FAQ
Application
Are there any English language requirements?
For students who do not live or come from an English language speaking country then we recommend taking an IELTS course to improve your language to level 5.5 or higher. This can be done alongside our courses. Your minimum level of English may vary depending upon which university you decide to complete your top up qualification from.
Do I need any previous experience and qualifications?
You will need to have an IELTS score of level 5.5 or above on completion of the OBS course. You can study an English course alongside the OBS course. At level 4/5 you will require a full secondary education to be eligible to enrol onto the course and universities will require a minimum age before embarking on the university top-up programme. At Level 7 you will require 5 years managerial experience if you do not have a BA degree. This may vary for various University partners however. We will look at every application individually and some exceptions may be looked at.
Will there be an interview?
There is no interview process. You will have to fill out a short application form to make sure you meet the criteria.
How do I choose the best course for me?
Learners should first visit the Business Education International School Course page to view the range of courses on offer. to decide on what subjects best suit the learner, he/she should:
- Review the modules within the course, do they interest you? are they relevant to your chosen career path?
- How the course is taught and assessed, do you have the motivation to study via distance learning? are you able to work independently?
It is important that learners do not try to extend themselves too far and too quickly so should ideally choose a path that comfortably moves on from their existing level of skills and experience.
How do I apply for a course?
You can simply choose your course and enrol online, via the Online Business School course page. Alternatively you can call the OBS Enrollments team on 02476 223 940 and they will guide you through the Enrolment process.
Assignments
All assignment submissions are free of charge.
Yes, all students are encouraged to arrange an initial 30 minute ‘assignment preparation’ session with one of our tutors. The session will be conducted via Skype and will cover all aspects of assignment writing particularly areas that students need to be wary of.
In addition to this, students have access to tutors who work with Online Business School. The tutor details are available via the Dashboard and will show which areas they specialise in and when they are available for sessions. If a student wishes to arrange a session they can do so directly from the Dashboard, where they can specify which topic they need assistance with, or they can contact our support team at studentsupport@onlinebusinessschool.com. Further information is available in the Student Handbook and the relevant course information packs.
Submissions need to be uploaded to via the dashboard, in the ‘assignment’ area.
Students must also provide a plagiarism report for all submitted assignments
In addition to this, students have access to tutors who work with Online Business School. The tutor details are available via the Dashboard and will show which areas they specialise in and when they are available for sessions. If a student wishes to arrange a session they can do so directly from the Dashboard, where they can specify which topic they need assistance with, or they can contact our support team at studentsupport@onlinebusinessschool.com. Further information is available in the Student Handbook and the relevant course information packs.
Submissions need to be uploaded to via the dashboard, in the ‘assignment’ area.
Students must also provide a plagiarism report for all submitted assignments
We recommend students write between 5000 – 8000 words for each assignment, although students will not be penalised for going over this word count limit as long as the work is related to the assignment question.
Assignments are released to students upon enrolment.
After an assignment has been submitted our markers will return the results within 10 working days. Once all assignments have been completed and marked an Internal Verifier will check the work, which usually takes up to 10 working days. After the Internal Verification has come back, and agrees with the initial marking, all of the assignments are sent to ATHE for External Verification. ATHE will check all of the work to be sure it is of the correct standard, this process can take up to 30 working days. In total once you have completed all assignments and had them marked it can take up to 40 working days to receive your final result.
Costs
Is the online payment taken immediately?
Yes. Once OBS has received the cleared funds your course material will be released to you immediately.
Is there any financial assistance available?
OBS offers an interest free payment plan so that you can pay for your course over a set number of months. Contact one of our student advisers for more information about this. UK students may also be eligible for student loans for the university top-up programme. Learners should make enquiries direct to their chosen university.
Are there likely to be any additional costs?
No additional costs are levied by OBS, and all additional learning resources including tutor support, e-books, games and short business courses, are included in course tuition fees. For more information relating to tutor support click here.
What payment options are available?
Payment can be made online through Sage Pay by credit/debit card, bank transfer or PayPal through any of our international banks.
- Review the modules within the course, do they interest you? are they relevant to your chosen career path?
- How the course is taught and assessed, do you have the motivation to study via distance learning? are you able to work independently?
It is important that learners do not try to extend themselves too far and too quickly so should ideally choose a path that comfortably moves on from their existing level of skills and experience.
How much do assessments cost?
Assessments are included with the course purchases.
Credibility
Who are ATHE?
ATHE provides colleges with qualifications in management, business, tourism and health & social care, ATHE have made a name for themselves with good customer service, rewarding qualifications and happy learners with progression routes to university degrees. ATHE provide, bespoke training support, great value for money, comprehensive university progressions, dedicated support from an ATHE officer, simple easy to use documents and website, innovative qualifications, External Verifier support, flexible delivery solutions, a global focus and a close business development relationship. Please visit athe.co.uk for more information.
