Following the Government announcement on 4 January 2021 in relation to the national lockdown due to COVID-19, we understand that you are likely to have concerns and questions about how this will affect your studies at University Centre Somerset.
Firstly, we would like to reassure you that we take your studies very seriously and will continue to work with you to support your progress. The Government have made it clear that learning will need to be online until at least 12 February, which is the Friday before the half term break (15 -19 February), in order to cope with the current pandemic threat.
We will continue to monitor the situation closely. Your Course Leader will communicate any changes directly to you as and when they might occur.
University Centre Somerset, as part of Bridgwater & Taunton College is continuing to make decisions in line with Government advice and based on the following guiding principles:
The Current Student FAQs may answer your queries. Should you have other concerns, please contact your Course Leader or the central HE Team (he@btc.ac.uk) so that we can support and advise.
University Partner/ Awarding Body |
Overview of the complaints process |
Plymouth University | The College may resolve the complaint informally. If this is not possible and the complaint becomes formal you must complete the university’s ‘Formal Complaint Form’ (contained in their policy) and email it to the University at complaints@plymouth.ac.uk. The University will work with the College for Stage 2 of their policy to enable the investigation of and response to the complaint.
The university’s complaints policy and guidance is available from their website: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/student-life/your-studies/essential-information/complaints-appeals |
Oxford Brookes University |
The College’s HE Complaints process is used in the first instance. Once the College’s policy is exhausted you can then complain to the University via their ‘Collaborative Provision’ process. You will normally need to do this within 10 days of the date of the College’s final response. Please ensure you make yourself familiar with what the University will consider and what they will not consider before taking a complaint to them. |
The Open University (OU) | The College’s HE Complaints process is used in the first instance. If this has been exhausted, and the complaint is directly related to the academic standards of the OU validated programme on which you are studying, then you can complain to the Open University by submitting a formal complaint as soon as possible and within three months of the outcome of the College’s processes. If the complaint is not related to academic standards the OU may pass your complaint back to the College or you may go straight to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIAHE). |
University of the West of England (UWE) |
The College’s own process is used in the first instance. Once the College’s policy is exhausted you can then move to Stage Three of UWE’s Complaints Procedure. |
Pearson (Edexcel) |
The College’s own process is used in the first instance. Once the College’s policy is exhausted then you can refer your complaint to Pearson. The College must send any documents, regarding unresolved complaints, to Pearson within 28 days of Stage 2 concluding. |