance.

34 Operations Management in Business This unit provides learners with an understanding of the role and importance of operations management (OM) in the efficient and effective production of goods and services.

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Company Law This unit allows learners to develop an understanding of the different types of company, company information and the required documentation. The creation of shares, the rights of shareholders and capital are also covered, along with the powers and duties of directors and the winding up of a company.

38 Business Events Management This unit enables learners to gain understanding and knowledge of different administrative functions and roles. The unit also covers the preparation, coordination, operational planning and management of events and managing time effectively.

43 Administrative Services The aim of this unit is to give learners the understanding and skills to develop, implement, monitor, maintain and improve administrative services.


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Typical Structure of units taught: It may vary

TERM (12 weeks classes)

No of SUBJECTS/UNITS Additional Units if you have to re-take units

Term 1 2 units (new) + Course Essentials

Term 2 3 units (new)





Students who fail any Unit after two attempts will be asked to retake that Unit the next time it is offered, every attempt after the second initial attempt shall be charged at £100; this may also entail a course overrun fee £750 per term (International students only) if the Unit is offered after the end of the original course duration.

Assessments and Submission

All units are mostly based on course work but there may be some exams. The coursework or

assignments will be provided to you by the lecturer during the term and sufficient time will be

provided to the students to work on them. All lecturers will be guiding you throughout the term

regarding the requirement of the assignments. Assessments are externally validated by Edexcel.

Types of assignments can vary from unit to unit but it may involve

Individual assignments

Group assignments and activities

Case studies

Presentations

Examinations

Combination of above

It’s totally up to the lecturer to decide the way of assessment and they can always select other ways

as well like VIVA and in some cases exams.

You will have clear set dates for assessment to be handed in across the term depending upon your

unit and lecturer. All assessments need to be completed and to be submitted by the end of every

term. You will always be informed about the deadline in every term through Live Campus. One thing

which we all need to be prepared is that at EThames we expect hard work from all the students and

they should be mentally prepared for approximately at least 4 assignments by the end of every term.

For that you have to work on weekly basis on your assignments to avoid over burden by the end.

LATE submissions are not allowed and will be penalised.

You must manage your time so that you allow sufficient time to prepare your assignments

adequately to meet the deadlines. The College Assessment Policy is followed unless there is an


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Assessment Policy set out by the Institution or Body awarding the qualification which the student is

studying towards, as this will take precedence.

The College Assessment Policy is available on Live Campus. However some of the key points are

shown here:

All students must submit the assessment/s for any course unit at the first available submission

deadline. Students cannot voluntarily decide to defer the submission of their first assessment

unless there are exceptional circumstances. In these cases the circumstances must be presented

in writing to the Director of Studies in advance of the assessment deadline supported by clear

evidence.

Only serious attempts at any assessment (as deemed by the Course Manager, or Director of

Studies), will be considered.

FIRST ATTEMPT FAIL : this grade will apply to non submission at the first attempt, or to any

assessment that is either heavily plagiarised or not considered to be a serious attempt at the

assessment. Students will have to pay a fee for any assignments beyond the first attempt.

NUMBER OF ALLOWED ATTEMPTS: Depending on the course there will be an agreed number of

attempts at any assessment, after which if still unsuccessful the student will be deemed to have

failed the course. The UK Border Agency rules for International students with Visas permit a

total of only 3 attempts at an assessment. Failure to achieve a pass after the 3 attempts means

that a student is not achieving the satisfactory progress necessary to meet the rules of their

Student Visa. At that point the College is required, as the Student’s UKBA Sponsor under the

Points Based Visa system, to report the student to the UKBA and expel them from the course.

After any assessment period, where a tutor decides that the course may not be at the correct

level for a student, the student will be invited to attend a counselling interview to discuss his/her

options.

