Frequently Asked Questions

MA Education programmes

The tuition fees for our postgraduate Education programmes are:
Total – £6,960
Per 15-credit module – £580

MPH and MSc Healthcare programmes

The tuition fees for an MPH or MSc Healthcare programme are:
Total – £7,500
Per 15-credit module – £625

More programme information

Our degree programmes are offered as part-time study only.

No. Our degree programmes are not third-party accredited.

Our degree programmes have six start dates each year, so you will be able to get your studies started soon after your application is accepted. Visit
your preferred programme's homepage to find the next available start date.

Our degree programmes are designed to be completed in 24 months part-time.

Our degree programmes are 180 SCQF credits (Scottish Credit Qualifications Framework).

An exit award provides recognition of completion of a number of credits, when you have not completed a full Master's programme. It means you may be
able to exit your programme with a Postgraduate Certificate after completing 60 credits (four modules), or a Postgraduate Diploma after 120 credits (eight modules). For more information please contact the Enrolment Team at: enrolments@online.qmu.ac.uk

While a Master's degree can help to accelerate your career and advance your pathway to higher level study, we'd encourage you to check the specific
entry requirements of the programme and institution you are interested in to confirm if our programmes can support your entry to certain doctoral
programmes.

These online programmes will include a dissertation or research project.

Your degree certificate and transcript will not state you have studied online and will look the same as those of students who study on-campus.

Entry requirements

You will need to have a recognised undergraduate or postgraduate degree (or equivalent qualification) equivalent to or higher than a UK Bachelor
Honours (including third class honours) degree qualification. Alternatively, you may also be considered if you can demonstrate at least two years
relevant work experience in a professional, managerial or supervisory role. For the MSc Nursing programme, you need to be registered with the NMC or
equivalent, and have an undergraduate degree in Nursing.

If English is not your first language, you will need to verify your language ability with an English certificate such as IELTS or Duolingo. Please
visit the programme page for all English language verification options.

Yes. You will need to submit proof of two years of experience within a relevant career pathway, as well as a work experience form and a reference from
your employer sent directly to us. Please note this excludes the MSc Nursing programme which requires a relevant qualification and NMC (or equivalent) registration.

It is possible to apply for the 'Recognition of Prior Learning'. It is worth noting that RPL applications should be submitted prior to starting your
programme, and will be considered by an RPL panel, which will make the final decision. For more information, please contact the Enrolments Team at
enrolments@online.qmu.ac.uk

No. These degree programmes are entirely online therefore you cannot be issued with a student visa to study with us.

Applying

To apply, click 'Apply Now' at the bottom of our homepage and follow the steps to complete our online application form.

Our degree programmes have six start dates each year with the application deadline for each approximately 2–3 weeks beforehand. Visit your preferred
programme's page for our next available application deadline.

If you are applying via the academic route of entry, please provide a copy of your degree certificate and, if your degree was not completed in the
UK, a degree transcript. You will also need to provide proof of English language proficiency if English is not your first language. If you are
applying via the professional experience route, please provide your CV and proof of English language proficiency (if applicable). Our Enrolment Team
can then provide you with the work experience form to complete, and guidance on a professional reference. When applying for the MSc Nursing, you
will also need to provide proof of your NMC or equivalent registration.

You can upload your documents with your application on your student dashboard.

If you are applying via the work experience route, you will be required to obtain a professional reference. This must be official – submitted on
official letter headed paper with a stamp of authenticity or sent directly from a professional email address. References cannot be accepted from
personal email accounts such as Gmail or Yahoo.

You will typically receive a decision on your application within 1–5 working days, should all required documentation be submitted along with your
application form.

You can reset your password by clicking 'Forgot Password' on your application login page.

Yes, if you have not submitted an application or received an offer you can contact the Enrolments Team on the Free phone line: +44 8000488008,
Local Line:+44 1316084315 or enrolments@online.qmu.ac.uk and they can update your programme preference.

Receiving an offer

By completing payment and registering for your first module, you are accepting Queen Margaret University's Terms and Conditions attached to your
offer.

Yes, however, you will need to speak to a member of our Enrolments Team on the Freephone line: +44 8000488008, Local Line: +44 1316084315 or
enrolments@online.qmu.ac.uk to arrange. You can only defer your offer twice.

Fees and payment

Our tuition fees vary by programme and are displayed at the top of each programme page. Find and select your programme to view its cost.

