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Study support

FUNDING FOR DEGREE AND RELATED COURSES AT BIRKBECK

LIFELONG LEARNING CONTRIBUTION (LLC) FOR BIRKBECK STAFF

The Lifelong Learning Contribution (LLC) is administered by Organisational Development.

FUNDING FOR DEGREE AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION COURSES AT OTHER INSTITUTIONS

JOB-SPECIFIC DEGREE COURSES

A job-specific course is defined as one that equips the member of staff with skills and knowledge that is directly related to their current job and is not transferable to another field of work, for example, BA Facilities Management, MA Human Resource Management.

Where a member of staff is unable to attend a Birkbeck degree programme that relates directly to their job due to work constraints, for example, evening shift work, an application may be made to the Executive Dean or Director of Professional Services/Operations to fund an equivalent programme at an external institute. This funding will be allocated only if the member of staff’s line manager is satisfied that the proposed course of study would assist the member of staff’s work and career development, that participation would be in the best interests of their department and the staff member. It is subject to availability of limited funding from the faculty/school/professional services department.

GENERIC SKILLS DEGREE COURSES

A generic skills course is defined as one that equips the member of staff with skills and knowledge that are transferable across different roles, departments and careers, for example MBA programmes and BA Management.

Where a member of staff wishes to attend a degree programme at an outside institute, for example the Open University, that comprises generic skills and knowledge development and this course is not offered by Birkbeck College, they may apply to the Executive Dean or Director of Professional Services/Operations for course funding. This funding will be allocated only if the member of staff's line manager is satisfied that the proposed course of study would assist the member of staff's work and career development, that participation would be in the best interests of their department and the staff member. It is subject to availability of limited funding from the faculty/school/professional services department.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION (NON-DEGREE) COURSES

A professional qualification (non-degree) course is defined as one that equips a member of staff with a recognised qualification, usually required for professional development, in their specialist job-specific field, for example, qualifications from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, Chartered Institute of Marketing and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. 

Applications for funding to attend job-specific professional qualification courses must be made to the relevant Executive Dean or Director of Professional Services/Operations. This funding will be allocated only if the member of staff’s line manager is satisfied that the proposed course of study would assist the member of staff’s work and career development, that participation would be in the best interests of their faculty or Professional Services department. It is subject to availability of funding within the faculty or Professional Services department.

LEAVE FOR ATTENDING DAY-RELEASE COURSES

Some part-time courses offered by colleges and universities include an element of day-release. When no similar course is available out of working hours, applications for programmes with day release requirements should be considered, in the context of both the College’s Flexible working policy and work constraints.

Requests for day-release and flexible working patterns must be approved by the relevant Executive Dean/Director of Professional Services/Operations.

STUDY LEAVE: EXAMINATION, REVISION AND COURSEWORK

Members of staff sitting examinations on degree or related courses, or other professional qualification (non-degree) courses funded by the College, are entitled to take one day’s paid leave for each day on which they sit an examination, plus one day’s paid study leave for revision purposes for each examination.

Entitlement to paid exam leave, paid study leave for each examination and paid study leave for each piece of summative coursework is provided up to a ceiling of 10 days per annum at the line manager’s discretion (pro rata for part-time staff).

Members of staff completing summative coursework (i.e. coursework contributing to the overall mark of a degree course), as a substitute to exams, may be permitted two day’s paid leave for each piece of summative coursework at the line manager’s discretion.

Study leave for exams, revision and completing summative coursework is in addition to a member of staff’s normal annual leave entitlement.

The dates of leave for exams are fixed by the examining college, university or professional body. Scheduling of all other study leave is to be agreed with the staff member undertaking study, and is at the discretion of their line manager.

Where the degree, or related course, or other external professional qualification (non-degree) course is not funded by the College, staff are entitled to paid leave for exams, summative coursework and revision only if the member of staff’s line manager is satisfied that the proposed course of study would assist the member of staff’s work and career development and that participation would be in the best interests of their faculty or Professional Services department.

EXAMINATION RE-SITS AND COURSEWORK RESUBMISSION

The College does not provide funding for members of staff re-sitting examinations or resubmitting summative coursework on degree or related courses, or other professional qualification (non-degree) courses.

The College does not provide paid leave for members of staff re-sitting examinations or resubmitting summative coursework on degree or related courses, or other professional qualification (non-degree) courses, other than in exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of the line manager, and in accordance with the arrangements for study leave.