How are Universities linked to the modules?
Learners who achieve an OBS qualification are automatically mapped against a standard UK Higher Education qualification framework. This is a universally recognised framework of credits. Universities can therefore award credits against the OBS study to give exemptions from large parts of their formal programmes. OBS and ATHE have pre agreed arrangements with certain universities to provide credits against programmes either on campus or off campus. This is termed ‘university top-up’.
General
Who are OBS?
The Online Business School Ltd is a company registered in the UK under English law.7750588
What do OBS do?
The Online Business School is dedicated to providing a wide range of Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses at an affordable cost. All learning activities, materials and content are provided online using modern delivery models to make learning more engaging and cost effective. On completion of an OBS course it will give you recognised University credits to then “top up” at one of our UK University partners, saving you time and money.
Personal Details
How do I change my personal contact details once I have given them to OBS?
All details can be edited through the student dashboard. Once a student has enrolled they can login a view their course progress, edit their profile and chat to fellow students in the forum.
Can I still access my Student Dashboard if I have finished my course?
Access to the OBS Dashboard is for a maximum of 4 years from date of enrolment. This can be extended if a request is made in writing to OBS Student admin.
I have forgotten my username/password and cannot login to my dashboard, how can I get access?
If learners have lost or forgotten their log in details, they can request a new password on provision of their email address. Email admin@onlinebusinessschool.com for more assistance.
Progression
Will I be able to get through to higher education through OBS?
The OBS programmes are mapped against UK higher education qualifications which are fully transferable to a range of other higher education routes and professional qualifications. On completion of the OBS level 4/5 programme students will be awarded 240 credits ( The first 2 years of a Undergraduate degree) . They can then top up to their final year at one of our University partners who recognise the ATHE qualification. Similarly at level 7 students gain 120 credits from a total of 180 credits for an MBA. Again they can top up at an OBS University partner.
What potential job opportunities are there after I finish the course?
Once you successfully complete your final year at university, you will have a full BA degree or postgraduate qualification that will open doors to many career options.
Student Support
What do I do if I am struggling?
You can seek help from dedicated forums or request tutor help. Students can interact and help each other through the course content and share interesting and relevant links with each other. We also have a dedicated tutor support team all specialising in all OBS modules.
Can I talk to other students?
All students that have enroled onto a course can communicate with other students via the social learning forum.
How much support is available for students?
Learners can use the social learning forums without limitation and talk to fellow learners around the world. Learners may also choose to purchase additional tutor support. Tutors will also present webinars on demand which are available free of charge to all students.
Studying
Is the online payment taken immediately?
Yes. Once OBS has received the cleared funds your course material will be released to you immediately.
Is there any financial assistance available?
OBS offers an interest free payment plan so that you can pay for your course over a set number of months. Contact one of our student advisers for more information about this. UK students may also be eligible for student loans for the university top-up programme. Learners should make enquiries direct to their chosen university.
Are there likely to be any additional costs?
No additional costs are levied by OBS, and all additional learning resources including tutor support, e-books, games and short business courses, are included in course tuition fees. For more information relating to tutor support click here.
What payment options are available?
Payment can be made online through Sage Pay by credit/debit card, bank transfer or PayPal through any of our international banks.
- Review the modules within the course, do they interest you? are they relevant to your chosen career path?
- How the course is taught and assessed, do you have the motivation to study via distance learning? are you able to work independently?
It is important that learners do not try to extend themselves too far and too quickly so should ideally choose a path that comfortably moves on from their existing level of skills and experience.
How much do assessments cost?
Assessments are included with the course purchases.
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Studying outside the UK
Is the online payment taken immediately?
Yes. Once OBS has received the cleared funds your course material will be released to you immediately.
Is there any financial assistance available?
OBS offers an interest free payment plan so that you can pay for your course over a set number of months. Contact one of our student advisers for more information about this. UK students may also be eligible for student loans for the university top-up programme. Learners should make enquiries direct to their chosen university.
Are there likely to be any additional costs?
No additional costs are levied by OBS, and all additional learning resources including tutor support, e-books, games and short business courses, are included in course tuition fees. For more information relating to tutor support click here.
What payment options are available?
Payment can be made online through Sage Pay by credit/debit card, bank transfer or PayPal through any of our international banks.
- Review the modules within the course, do they interest you? are they relevant to your chosen career path?
- How the course is taught and assessed, do you have the motivation to study via distance learning? are you able to work independently?
It is important that learners do not try to extend themselves too far and too quickly so should ideally choose a path that comfortably moves on from their existing level of skills and experience.
How much do assessments cost?
Assessments are included with the course purchases.