FAQ

Our standard Certificate IV and Diploma intakes start quarterly, and our Skill Set intakes commence bi-monthly. Check our homepage for an up-to-date list of our course intake dates this year.

A computer with the following minimum specifications or higher:

Hardware requirements:

• 1.6 GHz CPU, 1GB of memory and at least 1GB of free hard drive space

Software requirements:

• Operating systems:
  • Windows – 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8 or
  • Apple – OS X or later, or
  • Linux – Ubuntu, Fedora, etc. Desktop Editions
• Word processing software such as Microsoft Word for completing your assignments in.
• Google Chrome for your web browser. Our Student Portal may be incompatible with other browsers.
• Adobe Reader and Flash viewer (latest versions).

It is important to have at least an intermediate level of capability with computers if you are considering studying any course with an online component.

We have had students who have studied on computers other than their own, so whilst it is recommended to have your own computer with immediate access to our Student Portal, it is still technically possible to complete the study with only occasional access and a practical, motivated approach to study!

Adequate internet access is required to access our Student Portal, which is entered via internet browsers such as Google Chrome.

Courses are provided through our online Student Portal, with full online support in the form of manuals, learning materials and assessments as well as support via telephone, emails and forums. It is suitable for people with intermediate computer literacy. The format is similar to ‘distance learning’ and requires good time management skills.

Some of our offerings are conducted in a blended delivery format, and students in blended delivery offerings are given the opportunity to practice and apply their skills and knowledge through a delivery method of online study and one session per week of 4.5 hours’ classroom-based training.

Course participants will be provided with a flexible learning orientation that will guide them in accessing and submitting coursework and assessments via our Student Portal. Students will have access to limited IT support if needed via our Student Coordinator.

Our facilitators will contact you at the beginning of your studies. After that, you may contact them via our Student Portal, via e-mail or by phone to discuss course content, assessment tasks or other issues for support during your study.

If you’re completing flexible online study with us, no!  All lectures, reading materials, assessment tasks and other study aids are provided in the flexible learning resources area.  For students who have signed up to blended delivery training, you’ll receive a full schedule of the year’s classes during the application process.

The recommended study time for all flexible learning courses is between 6 to 10 hours per week dependent on the course. Participants will have access to an online calendar to assist with keeping on schedule. Completion dates are determined on the assumption that participants spend the recommended study hours (see course description in study guide), viewing a lecture, reading or completing an assessment task. Participants may of course, adapt their study time to their own time table. Study breaks are built into the course structure, however it is worth reminding all participants that online, does not mean ‘no time’.

Participants who do not complete a course but who complete any units within the course will receive a Statement of Attainment recording the units completed.

If you have any other questions about Odyssey Institute or studying with us, our Student Coordinator is available on (03) 8537 7112 and at studentadmin@odyssey.org.au; or you can reach out to us via the contact us page.