After the start of the course, students should expect to be assessed on an ongoing or regular

basis in order to gauge their academic progress, so that the teaching staff can ensure that all

students are benefiting from the course and making adequate progress towards their

qualification. This assessment often takes the form of set ‘homework’. However, assessments

can take many forms - not just tests and exams, or written assignments. Students may be

assessed by role-plays, answering questions, or giving a presentation. Tutors are responsible for

providing feedback to students on their progress.

Students on whose Admission letter indicates that they require a pre-session English course will

have their current level of English assessed during the enrolment process via an on-line quiz on


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Live Campus, followed by a face to face interview with one of the English department. They will

be advised on the correct level of class to join. Subsequently, their progress will be assessed

both on an ongoing basis and at the mid and end point in the term. Students with good

attendance should expect to progress through one level of English in one term (12 teaching

weeks over a 3 month period). Any student wishing to progress to a higher level of English class

or straight on to their Academic course against the express advice of the College must be

interviewed by a senior member of the English Department (Director or Assistant Director of

Studies); if they continue to ignore the College advice they must sign a ‘Disclaimer’ form

accepting full responsibility for their future academic progress in the College.

There are a limited number of situations where a late submission may be accepted. These cases

are referred to as Mitigating or Extenuating Circumstances and must be supported by

appropriate evidence before they can be considered. Examples of such cases include illness and

bereavement of a close family member. Work commitments are not accepted as a reason for

late submission by full-time students.

Details of the process for submitting cases of Mitigating or Extenuating Circumstances are

contained in the School’s Assessment Policy.

Live Campus (Essential throughout HND Programme)

Live Campus is the School’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and is used extensively for both

academic and administrative purposes.

As part of the Induction Programme for your course you will receive log-in details and have a

training session on Live Campus so that you are in a position to use it from the outset of your

programme.

You will find a copy of this Handbook on Live Campus along with details of all the Units you will be

studying. There is also information relating to the assessment process and ALL your assignments

must be submitted electronically using Live Campus.

You will receive your assessment feedback and results via Live Campus. It is important that you

check Live Campus regularly as any changes to your programme or your timetabled classes will be

notified via this system. You may also receive emails via Live Campus into your personal email box,

or SMS text messages to your mobile phone.

Grading

Assessments are marked by EThames staff and are also Internally Verified by lecturers and the


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Course Manager. This is to ensure there is quality and accuracy in the marking of assignments and

that adequate feedback is provided to each student.

Following is the general guide line to understand the marking of the assignments. Remember that

assignments are marked by your lecturers, then verified internally (IV) by other Tutors who are

eligible to IV and finally verified by Edexcel external assessors. Make sure it’s always a serious

attempt, or it will count as a First Fail, for example if it is a piece of work copied or purchased from

the internet or other students.

Results are subject to Final confirmation by the Edexcel External Examiners, and so may change at

after their regular inspection visits to the college where they check students work.

Grade Description

Fail Not meeting all requirements defined in the assessment criteria

Refer (Fail) Not all assessment criteria met and changes need to be made to some of the assignment in order to pass the module

Pass Meeting all the requirements defined in the assessment criteria for pass for each unit.

Merit In order to achieve a merit the student must: identify and apply strategies to find appropriate solutions select/design and apply appropriate methods / techniques present and communicate appropriate findings Relevant theories should be applied Range of sources of information should be used

Distinction In order to achieve a distinction the student must: use critical reflection to evaluate own work and justify valid conclusions take responsibility for managing and organising activities demonstrate convergent/lateral/creative thinking

Make sure that you understand the very important concept of Plagiarism which affects the results

of most of the students and can result in a Fail, or after warnings can lead to expulsion from the

College

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the theft or appropriation of someone else's work without proper acknowledgement,

presenting the materials as if they were one's own. At EThames Graduate School 0% plagiarism

policy is followed. Plagiarism is a serious academic offence and the consequences are severe.