You will need to complete your module payment the Friday before your module start date, however, we recommend that you complete the payment at your soonest opportunity to give you time to review your online learning platform and Orientation Module. If you have paid in full, you will still need to register for your module by this day.

You can pay your fees on your Student Dashboard, where you completed your application.

Unfortunately, you cannot pay your tuition fees in instalments. You can however pay per module to help break up the cost of your programme.

You can pay your fees either in full or per module by credit or debit card.

No. Students of our online degree programmes pay the same fees regardless of location.

You need to withdraw from your programme within 14 days of your start date to be eligible for a refund. You will need to let us know on
studentsuccess@online.qmu.ac.uk within the 14-day window, and complete a withdrawal request form indicating you would like a refund.

Scholarships and funding

Students based in the UK may be eligible for a postgraduate loan. You can visit the following websites for more information if you normally live in:
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland

To apply, please visit the following websites for more information, if you normally live in:
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland

Yes your employer can fund your course. They will need to request an invoice from us which they can then pay to the university directly. For more information, please contact our Enrolment Team at enrolments@online.qmu.ac.uk

Unfortunately, QMU do not offer scholarships for our online degree programmes. However, there may be other organisations which will be happy to provide a postgraduate scholarship to support your study at QMU, so we'd encourage you to search online.

Yes. If you have previously completed an undergraduate degree at QMU you will be eligible for our alumni 10% discount.

Please visit Student Awards Agency Scotland to check your eligibility and find out more.

Studying online

QMU uses Canvas. It’s a digital learning environment that promotes student-centred learning through a modern user-friendly platform.

Our digital online learning platform Canvas will provide you with the tools you need to chat, exchange ideas and interact with your fellow learners.
It's a great way to build a friendly community of learners who can support and interact with you throughout your learning journey.

We recommend 21.5 hours a week of study, but there is no live delivery.

There are two breaks built into each year of the programme:
Winter – 2 weeks
Summer – 2 weeks
You will study for seven weeks and then submit your assignments on the eighth week. For more information, please contact the Enrolment Team at enrolments@online.qmu.ac.uk

There will be a mixture of study methods, including independent reading, contribution to weekly discussion boards, formative and summative assessments, as well as some pre-recorded micro-lectures.

You will be assessed with a variety of different assessment methods. This may include (but is not limited to) written essays, contributions to discussion boards, annotated bibliographies, case study reports, video essays, strategy or care plans, digital portfolios, critical reflective commentaries. For more information, our Enrolment Team can provide you with some programme specifications with more information specific to your chosen programme.

These courses are 100% online with no 'in person' requirements. This allows you to study in a flexible way, so you can choose times to study that fit into your lifestyle and around your commitments. Online programmes offer six start dates a year and are delivered in an accelerated study format.

All of the programmes are subject to periodic review once every five years to ensure they remain fit for purpose and meet the needs of students and employers. Between these larger-scale five-year review events, the programmes undergo annual monitoring. Larger scale changes are introduced through these key quality processes. Minor changes may also occasionally be introduced throughout the year, where it is considered appropriate to ensure currency and a high-quality learning experience. All changes are carefully planned to minimise potential disruption to the student journey.

You should not be required to purchase any textbooks and will have access to our online library resources.

All coursework and assessments are completed online, so you will not need to travel to undertake your studies.

No. These programmes are delivered as asynchronous learning. This means there are no live parts of the programme, so you can choose to study in your free time and at a time which suits you. The programme's student success coordinators and the programme team will, however, monitor your engagement with the programme. Ideally, and to support your success, we would recommend you engage with the programme regularly. (No engagement for 5 days will be considered a potential challenge to your success.)

There will be information on how to access your materials in the Orientation Module. For any IT issues during your studies, we also have the IT Helpdesk that can assist you.

Academic support

After you begin your studies and have access to our online learning platform, Canvas, you can access your tutor's email addresses via the 'Tutors' button on the homepage of any academic module. Please ensure you only contact your tutors via your student email address. You can email tutors from the Canvas email platform or through your QMU email account.

You will interact with your online tutor via chat boards on our learning platform, Canvas. They will help you to reflect on your learning each week, facilitate conversations between you and your peers, and provide guidance on how to approach your assignments.

Disability support will be offered to QMU Online students, mainly in the form of published online resources and guidance. Where necessary, online appointments and advice may be offered. The Disability Service will support the development of Individual Learning Plans for students who supply evidence of additional learning needs. Unfortunately, it is not practically possible to offer equipment or non-medical personal help to students who are studying at a distance. To contact the disability service email OSS@qmu.ac.uk