Centre for Lifelong LearningOpen Studies Certificate

The Open Studies Certificate is a part-time modular programme designed to give feedback on your progress and as an introduction to the completion of assessment. It does not mean exams. The award of an Open Studies Certificate is based on the accumulation of 30 credit points at SCQF Level 7. This is the equivalent a quarter of a first year undergraduate degree. You can make your decision about whether or not to undertake assessment to gain academic credit for your class once the class is underway, until the first assessment is issued.

From 2024/25 the modules on offer are in the subject areas of Genealogy and Creative Writing.  These classes are delivered online via Myplace, the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and are self-paced.

Please see section ‘Updates 2024/25’ below for important information about changes to studying for academic credit and deadlines for taking action.

Open Studies classes carry credits awarded by the University of Strathclyde. The credits attached to a class reflect the amount of student effort required to achieve the class aims eg 10 SCQF credit points equates to 100 hours of learning time – including teaching, discussion, private study and assessments.

Details of the credit assigned to Open Studies classes can be found next to the relevant class in our online catalogue, MyCLL.

Note: Students normally have a maximum of six years to complete an Open Studies Certificate, therefore, any credit gained more than six years previous which has not been used towards a Certificate is considered out of date and cannot be used against an award. In some cases it may be possible to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)- see RPL section below.

The aims of the Open Studies Certificate programme are given practical effect by the organisation into coherent subject groups. By focusing on a particular subject, or related subjects it is possible to obtain an Open Studies Certificate naming the chosen area of study. Students must have at least 20 credits in one subject area to qualify for a 'named' award.

There are currently two pathways in which an Open Studies Certificate can be awarded:

Applied Writing: to provide practical learning and skills development across a range of writing genres, including features, creative and novel writing.

Genealogical Studies: providing basic through to intermediate study of genealogical subjects including a class specifically using technology and the internet to further family history research.

 

Open Studies classes will help to develop the transferable skills that students normally expect to develop by taking any first year undergraduate degree class in the University, such as communication, planning and organising, adapting to change and personal effectiveness.

The complete class listing is given below. Please note that availability of these classes is subject to scheduling. See currently available credit-bearing classes in the MyCLL catalogue.

 

GENEALOGICAL STUDIES

  • OS137  Genetic genealogy: an introduction
  • OS138  An Introduction to Heraldry
  • OS674  Introduction To Family History Research
  • OS677  Family History Research - Beyond The Basics
  • OS676  Using Technology In Family History Research
  • OS747  Genetics for Genetic Genealogists

 

APPLIED WRITING

  • OS671  Kindling (Creative Writing For Beginners)
  • OS672  Feeding The Flame (Taking Your Creative Writing Further 2)
  • OS673  Ablaze (Taking Your Creative Writing Further 3)
  • OS675  Inferno (An Introduction To Novel Writing Online)

Open Studies Class Outlines (including content, learning outcomes and assessment) are available on request.

Where appropriate, recognition for prior learning (RPL) will be recognised within the Open Studies Certificate programme. This means that credit can be gained for appropriate knowledge acquired through experience or/as well as relevant university-level classes completed within the last five years.

RPL/Entry with Advanced Standing is permitted up to a maximum of 10 of the 30 credits required for an Open Studies Certificate.

The University of Strathclyde also participates in the European Credit Transfer Scheme (ECTS): 10 University of Strathclyde credits = 5 ECTS credits = 10 credit points at SCQF Level 7.

Please contact Lynda Scott (lynda.scott@strath.ac.uk) for further information and details of the RPL options that may be available to you.

Please note: there is normally a £20 administration charge for all RPL applications.

This year, CLL will cease offering credit-bearing Open Studies classes for many study pathways including Languages and Art. Classes that were previously offered as credit-bearing will follow the same curriculum as before but the assessment for these classes will be removed.

Why?

The Centre has seen a significant reduction in credit-bearing enrolments with only 14% from these classes. This small proportion takes up a significant amount of staff time, administration and resources and we wish to redirect these to focussing on expanding the choice of learning available across the public programmes portfolio.

Will courses be cheaper as a result?

The credit element of CLL courses has always been free of charge to students and therefore the fee for classes will not change.

Can I get a certificate for completing a non credit-bearing class?

From October 2024 you will be able to request a certificate of attendance.

How does the change affect me?

If you have been accumulating credit and your chosen study pathway is no longer available, you may be affected and we will assist with this on a case-by-case basis. For example, if you have 10/30 or 20/30 credits accrued towards an Open Studies Certificate or are in the final stages of working towards a Certificate in Higher Education (i.e. 100/120 credits) we will assist you to undertake the balance of credit required. This process should be completed by the end of academic session 2024/2025.

The deadlines to inform us that you wish to complete an Open Studies Certificate or a Certificate of Higher Education are as follows:

Friday 4 October 2024 - if you are taking a class in term 1

Friday 24 January 2025 - if you are taking a class in term 2

Friday 11 April 2025 - if you are taking a class in term 3.

Who should I contact about completing my OS Certificate/Cert HE?

If you would like to discuss your individual situation, please contact Lynda Scott, Community Engagement & Access Manager at lynda.scott@strath.ac.uk.