Online Delivery

Most frequent questions and answers

Dates

The course will start at the same time as it does for all other students – expected next start date in April 2022

No, we can’t accept late starts for online study as the main reason that we normally show some flexibility here is due to visa and travel delays, which don’t apply to online study.

As soon as we are confident that the borders will re-open, we will work towards welcoming students to New Zealand. There is likely to be some delay with visas due to the backlog and so exact timing will be confirmed when we know more. We will provide online learning for as long as required while students wait for visas to be processed. We will also run orientation every week to ensure that students all receive the same welcome to New Zealand once they are able to join their classes as planned in New Zealand.

Delivery

  • Our central LMS (Learning management system) is Blackboard 
  • For the past five years, we have been developing our ability to deliver our learning in a flipped model. We will be using this approach for online as well as our on-campus learning delivery
  • We are using Microsoft Teams for videoconferencing tool for live lessons with our teachers and students
  • For over 10 years, we have been using Education Perfect to help our students practice their Mathematics as well as their English. We will keep using this outstanding tool with our online students

Our teaching staff use a range of additional online interactive tools to ensure students interact, practice and engage with their online learning and each other:

  • Nearpod is used for interactive lessons and learning activities
  • Kahoot is used for game-based quizzes and short (5 – 10 minutes) learning activities that are part of our lessons
  • Socrative allows for students and teachers to participate in quick polls and answer questions via their phone: 
  • Flipgrid allows students to produce and share short videos with each other as part of the class. This can either take place during a live lesson or as part of self-directed learning: 
You can use either Apple or Windows for your online studies. We have tested both and are confident that there will be minimum problems regardless of the equipment or systems that you are operating at home.
We have selected platforms that we are confident will operate in all regions, so this should not be a problem for you. If you experience any problems, we will have dedicated student support officers on campus to help you.
The same teachers that are teaching the students in New Zealand will be delivering the online modules.

We have the unique advantage of being a very technologically advanced institution already, where we use inter-active methods, are an Apple Distinguished School and use a flipped learning approach, so all of our teaching staff are well versed in using technology in the classroom every day.

The Flipped approach we have been using for over 5 years supports this as we are very comfortable preparing learning content for students to access before a ‘class’, the difference now is that the ‘class’ is online, not face to face.

We run professional development workshops for our teachers continuously, to bring their existing knowledge together with some new platforms to provide you with the best possible online learning experience.

Teachers will maintain a learning forum in their Blackboard course, which allows students to ask public questions that all students can see. Students can also email their teacher privately.

There is no reason for you to fall behind, as you will be studying at the same pace as your classmates in New Zealand. However, we will run additional tutorial classes, provide extra exam preparation and revision and we will have welfare staff available who will be dedicated to ensuring a smooth transition for you once you arrive in New Zealand. Students can also ask questions via the chat on Microsoft Teams or in emails.

We aim to provide an update on attendance as well as term reports as we do in New Zealand. Further information on how parents can receive these reports will be shared as soon as it is available.

Timetable

You will receive a timetable after Orientation day, posted on BlackBoard. All times are in New Zealand timezone. Please talk to your teacher about what lessons are self study and what online lessons must be attended. Most online lessons will be during the afternoon (New Zealand time).

Visa

As we do normally, we will treat instances of visa rejection on a case by case basis.

Curriculum

Selecting the most appropriate subjects will be part of your orientation. We will arrange for you to meet with your tutor online to discuss options.

Almost all subjects will be available online. Pease check our website for the full list of online course availability.

Online VUW courses may include:

English for Tertiary Study (I and II), Introductory Mathematics, New Zealand Culture and Society, Calculus, Design and Society (I and II), Environmental Science (I and II), Health Studies, Introduction to Accounting, Macroeconomics, Management Studies, Marketing, Media Studies (I and II), Microeconomics, Psychology, Physical Science, Quantitative Methods, Statistics

The Online English courses for Extended and Standard Plus will also continue.

Yes, classes are compulsory, as you will be commencing your course online, and will be expected to attend in that same way as you would be if you were physically in class in New Zealand. We will also monitor your interaction with the online resources we make available, so we have evidence of full participation as this is important for your future success. Classes are compulsory not just for attendance, but also for authentication. We need to know that it is you, producing your own work.

We understand that from time to time students may be unwell and unable to attend class. Up Education policy re-quires 90% attendance, and a doctor’s note for any absences for more than 2 days. You must email or text your teacher if you are not attending a class. They will inform the Attendance Officer.

Yes, you will have assignments just like if you were physically in New Zealand. These will be submitted through Blackboard.

Accepting your offer

Yes, please pay the tuition fee as indicated on the offer letter. Please note that you do not need to pay the additional fees at this stage, ONLY the tuition fee itself.
We can offer a refund on the insurance fee once you are physically able to commence your studies with us in New Zealand, as we will refund the remainder depending on the amount of remaining coverage you require. In the event that you do not come to New Zealand physically, we can then refund the whole amount at the end of the course.
Yes, you need to sign the UPIC Terms and conditions for Online delivery programmes in addition to the Confirmation of Enrolment document to confirm your acceptance to study online (as if you were coming to study with us in New Zealand).

Study options

We’re confident that once you get started you will see the value that our programme delivers. However, all students will be able to start their online learning and decide within the first 2 weeks whether they would like to continue or defer their offers to the next available intake. However please note that changing to a future intake may mean that your study plan is pushed back

We understand that this is new and that you may not have studied online before, but we would recommend that you try the online learning option and see how it goes, this will allow you to stay on track with your study plans.

Yes, if you decide to withdraw within the aforementioned 2-week period, you will receive a refund of tuition fees paid minus a NZ$1,000 administrative fee.

If you would prefer to wait until a later intake, most of our courses also run in January, however please note that delaying your start date is likely to delay your whole study plan.

If there is anything that you would like to discuss, please contact our student support team.

During orientation, we will introduce you to your individual support contacts who will include:

  • the Deans responsible for your programme
  • your teachers
  • your Education Pathway counsellor, who will guide you through the choice of your courses
  • Student services, who will support you with accommodation and any general inquiries.


For anything other inquiries, we are confident that we will be able to answer all of your questions during our orientation programme, but please reach out to your representative or Regional Manager if you’d like to speak to someone.