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UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES)

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FAQs

Course Information

1. How long are your courses?
Each course consists of 30 lessons, which are delivered in 3 x 10-week terms.

2. How long are the lessons?
Each lesson is 2 hours long.

3. How many lessons are there in a term?
There are 10 lessons per term.

4. Where do the lessons take place?
The lessons take place online.

5. What time do the lessons start?
Lessons start at 6.30pm and finish at 8.30pm.

6. On what day of the week do the lessons take place?
Different courses are taught on different days - see the timetable on your chosen language's page.

7. What sort of things will I learn?
General course content is outlined on the Course Structure & Term Dates page. 

8. What textbooks do you use?
Some of our courses have a set textbook, others do not. Usually, courses are taught using a range of materials drawn from a variety of sources. A list of books and materials is listed on each language page. 

9. Who will teach my course?
All of our courses are taught by experienced, professionally qualified language teachers. They are all native speakers.

10. Will I always have the same teacher throughout the course?
We make every effort to ensure that our students enjoy the continuity of learning with a single teacher. However, we do reserve the right to replace a teacher if unavoidable.

11. What kinds of people take your courses?
Our evening course students are a lively mix of professionals, retired people, undergraduate and postgraduate students.

12. What if I have to miss a lesson?
If you know that you are going to miss a lesson, we would be grateful if you could inform your teacher in advance. Your homework will be either e-mailed or posted to you after the class.

13. Do courses run during UCL reading weeks?
Yes. All courses run as normal during UCL reading weeks, unless your teacher informs you otherwise.

14. How much homework will I have to do?
We have found that that our students spend anywhere between 45 and 120 minutes a week working on their language skills outside the classroom. You will not be set hours and hours of homework, but the more time you can spend practising between lessons, the faster you will make progress!

15. If I complete a course, will I get a qualification?
Our language courses are non-accredited. However, students who attend more than 70% of their lessons over the course of the year are eligible to receive course completion certificates, which are awarded at the end of the Summer Term.

16. Are your courses eligible for the UCL Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR)?
Our courses are eligible for the HEAR and if you have paid as a UCL Current Student it will be added to your transcript at the end of term. If it does not appear, please check with the Evening Courses Office

Course Levels

1. How do I decide which course level to apply for?

Each language page includes a description of the different course levels.

If you are a complete beginner, you should enrol for a Beginners Course starting in October.(i.e. Lessons 1 - 10)

If you are not a complete beginner enrolling for the first part of a Beginners Course starting in October, we will need to assess you prior to enrolment. We do this to ensure that you are placed in the class that is right for you. During the assessment, you will also have an opportunity to speak with your prospective teacher, and put to them any particular questions you may have about the course.

For more information, see assessment information on How to Enrol.

2. I am not a complete beginner, but it's been a long time since I last had a lesson in this language. What course should I apply for?

Each language page includes a description of the different course levels.

And if you are still not sure, don't worry! We will help you to establish which class is best for you by assessing you before you enrol. We do this to ensure that you are placed in the class that is right for you. During the assessment, you will also have an opportunity to speak with your prospective teacher, and put to them any particular questions you may have about the course.

For more information, see assessment information on How to Enrol.

3. What if I decide that the course is too difficult/too easy and I want to change classes?

The first person you should talk to if you think you need to change classes is your teacher. Having observed your progress, s/he is best placed to advise you on how to proceed. If appropriate, your teacher will then liaise with the Evening Courses Office to reassign you to another class. It is not normally possible for students to change classes after the second week of term.

Enrolment

1. How do I enrol?

Visit How to Enrol

2. When do I enrol?

Enrolment periods for 2023/24 are as follows:

Term 1 (Autumn) - August 2023

Term 2 (Winter) -   December 2023

Term 3 (Summer) - April 2024

If you apply outside the specified dates we cannot accept your enrolment. Please check with the Short Course Administrator for any further information.

3. Are your courses open to non-UCL students?

Yes - our courses are open to all.

4. How many courses can I take at the same time?

You may take as many course as you like - so long as the lessons do not clash! Be sure to check the timetables on each language page.