Plagiarism is explained fully during Induction. It is especially important for EThames’ students to

become aware of plagiarism in all its styles and dimensions, for a very specific reason. Deliberate

plagiarism is regarded as a serious act of academic misconduct. Please see the Academic Honesty


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section of this document and Appendix B for the Plagiarism Policy of the College in full.

The College has invested in plagiarism checking software, called TURNITIN, linked directly to Live

campus, which will be used routinely to check student work.

Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s work as your own. Some examples of plagiarism are:

Reproducing or paraphrasing published material without acknowledging the source.

Presenting information from electronic sources without acknowledging the source.

Passing off ideas, designs, inventions or any other creative work as your own.

Copying the work of another student, either presently studying or a past student.

Undeclared collusion with another student.

Getting someone else to do the work for you.

Very few students commit such offences, but ETGS believes that it is important that all students

understand that the College does not compromise on Plagiarism.

There are degrees of plagiarism, particularly where published work is concerned. Minor instances of

plagiarism are dealt with at the discretion of the Subject Tutor, for example;

A student fails to reference a work properly.

A student fails to acknowledge the source of a short section of an assignment.

Where an instance of plagiarism has been treated as minor, a warning will be issued about future

conduct. The assignment may receive a lower mark than might otherwise have been awarded

More serious infringements, which cannot be treated as minor, will result in a report to the Principal

and a record placed on the student’s file. The ETGS Academic Board will penalise students who are

found to have presented plagiarised work for assessment by taking appropriate steps, ultimately

resulting in the student being excluded from further studies on the programme.


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Exam Boards

Exam Board meetings take place every term to discuss the most recent submissions and re-

submissions of assignments. These meetings are designed to ensure the quality of marking and

assess the plagiarism scores for each student. Depending on your plagiarism score, this meeting will

decide whether your grade for your assignment: stays the same, is downgraded, or failed.

Here is a guideline for how plagiarism scores are assessed – this is not fixed and discussions may take

place within the meeting:

Plagiarism

Score

Action Result

0-15% The Board reviews plagiarism

within the body of the assignment

Agreed grade remains or could be

downgraded

15-20% The Board reviews plagiarism


Grade may be downgraded (this can only

take place if a Merit or Distinction was

awarded initially) or the assignment may be

given a Fail (this takes place if the originally

awarded grade is a Pass)

20%+ The Board confirms plagiarism


Assignment given a Fail regardless of the

initial mark awarded

Results Published

Every term HND results are usually published within 5 to 6 weeks after assignment submission.

Please note that grades are not final until the Exam Board has discussed student’s grades and results

have been officially published by the Course Coordinator. Exact dates of result will be informed

within the term. You don’t have to wait for previous term’s result to progress to the next term and

can start the classes without the result.

Appeals

Once results are published, students have the right and option to appeal the grade decision. The

Course Coordinator will inform the students of the forms they may fill in for the process to begin.

Students may only appeal for the most recent assignment submissions and re-submissions and can

only appeal for each module and its assignment once.

Students will be given a deadline for when all Appeals must be sent to the Course Coordinator in

order for your request to be taken into consideration. Failure to not fill in the Appeals form correctly

or delivery past the deadline will results in your Appeals being dismissed. The Appeals will be

discussed by another Exam Board meeting to determine the outcome. Results given after the

Appeals and second Exam Board are final.


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Fee Payments Up-to-date payment of Course fee is essential under all circumstances, otherwise discussed with the management, to get the result of all the terms. If up-to-date fee payments are not made it will lead to results being withheld for each of the units until the financial matters are cleared with the Accounts department.

At the end of HND – The Diploma

Please note that you need to get the result (Pass) of all 16 units, at the end of the programme, for

EDEXCEL Certificate. This certificate is essential for further progress to BSc (Hons) International

Tourism and Hospitality Management.


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Study Tips

Attend all lectures and/or seminars throughout the year. Poor attendance has been proven

to be directly linked with module failure rates.

Get hold of core textbooks from the first week of classes. You will not be able to successfully

complete your studies without these books.

