MSc in Strategic Business Information Technology

University of Portsmouth - UK

1. What is the minimum/maximum duration of the PgDSB?
NCC doesn't set a minimum or maximum time period for the programme, the only criterion for the students is that they must pass all four modules. The programme normally takes between 9 and 15 months. However, the maximum duration to complete a module is 3 years from the point of first registration.

2. If students are allowed to take up to 2 modules per term, will I be able to complete the course in less than 18 months?
The Postgraduate Diploma modules are designed to be delivered sequentially starting with PMSC001, however as each module addresses mutually exclusive topics with independent study material, they can be taken in any order. This ensures that students can aim to accomplish a complete MSc degree within 12 to 18 months.

3. What is the duration of each module?
Each module takes 6 weeks.

4. What are the assessment weightings for the modules in the course?
There are no examinations for all the modules. Students will be assessed entirely on coursework set according to the module learning objectives. Please see information under Assessment and Credit Weightings  on this website for more details.

5. Since there are no exams, how is the academic year structured?
There are four academic cycles: March, June, September and December cycles. For each cycle, the deadline for submission of assignments will be stipulated. If a student thinks that he is unable to submit by the deadline, then he needs to do so in the next cycle with advance notice given to NCC via Cybercampus by the specified deadline. If this is not done, then an administrative charge will be levied on the student.

Example:

September 2003 Cycle

Note: 15 Jul SOC students will have to submit assignment in the Dec exams cycle.
Note: Please refer to the latest announcement for the actual dates of mark and certificate releases.

6. Are the Start Date of Courses (SOCs) flexible i.e. staggered throughout the year so that I can register anytime I am ready?
Yes, the start date is flexible. However the order of the module delivery is sequential i.e. modules 1, 2, 3 and module 4 can be delivered at any stage. Also to ensure good success, make sure that you do not do more than two modules concurrently.

7. If I am registered by the prescribed date for a particular cycle, will I have to abide by the deadline for assignment submissions of that cycle?
No not necessary. A student can study towards a module and decide to submit the accompanying assignment at a point when he feels comfortable with the subject matter and as long as it is within three years of registration. However, he needs to give advance notice to NCC via Cybercampus by the specified deadline. If this is not done, then an administrative charge will be levied on the student. Please note: Because of the tight deadlines, if a student misses the submission date, his papers will be automatically delayed until the next assessment cycle and the administrative charge will apply.

PgDSB Admissions

8.Could you give an estimate as to when I will receive the ID and password to NCC's website?
Students will receive their user IDs within one week of Cybercampus supplying NCC with the confirmed list of students. We will try to ensure that these IDs reach the students just before the SOC. However, students who register after the SOC will experience slight delay in receiving their user IDs from NCC.

PgDSB Assessments

9. Where do I go to get my course notes?
Students should log into Cybercampus website to retrieve their course notes. Cybercampus  website is also the platform for facilitators and students to enter into their discussions and scheduled chats.

10.Where do I go to get my online assignments?
Students should log into www.nccedu-online.com. All assignments can be downloaded from this website. Completed assignments should also be submitted electronically at the same website where facilitators can download for marking.

11. What is the date for results release?
Results to be released for the respective cycles are mid November (September cycle), mid February (December cycle), mid May (March cycle) and mid August (June cycle). Look out for the specific dates of release from the latest announcement made on Cybercampus website.

12.Will pre-moderated results be released so that I can register early?
Students can take however many assessments they wish in one cycle. We will not be releasing any pre-moderated results. The NCC Qualification Support will make the necessary adjustments to ensure that all students who have passed the PgDSB have the opportunity to commence with the next immediate commencement date with Portsmouth (e.g. those who have passed in the June cycle will be offered a place in September). The tight deadline is partly intentional to avoid too much slack and we want the two qualifications to be as seamless as possible.

PgDSB Reunit and Refer Policies

13. How many times are students allowed to reunit a module?
The student has three years only to complete the qualification - time limit. That means there are no limits to the no. of times they can re-unit a module as long as they do so within 3 years.

14. What is the reunit structure? Am I allowed to take re-unit modules concurrently with fresh modules?
Units can be retaken with other units but the maximum grade is a pass on the second attempt.

Graduation from PgDSB

15. Does NCC issue PgDSB certificates via Cybercampus ?
All NCC certificates are sent to Cybercampus for distribution to the students.

Admission to UOP MSc SBIT

16. Who will decide on the eligibility of PDSB graduands for the UOP top-up programme?
NCC will make the final decision on those eligible for the top-up programme.

17. Do PgDSB graduates gain automatic entry into UOP MSc SBIT?
As long as the students have passed all the PgDSB modules and they have the correct entry qualifications as laid down in the course syllabus they are then eligible for automatic entry onto the top-up MSc. Sometimes the University has requested evidence that the student has the necessary English language skills to proceed (any qualification conducted in English is sufficient).

18. Where do I go to get more information on the two top-up modules from UOP?
Essential information about the two top-up modules can obtained from Cybercampus website under Course Catalogue. More detailed information will be sent to you when you have completed the PgDSB successfully and are ready to move on.

19. Where do I go to get my online assignments for the top-up modules?
The University of Portsmouth have their own secure external Internet learning site for the top-up MSc which is separate to anything provided by NCC Edu or Cybercampus . Therefore the passwords and usernames will be different as they have been generated from a different source and apply to a different learning system. This leads onto the fact that students studying on the top-up MSc are students of the University and not NCC or Cybercampus and therefore they are governed by the rule and regulations of the University. They must login to the following site to participate in the MSc programme: http://www.tech.port.ac.uk/tec/stupros/online/msbit.htm The university provides the individual student login details to those students who have passed the PgDSB and Cybercampus will distribute these before they embark on the top-up MSc.

20. How do I get my ID and password to UOP's website?

The University will send hard documents/correspondence with regards to the course to Cybercampus to distribute. For future cohorts they intend to send Cybercampus the relevant information well before the start date and not email the students. These hard copies will contain the IDs and passwords to enable students to login into UOP website.