Expand+How To Register?
Students can provisionally register and book their Open Learning module on our website (www.ucd.ie/all/study/openlearning), over the phone (01 716 7123) or in person, at the UCD Access and Lifelong Learning Centre.

Provisional ...

Hide-How To Register?
Students can provisionally register and book their Open Learning module on our website (www.ucd.ie/all/study/openlearning), over the phone (01 716 7123) or in person, at the UCD Access and Lifelong Learning Centre.

Provisional registration for 2017-18 will open on Tuesday 8th August 2017.

Registering for Semester 2:
Our dedicated Semester II brochure will be released in early December. You can also find more details of our Semester 2 modules on our website. Provisional registration for Semester 2 will open from Tuesday 8th August 2017.

Confirming Your Registration?
Your registration will be provisional until you confirm it online. After you’ve booked and paid for your module you will receive an email. Please read this email carefully as it will:

• confirm your student number

• tell you how to confirm your registration by logging into the UCD system (UCD Connect)

• give you information on how to upload your photo and get your student card It’s important to confirm your registration, otherwise you can’t collect your student card, see your timetable or access your exam results.

Expand+Open Learning Fee (audit only) €350 per module

Open Learning Fee (with assessment) €500 per 5 credit module

Upgrading from audit to credit: You may upgrade from being an audit student to a credit student up to three weeks into term. Please no...

Hide-Open Learning Fee (audit only) €350 per module

Open Learning Fee (with assessment) €500 per 5 credit module

Upgrading from audit to credit: You may upgrade from being an audit student to a credit student up to three weeks into term. Please note, however, that you can't change back to being an audit student - if you decide not to complete the assignments and/or sit the exams, this will appear on your academic record.

Concessions
There are no concessions available for Open Learning modules.

Refunds
Refunds may in some instances be available for extenuating circumstances, such as serious illness, within two weeks of the start of the module. Requests for refunds must be submitted in writing, with supporting documents where appropriate.

Expand+Open Learning at UCD
UCD Open Learning is an innovative and unique approach to part-time study in UCD. You can choose from a wide range of undergraduate modules for either audit or credit. There are no entry requirements to the programme - you just...

Hide-Open Learning at UCD
UCD Open Learning is an innovative and unique approach to part-time study in UCD. You can choose from a wide range of undergraduate modules for either audit or credit. There are no entry requirements to the programme - you just need to find a module or modules that interest you and register!

What Level is my Module? What Does This Mean?
Each module is assigned a level. We recommend that you begin Open Learning with level 1 modules. The levels represent academic progression, with the higher levels assuming that you have already mastered the key concepts and skills required for academic writing and critical reflection.

Guidance
Before registering for a module, please take the time to read the module descriptor and if you’ve any further questions, please get in touch with us.

Credit Option
If you opt to take a module for credit, this means that you’ve committed to participating in the module and taking the assessment. Every module that is successfully completed is worth 5 credits towards your award. Upon successful completion of your module(s), you can access your Academic Transcript online via SISWeb, free of charge.

Audit Option
Alternatively, you can choose to take a module for audit, which allows you to fully participate in the modules without taking any assessments. As an audit student you will not receive any credits or qualifications as you will not sit any assessments.

Upgrading to Credit
If you are unsure about whether you want to take a module for credit, we’d encourage you to first register for audit. You will have three weeks from the start of the semester to upgrade to credit. Remember to choose wisely, as it isn’t possible to apply for a partial refund of fees if you change your mind. Students who have taken modules for credit cite a number of reasons for doing this:

• Motivated to earn credits for their learning

• Have a preference for the structures and deadlines imposed when taking a course for credit

• Consider that they learn more when they are required to complete assignments and study

• Like the idea that they have the potential to add to their accredited modules in the future

Duration of Module / Missing Classes
UCD modules are typically 12 weeks, however, there can be some exceptions to this. We’d recommend that you review the module descriptor for your chosen module to ensure that you know how many contact hours are involved. Unfortunately classes may be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, it is at the discretion of the lecturer as to whether they offer a replacement class. Class cancellations are often announced on Blackboard, so it’s important to check this on a regular basis.

Tutorials / Practicals
Some modules will have tutorials, labs or practicals, which Open Learning students can also attend. If your chosen module offers one of these options, we’ll contact you and help you select the most appropriate option for you. They usually commence in Week 2 or 3 of term.

Awards Structure
You can opt to take any combination of modules towards an award. In September 2016, ALL introduced two new awards for Open Learning – the Certificate in Open Learning (30 ECT) and the Diploma in Open Learning (60 ECT). These are designed for students who are interested in accumulating credits towards an award. There is no time limit on credit accumulation, so this can be achieved over successive semesters or over a longer period of time.

Assessment / Results
Students who choose to take a module for credit, should ensure that they have familiarised themselves with the assessment for the module. The exam schedule will not be published until early November, but the majority of end of term assessment will take place from 11th-22nd December 2017. Provisional results for Semester I will not be released until January 2018.

Fees Per Module
Audit €350
Credit €500

Expand+What are Discovery Modules?
Most of the major challenges facing the world today cannot be solved by one discipline alone, what is needed is collaboration by experts from diverse subject areas. Working together, different disciplines have the power ...

Hide-What are Discovery Modules?
Most of the major challenges facing the world today cannot be solved by one discipline alone, what is needed is collaboration by experts from diverse subject areas. Working together, different disciplines have the power to create a more powerful learning experience, more powerful critical thinking skills as well as a more creative approach to problem solving. Discovery modules are designed to capture the strength of approaching issues from more than one perspective and so offer a unique learning opportunity to students. Each module is taught by experts from more than one school and draws on cutting-edge research to consider an issue of historical or current global significance. In most cases the modules also include the findings of research being conducted in UCD. Six modules are available in the academic year 2017/18 on topics as diverse as Energy and Childhood.

Global energy demand has tripled over the last 50 years, and continued growth is expected in the coming decades. This global challenge is explored in this module. The focus is upon the key scientific, engineering and economic aspects that underpin the challenge at hand, which are also central to the policy solutions required to address it.

This module introduces students from a wide variety of backgrounds to the fundamental drivers of energy demand; it elucidates the connection between energy supply and climate impacts; and it outlines the major policy responses at a global and regional level. It captures at an introductory level the scientific, engineering and economic aspects of the energy challenge which the world faces and provides an excellent foundation for students who wish to pursue further study in the broad area of energy.

The module will explore the consequences of fossil fuel consumption for the Earth’s carbon cycle, the composition of its atmosphere and resulting climate change. The strengths and weaknesses of alternative energy sources such as wind, wave, solar, nuclear and geothermal are covered, including the likely impact of future climate change on some of these resources. All of these topics are the focus of major research initiatives in UCD and this module will include aspects of the ongoing research enabling students to gain an appreciation of the latest developments and advances in the area.

Energy economic analysis is applied in the module to energy and climate change policy and covers subjects such as energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, the design of policy measures. The energy sector plays a crucial role in the global economy; it is also one in transition from a fossil fuel-based system to one with a rising share of renewable energy, as climate change mitigation strategies influence energy decision-making more strongly. The interface between scientific and engineering challenges and policy formation will be explored in detail. The energy systems into which low carbon energy resources are integrated will be described, including the key technical, economic, and societal challenges in the development of a fully decarbonized energy system.