When studying for a module, reading the lecture notes on live campus is not enough. You

need to complement your reading by using the core textbooks and/or other material

provided.

Plan your time to study the core textbooks on a weekly basis (Time management booklet

can go here) College work can very easily pile up, so keep to your study schedule.

Always approach your lecturers for any questions you might have regarding the material

taught. They are here to help you.

Make use of all formative assessments provided by your lecturers. These assessments,

although not counting towards your final unit mark, they are designed to help you improve

your performance.

Plan your time effectively when it comes to submitting coursework. College deadlines are

not flexible.

When writing essays or other coursework, pay particular attention to the College

regulations regarding "plagiarism" (directly copying from sources without appropriate

referencing). You might put your unit grade or your whole programme at risk if you are not

careful with this issue. Please read the plagiarism report available in this handbook and also

refer to the Guide to Harvard Referencing available on Live campus.

Should you require assistance with your writing please be sure to take advantage of the

Academic Writing skill classes or English Language courses provided in the college. They are

for your help

Don't forget that you are also here to enjoy the College experience. So, allow yourself

adequate time to socialise with other students and learn various cultural facts.

Further Progress (After HND)

After successfully completing all 16 units student can progress to BSc (Hons) International

Tourism and Hospitality Management – University of Sunderland (12 months duration), or

provision at another university of your choice.


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For International Student Only. If you need to obtain a further Visa to continue to study in the

UK, the College will only continue to Sponsor you if you have made good academic progress,

have paid your fees on time, and have excellent attendance. A Visa for progression

(International students only) to a new course under the new Tier 4 of the Points Based System

requires that you have a Sponsor College (EThames) and can show recent bank accounts with

the course fees plus 2 months living costs (£800 or £600 depending on the College location)

Ask the E-Team

Q: What happens if I do not submit my assignment at the first available opportunity?

A: There are two answers to this question:

1. If you do not submit your assignment because you didn’t prepare properly for the

assessment your result will be given a Fail for this particular assessment

2. You didn’t submit your assignment because you had mitigating circumstances (like

someone dear to you passed away or any other significant difficulty) then if you

informed the college before the assessment deadline and submitted the relevant

documentation, then special concession might be given to you based on the severity of

the situation.

Q: What happens if my computer breaks or due to a virus on my system I lose all of my

assignments and am not able to submit my assignment?

A: Unfortunately the college cannot take responsibility for any technical difficulties you

experience and you are required to protect all of your work and the deadline is set well in advance to ensure you are well prepared for your assignment. Therefore you have to save your assignment on your flash drive as well as send yourself the assignment as an attachment in an email. In this instance if you do not submit your assignment you will be given a Fail for this assessment

Q: What will happen if I “Fail” the same unit 3 times?

A: According to the UK Border Agency rules and the requirement of your VISA, you get a

maximum of 3 assessment opportunities where after the college will have to withdraw their sponsorship, report you to the UKBA and cancel your admission. For UK and EU students, failure 3 times may mean that you have to repeat the Unit and this may extend the period of your study.

Q: How can I get a Fail in an assignment?

A: You will be given a Fail in an assessment due to one of the following reasons

if you don’t submit your assignment on time

if you don’t fulfil all of the learning outcomes for the assessment

if you are found guilty of unfair academic practice


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Q: What is Unfair Academic Practice?

A: This is explained in the Student handbook but it basically says that any work that is not really

your own (your friends or work from the Internet copied and pasted) but you say and confirm it is your own is unfair academic practice and can lead to you being expelled from the college.

Q: What should I do if I miss a payment instalment?

A: As a fulltime student you have agreed to pay your fees at specific times and therefore if you

are not able to pay at the specified time due to unforeseen circumstances you are required to make a relevant fee arrangement with the accounts department before you miss your instalment/payment.

Q: If my fees are not paid can I still get my results?

