A. Course contents are sufficient to achieve the course’s stated objectives.

B. Course materials are written with the needs, knowledge and experience of a target group of learners in mind.

C. The provider takes all reasonable steps to ensure that course materials do not contain significant errors of fact, misleading or out-of-date information, concepts or approaches. Course materials are reviewed within specified time periods to ensure they remain effective and up-to-date.

D. Course materials are designed for a specific and clearly stated level of learner support, and suitable opportunities for such support, where intended, are built into the material.

E. Course materials are structured to facilitate individual study & the development of study skills.

Typical features of good quality self-study course materials include:

1. appropriateness to the overall purpose of the course;
2. able to deliver the declared outcome of the course;
3. an appropriate and well-managed presentation;
4. careful pacing;
5. subdivision into appropriate units, lessons or modules;
6. an indication of the time a learner of average ability might expect to spend on each unit;
7. a sequential exposition, with new material building on previous material;
8. the use of a variety of approaches, including summaries, visual material, and illustrative examples as appropriate, to illuminate particular concepts;
9. regular opportunities for self-assessment;
10. the inclusion of clear instructions to guide the learner through the material
11. provision in an attractively presented and convenient-to-use format.

F. The use of language in course materials is appropriate to the intended learners

In particular, care is taken with language if courses are described as being appropriate to those whose first language is not English.

G. A clear outline of the course as a whole is provided with the first set of materials.

H. If materials other than those supplied by the provider are required, clear information as to where to obtain those materials is given, and their probable cost.

I. Any technologies used are appropriate to the provision & used only where necessary or particularly effective either to the curriculum or to the needs of the learner.

J. If a new course is introduced, or significant amounts of new material are introduced into an existing course, the effectiveness of such material should be properly assessed in advance. Where there is any doubt that such material can be adequately assessed by other means, it should be used in a pilot study or otherwise tested on potential students, with the latter’s knowledge.

K. Face-to-face or hands-on training is provided wherever it is a necessary component in achieving the stated outcome of the course.

L. If any face-to-face or hands-on training is required, this is made clear to the applicant prior to enrolment, along with any attendance, residential or financial implications of such face-to-face provision.