A Guide to UAL Short Courses Online

Whether you're looking to enhance your skills, explore a new creative passion, or connect with a global learning community, our online courses offer a flexible and engaging learning experience.

This guide will provide you with all the essential information to make the most of your online learning journey with UAL Short Courses.

The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

Our courses are delivered through the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), a user-friendly platform accessible from any device (smartphones, tablets, computers).

Depending on the type of course, the VLE can provide access to:

Live classroom for the scheduled class
Assignments
Portfolios
Live class recordings
Class forum for peer interaction and support (where used by tutors)

Guide to UAL Short Courses Online: Learn about live classes, VLE access, required tech, and course formats. Start your online learning journey with expert tutors. — **Mo Oguntuase, 2023 BA Public Relations, London College of Communication, UAL | Photograph: Alys Tomlinson**

Live interactive classrooms

UAL Short Courses combine live, interactive classes with self-paced study. Attend scheduled live sessions and complete assignments between classes.

Experience real-time interaction with your tutor and classmates
Join us from anywhere in the world, and connect with like-minded peers
Participate in discussions, ask questions, and receive live feedback
Live classes are scheduled at fixed UK-based GMT/BST times
If you miss a class, recordings are available for up to 2 weeks after the course ends
Live interaction using microphone, webcam and chat box
All live classes are taught in English

Preparation

Ensure a stable internet connection - we recommend a minimum of 2 Mbps download, and 1 Mbps upload, faster if possible. You can test your network speed here - https://www.speedtest.net
An up-to-date web browser (we recommend Chrome)
Have a webcam, microphone, and headphones (the built-in microphone in your device would also be fine)
We recommend using the following web browsers for optimal performance: Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Edge
Join the online class early and allow microphone and camera access when prompted by your browser

Support

Our experienced online UAL Short Courses team is available to provide support if you come across any technical issues when accessing your online short course. You can also use the VLE forums for tutor feedback and peer reviews.

Entry requirements

No formal entry requirements are needed, though some courses may recommend prior knowledge.

Course length

Course length can vary depending on level of study, course content and format. Typically courses consist of one session per week over the duration of your chosen course, for example, a live online class can take place for 1 hour at 5pm for 5 consecutive weeks (excluding bank holidays).