A: Unfortunately your results will be withheld until your fees are up to date, as well as any

certificates will not be handed to you if you have any unpaid fees. This might result in you missing the next deadline for assignment submission or even registration deadlines and could result in you having to extend your course (this will cost you extra money).

Q: Who do I speak to if I want to discuss my current instalment plan?

A: You have to speak to any member of the Accounts department. They are based in the

Canary Wharf campus on the 4th floor. They will be able to make a relevant arrangement with you.

Q: Can I progress onto my next stage of studies even if I didn’t clear all of the units for my

current session?

A: You will only be able to progress if you clear all of your units for your current session and

your certificate arrives – then only will your application be sent away for your next stage.

Q: Who do I contact if I have any questions about assignments or results?

A: You can send an email to [email protected] and can expect a reply within 48 hours

Timetable (Sample)

Timetables will vary depending on classroom and lecturers’ availability, and we cannot guarantee

that classes will be on the same days each week where a student progresses to a higher course level

in the following term. However the following are typical timetables which usually consist of 3 days

classes a week. Remember it’s just a sample and may not be the actual timetable for your classes.

mailto:[email protected]


22

Course Essentials:

Course Essentials is designed to enable learners to assess and develop a range of skills in order to

help them to succeed in assignment based assessments. This unit aims to develop learners’ abilities

to organize, manage and practice a range of approaches to improve their performance in

preparation of assignments. It will also facilitate the process of analytical and critical thinking.

Although the emphasis of this unit is on the needs of the individual but is within the context of how

the development of self-management corresponds with effective team management in meeting

objectives.

Intakes - Course Start Dates - Holidays

Intake Classes start Duration Term Break (Holiday)

January 2015

4th week of January

12 weeks of classes

One week after the end of the term

October 2014

3rd week of October

12 weeks of classes

One week after the end of the term


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College Holidays in total (12 weeks in one year)

Students get a total of 12 weeks holiday per year if they are on courses lasting one year or longer.

In addition the college is closed on the following Public / Bank Holidays each year:

Christmas Day 25 December or the following

Monday (if the

holiday is on a

Saturday or Sunday

(Boxing day holiday

is a Tuesday if 26th

December is a

Sunday)

In College

Christmas Holiday

period

Boxing Day 26 December

New Year’s Day 1st January

Good Friday and Easter

Monday

April (dates vary each

year),

In College Easter

holiday period

Early May Bank Holiday May First Monday in May In Term Time –

classes may be

rescheduled

Spring Bank Holiday May Last Monday in May In Term Time –

classes may be

rescheduled

Summer Bank Holiday August Last Monday in

August

In Term Time –

classes may be

rescheduled

There are no classes in these 12 weeks – the College facilities will be available except for Public Holidays as above

Summary of main holiday periods*: Easter –2 weeks Summer- 5 weeks Christmas – 2 weeks At the end of term: 1 week

Your Support Network

Your studies will benefit from a wide support network. The LiveCampus provide generic support on

your programme. You also have to consider the practical and emotional help and support that you

will need.

Along with the people you already know you will soon meet a host of new people who are here to

help you. Below you will find the names and contact details for some of the people who will be your

support network.


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Your Personal Support Network

In addition to the support on offer at EThames you should consider all other support networks. It will

be of great help to you if you can call on the support of your family, friends and work colleagues.

Name When to Contact Contact address

Priyangani

Aryawanshi Course Manager

[email protected]

Nishi Mishra- Patricio

Course Manager (Maternity Leave))

[email protected]

Kim Kang Course administer [email protected]

Jonathan Rajadurai

Live campus queries [email protected]

Darren Windsor CM forEDSML [email protected]

Alex Addo Lecturer [email protected]

Junaid Khurshid Lecturer [email protected]

Charles Barfi Lecturer [email protected]

Attendance

[email protected]

Gants Hill Campus

Gants Hill Campus

412-416 Eastern Avenue, Ilford, London, IG2 6NQ T: +44 (0) 20 8518 5190 F: +44 (0) 20 8554 9270

Miranda Hobart Director of Student Learning/Academic Director

[email protected]

Ben de Witt Student Services Manager [email protected]

Emergency Number

when College is closed in the evenings and weekends

07983836153

mailto:[email protected]


25

All kinds of support can be valuable, whether it is encouragement, child-minding, a shoulder to cry

on or someone who has specific subject knowledge. Consider your own 'phone a friend' support

network.