5. When do the courses start?

Each course consists of 30 lessons, which are delivered in 3 x 10-week terms - visit Course Structure & Term Dates

If you are a complete beginner, you will need to apply for the first part of a Beginners Language Course, starting in October (i.e. Lessons 1 - 10). Places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

We welcome other new students who wish to commence their studies in Winter or the Summer Terms, provided that there are places available, and the student is at a level appropriate to the class they wish to join at that stage.

If you are a new non-beginner, to ensure that you are placed in the most appropriate class, you will need to be assessed prior to enrolment. This includes new students wishing to join Beginners Courses in the Winter Term (i.e. from Lesson 11) or the Summer Term (i.e. from Lesson 21).

If you have recently completed an evening course at UCL SSEES, and simply wish to continue to the next term/course level, you do not need to be assessed. 

6. Do you only accept new students in the Autumn Term, or is it possible to join a course later in the year?

We only offer places to complete beginners for the first part of Beginners Course starting in the Autumn Term (i.e. Lessons 1 - 10), but we welcome new non-beginner students who wish to commence their studies in the Winter or the Summer Term - but only if places are available, and the student in question is at a level appropriate to the class they wish to join at that stage. See the How to Enrol for more details.

Assessment

1. Why do I need to be assessed?

Unless you are a complete beginner and wish to join the first part of a Beginners Course in October (i.e. Lessons 1 - 10), or a returning student wishing to go up a level, you will need to be assessed as part of the enrolment process. We do this in order to ensure that we have a thorough understanding of your knowledge of the language before you enrol. That way, we are able to assign you to the course that is right for you. 

2. How do you assess students?

First of all, we ask you to complete an Assessment Form. On the form, you are asked to describe in English your history of learning your chosen language to date and introduce yourself in the language you are planning to study. We also then arrange a telephone call between you and your prospective teacher. This is a chance for the teachers to assess your speaking and listening, and also for you to ask any questions you may have. The teacher then recommends which class you should join. Please note that prospective Intermediate and Advanced Russian students also need to complete a short multiple choice quiz.

For more information, see assessment information on How to Enrol.

3. When do assessments take place?

Unless you are a complete beginner, you must submit a completed assessment form along with your application. Oral assessments (i.e. the phone conversation with the teacher) take place during the enrolment period, on one of the dates and times you have chosen on the Assessment Form.

4. I am a returning student. Do I have to be assessed?

If you were enrolled on an SSEES evening course last term, and all you want to do is sign up for the next class, you do not need to be assessed.

Fees

1. What are the course fees?

See the Course Fees page.

2. Do you offer any concessionary rates?

We offer Discounted Course Fees to the UCL staff, students, alumni and staff relatives, and to the staff, students and alumni of the partner institutions of the University of London. If you are eligible for any of these discounts, you must supply proof of your entitlement at the time that you enrol. (e.g. a copy of your student/alumni/staff card, degree certificate, transcript, etc.) .

3. Can I pay monthly or do I have to pay for the whole course in advance?

All course fees must be paid in advance. We will not confirm your place until we have received payment in full.

4. Can I pay online?

Yes, you can pay securely online via the UCL Online Store. We will send you a direct link to the Payment Store when you have submitted your enrolment form. You will be emailed a receipt.

5. Do you accept credit cards?

No - we do not accept credit cards.

6. Do you accept cheques?

No - we do not accept cheques. 

7. Do you take cash?

No - unfortunately, we are unable to accept cash payments.

8. If I cannot attend all the lessons, can I get a discount on my course fees?

No partial refunds are offered for any classes not attended.

9. Is it possible to reserve a place on a course before paying?

Unfortunately, we are unable to accept reservations. We will confirm your place only after you have paid your course fees.

10. What if I decide to withdraw from a course?

In accordance with our cancellation policy, course fees will only be processed if a student informs UCL SSEES in writing that they wish to withdraw from an evening class two or more weeks before the start of term.

Any cancellations made less than two weeks before the start of term will NOT receive a refund.

Because of the substantial subsidy offered to UCL students, we are unable to refund their course fees unless they have enrolled for a minimum of 3 terms in advance.

SSEES cannot accept responsibility for any unforeseen changes in your circumstances that might prevent you from attending a course for which you have enrolled.

Visit T&Cs and Cancellations for more information.

If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to Contact Us.