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Milestones

Home Studying With Us Milestones

What are the 2-week milestones?

All new students are required to complete Milestones within the first two weeks of teaching before their registration can be confirmed. These milestones are important to setting you up for success in your course and will help us support you more effectively.

Your Milestones requirements vary depending on whether you are enrolled in online distance learning or in classroom-based blended learning.

Online distance learning

1. Attend StartSmart New Student Orientation

  • You will receive several dates through your Arden University email after you have provisionally registered.
  • StartSmart will help increase your understanding of the university and its staff and is important in helping you succeed at Arden.

2. Complete StartSmart for Milestones online module

  • Login details will be sent to your Arden University email.
  • Locate the StartSmart for Milestones module on iLearn (Arden’s online learning platform).
  • Complete all lessons and activities in StartSmart for Milestones. They are mandatory to help you understand your programme and our online learning requirements.

3. Successful release of your first study module

  • You will manually release your first study module during the "Module Release Window" starting from StartSmart Week until the end of the first teaching week.
  • It is very important to release your study module early! This guarantees you will have sufficient time to review your study materials and prepare for your first assignment submission.

4. Sufficient levels of online engagement on iLearn

  • Once you release your study module, you will find all your assignment briefs, submission portal, and the module learning content in iLearn. This Includes all your learning materials, Zoom lectures and recordings, and assignment details.
  • It is necessary for you to login and work on your course materials a minimum of 3 times a week. You may need to login in more than this.
  • Plan significant time in your calendar for online study, reading, completing activities, and submitting assessments. These are the building blocks of your study programme that allow you to progress through each module and to the next Level modules in your programme.

Note:

  • LLM in Professional Legal Practice requires the successful completion of the free English Legal System module. This is a mandatory module that must be completed by both law and non-law graduates.
  • Non-law students will acquire knowledge about the legal system in England and Wales. Law students will benefit from a useful review.
  • The multiple-choice question test must be completed and passed, with a minimum score of 50% by the end of week two.

Blended learning

1. Complete the online StartSmart for Milestones module

  • Once you have provisionally enrolled and before your first module begins, your StartSmart for Milestones module will become accessible through iLearn.
  • Login details will be sent to your Arden University email.
  • Locate the StartSmart for Milestones module on iLearn, Arden’s online learning platform.
  • Completion of all lessons and activities is mandatory to help you understand your programme and online learning requirements.

2. Attend your campus-based StartSmart new student orientation in person.

  • Dates will be confirmed and communicated via email.  

3. Achieve 100% face-to-face attendance

  • You must attend all the timetabled classes at your chosen Arden campus during the first two weeks of teaching.
  • Your timetable will be confirmed and sent to you via email. 

4. Regular Participation on iLearn

  • To ensure your readiness for studies and for your initial submission, it is critical that you actively participate, read, and complete activities and assignments in iLearn. This means you must check the provided materials several times a week.

Note. All CertHE programmes include a mini-module called “StartSmart – Introduction to Higher Education’. All CertHE students are required to complete this module and associated activities by the end of the orientation week. Students are evaluated on:

  1. 100% attendance at StartSmart Day 1 and 2
  2. Successful completion of a multiple-choice questionnaire during the final subject-specific class (held in class)
  3. Week 1 and 2 classroom module attendance of 100%

Failure to pass the StartSmart – Introduction to Higher Education will lead to the student’s withdrawal from the programme.

FAQs

What happens if I meet the 2-week milestone criteria?

  • At the end of the 2-week Milestones period, a Milestone Committee will review and confirm that student have met the criteria and are officially registered at Arden. These students can proceed with their studies.

Does the 2-week milestone affect my SFE loan?

  • SFE tuition fee loans, maintenance loans, or any other SFE grants are not released in the first 2 weeks.
  • Your registration confirmation and attendance details will be forwarded to SFE following this period, conditional on successful completion of all checklist items.

When do I get my maintenance loan from SFE?

  • During the third week of teaching, after approval of your SFE application, Arden's Student Finance team will send verification of your registration and attendance to SFE. SFE typically releases funds within 3-5 working days after receiving confirmation.
  • You can check updates on your SFE online account or call 0300 100 0607 for application status.

Note: If SFE has not yet completed their assessment of your student application, Arden’s Student Finance team cannot submit confirmation of your registration and attendance until it has received SFE’s full approval.

What should I do if I am unable to attend all my lectures during the initial two weeks?

  • Failure to attend all lessons or satisfy milestones requirements significantly increases the chance of withdrawal.
  • Reach out to your Student Hub Advisors on campus if you are having difficulty fulfilling the prerequisites.