Students are encouraged to meet weekly in ‘Study Groups’ with other students and take full

advantage of the Learning Centre/Library. Group studies are also highly recommended by all the

lecturers at EThames as these activities develop analytical skills among students which is essential in

today’s competitive business environment. Don’t miss this opportunity to develop various skills and

be in the good books of other.

English Language Support

Students coming from every part of the world are very proud of their native language but we need

to understand our strengths and weaknesses when it comes to ENGLISH. As everyone is required to

submit assignments up to the academic level of EThames and Edexcel we have to realise the

importance of Academic writing and English and need to improve it if we consider it as one of our

weakness.

EThames always encourage students and provide full support and plenty of opportunities to

overcome this weakness. All students must attend Course Essential class. However if additional

English support is required, the following are the courses provided in School of English by EThames:

You can book an appointment with your Course Manager, or Mike Raith head of School of English for

more information.

1. General English course:

These courses are for students wishing to improve their English Language skills in progressive stages

building towards fluency. They cover the basic language skills of reading, listening, speaking and

writing with an additional focus on pronunciation and academic writing. See the course descriptions

for pre-intermediate, intermediate and upper intermediate levels to see what you will be able to do

after each of these courses.

2. Additional English Support:

This is an optional support programme provided to the students who need additional support in

assignment writing. This must be taken in addition to their regular classes


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Learning Centre Support Services

EThames Graduate School recognises the need to continually invest in the latest technology and

support facilities in order to meet the demands and requirements of our students. The library

located on the 4th floor of the Marsh Wall Campus is fully air conditioned and equipped with the

latest text book publications covering the following support.

Microsoft Office support is available in learning centre.

Assistance in locating relevant resources for your studies.

The library operates a loan system.

Attendance Policies

It is extremely important that you attend classes regularly both for academic purposes and for Visa

purposes. Course attendance will be monitored closely and action will be taken against students

who do not attend on a regular basis. It is a condition of the College’s Sponsor Licence that we MUST

report students to the UK Border Agency where they fail to attend their classes regularly, as this is

one of the rules of your Visa. This will be a permanent mark on your UK immigration status, and may

affect your ability to come to the UK for many years to come. Non-attendance will also be reported

to Transport for London, who will cancel your Student Discount Oyster card.

You should aim to attend 100% of teaching sessions. If you are absent due to ill health it is

imperative that you inform the School administration as soon as possible and obtain medical

evidence to support your absence.

Research has shown that attendance and academic success are closely related and students with

poor attendance records frequently fail elements of their programme of study and thus take longer

than expected to complete their course. Students’ Responsibilities

Students should not knowingly miss a class for anything other than illness or exceptional

circumstances. It is not advisable to take holiday in term time.

EThames Graduate School expects students to:

o attend all lectures/tutorials/classes as specified in the timetable, according to their

signed learning contract;

o Maintain punctuality in attending classes, ensuring they arrive at least 5 minutes

before class begins, and not to leave until the end of the session, unless by prior


27

arrangement with the Lecturer.

o touch in and out at reception each time they enter and leave the College (for Health

& Safety purposes);

o conform with all college policies;

o ensure that you log in on LiveCampus to get all handouts, homework, assignments,

exam information, etc. on a daily basis and also should they be absent for any

period;

o ensure you request from their lecturers any materials supplied in the class during

times you have been absent;

o contact the College if you are going to be late for a class session; and

o complete the term of study with EThames Graduate School and, on completion of

the allowed study period return to their home country without any undue delay,

unless a further Leave to Remain in the UK as a student or otherwise has been

granted by the UKBA or an appeal is in progress.

