FAQs
Studying Online
When you study online, you have access to a range of support.
You can contact your teachers via email, webinar or phone. Your teacher will contact you regularly to keep you on track with your studies and give you feedback on your assessments.
TAFE Digital has specialised teams who provide support if you have a disability, illness or injury. You can access language, literacy and numeracy support and even personal and career counselling. These services are available to you even before you enrol, to help you choose the best course and study plan.
The study plan varies depending on the course that you choose. Some courses have closed Facebook groups for students to interact with each other. Teachers deliver webinars that are usually recorded so you can watch in your own time.
In most cases, you can start your course anytime. You will have a set timeframe to complete the course. Your study plan outlines the order you complete the units and the number of hours it will take you to complete each unit. We recommend that you speak to your teacher if you have concerns about your study plan. You do need to be disciplined when you study online, and it helps to set aside a regular time each week to spend on your online studies.
No, not in the traditional sense. You can study when it suits you as long as you submit assessments by the due date. If there is a period of time when you can’t study, then please discuss amending your study plan with your teacher.
For a full time course, it is recommended that you dedicate at least 15 hours per week. Your study plan will give you a better indication of the time that is required for each unit. Depending on your level of experience in the industry, or experience with studying in the past it may take you less time to complete the course.
Yes, you have access to your online learning resources 24/7. Your teacher is available during business hours from Monday to Friday.
Applying and Enrolling
Technology
You don't have to be a computer whiz to succeed in online learning, but you should be comfortable typing, using the internet and email, chatting to your teachers or others online, reading course content online, using common software and performing other basic tasks.
Minimum specifications for your computer are:
- Microsoft Windows10, or later, or Mac OS 11 or above
Minimum software specifications for your course are:
- Microsoft Office or equivalent (free download for TAFE NSW enrolled students)
- Adobe Acrobat Reader (free download)
- Up-to-date internet browser
You may also need access to:
- A printer/scanner to print and scan documents for uploading.
- A smart phone or digital video recording device so you can video practical tasks for some courses.
Support
If you are having trouble accessing your course resources or navigating the TAFE Digital website after enrolling, you should contact one of our Customer Help Officers. They are available Monday to Thursday 8am to 8pm and 8am to 5pm on Fridays.
If your query is specific to a unit you are studying and requires a subject matter expert, you should contact your unit facilitator. Their contact details are located on every unit. You should make contact via email. If you require over the phone support and appointment can be requested.
Before considering a change it is best to discuss your options with TAFE Digital’s Educational Support Officers who may be able to arrange additional support for your studies. If your course is available at a TAFE NSW campus you may be able to transfer. Please contact the customer contact centre.
If English is not your first language and you did not complete the last two years of secondary education in English, you are required to provide evidence of English language competency before enrolling into the course. Examples of appropriate evidence are listed below:
- IELTS – Overall score of 5.5
- TOEFL – One of the following: 530 (paper), 197 (computer), 71 (internet)
Evidence of 12 months in English-speaking employment - Testimonial or statutory declaration
TAFE Digital has teamed up with the smarthinking to offer students live online help with things like essay and report writing, study skills and referencing. You can make contact with a tutor evenings and weekends via your Moodle course page or the student portal - you can upload a document and receive feedback in less than 24 hours.
This service is additional to the specific subject help that your unit facilitator can provide.
Traineeships
You can combine work and study as a trainee. There are several ways to gain a traineeship:
- Approach employers you would like to work for directly and let them know of your availability for a traineeship. You can telephone, email or visit them.
- You can also approach large employer or group training organisations that you know offer traineeships (or example large energy companies a government transport company like rail or bus).
- Look for job vacancies in your local and state newspapers as well as on major job boards.
Many people get traineeship offers from employers they are already doing a part-time job for.
Assessments
Once you enrol you will work from the learning platform of our website. Your course information will tell you what assessment events you are required to and provide instructions on how to upload them so your assessor gets them. If you are asked to send video or audio evidence for an assessment you can upload it to YouTube, Vimeo or DropBox and just upload the URL to the course website so we know where to look.
Your teacher/assessor will provide feedback on your assessment event and will let you know if you have met the requirements. If you have not met the requirements, you will have one extra attempt to resubmit your assessment and get it to the required standard to become competent in this unit. If you do not succeed in your second attempt a fee may be charged for an assessor to mark your third submission.