Contact and Warnings

Courses at EThames Graduate School are held for a minimum of 15 contact hours per week spread

over a minimum of 3 days per week. Students who cannot attend the course by the scheduled start

date must inform the College, in writing, a week prior to that date. Within the College’s discretion a

student will still be accepted up to a maximum of 2 weeks after the start date of the course. The

college is required to notify the UKBA of any student who defers their start date.

Class registers are taken in class either on offline registers or directly on the online register,

depending on the class size. Any student who is absent without College approval, for any part of the

day, will be marked ‘absent’ (A) or ‘late’ (L) for that expected contact.

For each missed contact, the College’s attendance monitoring system will send an e-mail to the

student advising them of their absence and requesting a response to discuss the reasons for the

absence. Should a student miss 3 consecutive expected contacts, a warning letter will be sent to the

student. A second warning letter will be sent should the student fail to attend a further 3 expected

contacts. At this point Transport for London will be informed should the student have a Student

Oyster Discount card. A third warning letter will be sent after a further 3 consecutive absences from

expected contacts. Where a student still fails to attend, the College will have no option but to expel


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the student and inform the UKBA.

Absence due to illness for more than 4 days must be supported by a medical certificate from a

General Practitioner or Hospital Doctor. The College will not, under any circumstances, amend,

adjust or falsify the attendance rate. Leave of absence during term time will be granted only in

exceptional circumstances, by the appropriate Course Manager. Students requesting such absence

should initially contact the Student Welfare Officer.

If students have a genuine reason to defer an assignment, seminar presentation, or examination

they must inform their Course Coordinator well before the date or deadline. Deferral will be granted

only in genuine cases. Failure to qualify for a deferment or non-arrival for an exam or assessment

will result in a fail mark being awarded. Re-sits may be arranged, dependent on the reason for ‘no-

show’. The student may be charged a re-sit fee. External re-sits’ registration and cost are determined

by the appropriate accreditation body.

Actions taken for absenteeism

After every absence you may be telephoned by Attendance team, Course tutor, Course

Manager, or member of Student Services, or receive an email or SMS. They will be trying to

find out if you are facing any problems preventing you from attending the College.

If you continue to miss classes you will receive a series of warning letters which will finally

result in your admission being withdrawn from the school. As soon as you receive a warning

letter you should immediately start attending classes or if there is a valid reason for absence

you must inform your course tutor or student services.

Achieving over 85% attendance is a condition of your Transport for London student photo

card, allowing 30% discount. If your attendance is below this level the College is required to

inform TFL will result in your Transport- the first you will know is that your card will stop

working, and this may lead to your being stopped and questioned at a tube station or on the

bus.

If the College does not hear from you after the warning letters then steps will be taken to

expel you from the College and report you to the UK Border Agency as we are required to do

under the PBS Tier 4 rules for Licensed Sponsor colleges. Note that there are no refunds of

fees under any circumstances for students who are expelled and reported to the Home

Office.


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Behaviour in the College

The School aims to provide a high quality learning environment and you can contribute to this by

behaving in a polite, considerate and adult manner. Here are some of the School’s expectations of

you as a classroom based learner.

Arrive in good time for classes as lateness is disruptive to the learning process

In class you should not distract fellow students by engaging them in conversation

Mobile phones must be switched off in class – you will be asked to leave the class if your

phone rings. Lecturers have the right to charge students a £5 fine for repeated instances of

using mobile phones in class.

You must only speak in English in any part of the college in order to ensure all students can

mix and not feel excluded.

You must respect other students’ differences and cultures at all times in the College.

Students found to be causing trouble, being aggressive (verbal or physical) or bullying other

students or staff will face disciplinary action, which may lead to expulsion. Laptops may only

be used for taking notes during lectures.

Expulsion

Expulsion is when a student is permanently excluded from all EThames Graduate School premises,

services and facilities and the termination of all common and shared obligations except as regards

any non-discharged financial liabilities of the student to the College. No refunds of tuition fees will

be given under any circumstances in the event of expulsion.

EThames Graduate School will always act upon any action that will harm or endanger

students, staff, and visitors on the premises.

Serious offences and behaviours by students will not be tolerated and could lead to the

students been expelled and will always be considered under the student code of conduct.

Students found in possession of any illegal substances and Alcohol, possession and use of

offensive and illegal weapon or any criminal behaviour will be reported to the law

enforcement agency .Such student will be immediately suspended or expelled from the

school. Victims of crime must report it immediately to the police.


30

Students may also be expelled for the following reasons (see College Handbook for details):

o Low attendance

o Non-payment of tuition fees or agreed instalments

o Lack of academic progress

o Misconduct including failure to comply with college rules

o Unfair academic practice

Students found to have false academic documents may be expelled

College ID Cards remain EThames property and you are required to wear the cards visible

whenever on EThames property. Please refer ID card term of use in Live Campus for further

details.

Comments, Suggestions, Feedback and Complaints

The College encourages all students to give us their comments and suggestions on any

aspect of the College or your course, as well as any positive or negative feedback. This helps

us to understand how we can improve things for our students and make the College even

better.

Please use the Comments and suggestion boxes around the College that are checked every

week

Course Feedback

In addition we will ask our students for feedback on their courses at regular intervals, at

least twice a term – either by setting aside some time for a feedback discussion in class or by

asking you to fill in a feedback form either on Live Campus or on a printed paper form

Informal Complaints

The College encourages all students to raise any complaints, give positive or negative

feedback, or suggestions at the earliest opportunity, initially on an informal basis. The

student is encouraged to speak to his/her personal tutor, use the Comments and

Suggestions boxes around the various college buildings, or use the feedback facility in Live

Campus.

Where informal resolution fails to produce a satisfactory outcome, students are advised to

make a formal complaint; please see the formal complaint procedure below.


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Formal Complaints

A student wishing to make a formal complaint should do so in writing addressed to the

Principal and marked ‘Complaint Letter’. You’re Tutor and/or Course Manager or other

appropriate staff member will be asked to comment, depending on the nature of the

complaint. The student will be given the 1st response in writing, within 2 weeks, and if

satisfied that this has resolved their complaint the matter is ended at that stage.

Where a student remains unsatisfied with the outcome/1st Response, the complaint is

passed to the Principal or Management Team. After careful consideration, a 2nd Response

is provided to the student, again within 2 weeks, who has the choice of accepting the

outcome or leaving a comment on record of his/her views on the outcome.

Payment of Fees by Instalments

Most students are in receipt of Student Loans, and payments are made by the Student Loans

Company on a termly basis subject to satisfactory attendance and progress.

Overseas students pay their full tuition fees in advance. The UKVI Student Visa system is designed to

ensure students have access to sufficient funds to pay both their fees and living costs for one year

BEFORE THEY ARE GRANTED THEIR VISA. Thus the College cannot accept any excuses about students

not having access to funds to pay the fees. For additional information on payments by instalments –

please see the main Student College Handbook located on LiveCampus.

Payment Policy

a) EThames Graduate School will publish details of its tuition fees for all course programmes on its

website www.etgs.org.uk. Copies can be obtained from the Admissions Office, Student Services

or the International or Local marketing offices. For any individual student the Fees stated in

their conditional offer will be honoured only for the intake given for admission in that letter; any

deferred application may result in a change in fees; the fees stated in the fees stated in the

unconditional offer/Visa letter/Admissions letter will not be subject to change.

b) Tuition fees do not include fees payable in respect of any accommodation, food, travel, books or

living expenses.

And finally….. we wish you a happy and successful period of study with us at EThames

http://www.etgs.org.uk/

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