The Open College Reviews 125

I am currently on my 4th day of doing the SNA QQI level 6 course . Oh my goodness this course is what I was meant to do all a long . I have. been recently been studying in Colaiste Ide doing a QQI Level 6 in Early Learning and Care but for the entire year I felt. lost I wasn't shown the right path of how to do the assignments but Open College. Will give students all of necessary Learning material so you can succeed at your highest potential. I would highly recommended this college to anyone . I am so excited to completed this course and move on to QQI level 7 Special Needs Education in Progressive College .

I also have a question how long should I be waiting for a tutor to. respond to my email and could I have a virtual meeting on teams so I can talk to my tutor to see if I am going on the right track ?

I love this college so far !

I have recently completed Business Management Module, My experience doing this course has been great so far, I found the sessions with the tutor Henry was great and got good feedback witch helped me with my assignments. Thank you again and look forward to my next module.

My time with The Open College has been nothing short of amazing. When I was stuck or overwhelmed, the support I received helped me immensely. The tutors were always available whenever I had a doubt or needed clarity, which made a huge difference in my learning journey.
I especially want to thank Aisling, Loyola, Louise, Siobhan, and the entire Student Services team for being so kind, responsive, and encouraging. Their guidance and support got me through some of the more challenging times, and I’m deeply grateful for that.
Thank you, Open College, for such a wonderful and enriching experience!

I enrolled in both SNA Level 5 and Level 6 with this open college, but my experience was incredibly disappointing. I struggled to secure a work placement for Level 5 and reached out multiple times asking if my prior experience could be recognized. I was told no, with little explanation or support. The lack of assistance and extremely slow email responses led me to defer the course, again explaining it was due to the placement issue — but still, no real help was provided.

Eventually, I asked for a refund for Level 5 and requested to continue with Level 6, which I did complete. After another painfully slow process, I was told I’d failed to complete Level 5 (despite clearly communicating the reasons) and was offered only a partial refund as a “goodwill gesture.” I was asked to provide my bank details to speed up the refund — that was over two months ago, and I’m still waiting.

Communication is poor, support is minimal

Anne in Customer Relations was excellent - not only efficient but really insightful and helpful.

It was a very great experience..

Cancelled the course within 48 hours and they wouldn’t refund the money and described it as an enrollment Fee. Spoke to so many staff that were saying yes a refund was due and then to be told no. Do not use this college under any circumstances. There are loads of options for other courses with other colleges. So angry with the entire experience and almost a month of emails with any excuse going. Worst customer care ever.

Don't enroll if you don't have a PPC number. (Personal Public Number). It’s for Irish residents. You’ll waste 150£ on administrative fees if you want a refund. It’s stated in their terms and conditions at the bottom of the page. Be careful. Your other option is to complete the certificate without the QQI accreditation.

“ However, please note, the administrative fee of €150 which will not be refunded in the event of any cancellation”

This quote is from the cancellation request email.

What made my experience great was that "The Open College" provides a very good learning platform called "Moodle" which includes all the necessary learning material to successfully study and pass the course and many other helpful resources available on the college website. The Open College is doing very well with the support that lecturers offer to students regarding assignments and exams as well as providing effective feedback according to assignment drafts when submitting assignments for correction and grading.

I have completed the Train the Trainer online course over the past few weeks and I’d highly recommend to anyone with an interest in Training & Development, or for someone looking to add this skill set.
The weekly sessions that the tutor Lorraine runs are virtual and so helpful for any questions or just to get a steer. She is very approachable and supportive to all students on the course.
All of the resources are online so very easy to access and the College is efficient in communications.

They quick to respond on time for request information that I need from them.

I had a wonderful experience with The Open college. The tutors and everyone else associated with the institution are so helpful. They are also ready to take feedbacks in a constructive manner all the time. If you have any problem, you are just an email away.

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to study at this institution. My experience during the QQI Level 5 Childcare course has been nothing short of amazing, thanks to the dedication and professionalism of everyone involved.

From the start, the support provided by the tutors was outstanding. They were not only knowledgeable but also approachable and patient, ensuring that every student felt valued and supported. The feedback on assignments was always detailed, constructive, and timely, which significantly helped me improve my skills and understanding.

The coordinators were equally fantastic, keeping everything running smoothly and ensuring clear communication throughout the course. Whenever I had questions or concerns, their responses were prompt, thoughtful, and helpful.

Behind the scenes, the technical team deserves special recognition as well. The Moodle platform was always reliable and well-maintained, with all course materials easily accessible. This seamless online experience made learning so much more convenient and enjoyable.

Thanks to this amazing team, I was able to complete my course successfully and achieve results beyond my expectations. Their hard work, expertise, and commitment to student success truly set this institution apart.

It is with great confidence and enthusiasm that I look forward to continuing my studies here. I highly recommend this institution to anyone seeking a top-tier educational experience.

Lecture materials - Excellent
Supporting Videos - Excellent
Facilitators-Excellent,Always helpful,reply emails fast
Duration to complete assignments - very Good
Timelines for Grading - Moderate-Fair
Cost of program and payment plan- very good
Overall experience - Good, impressed!

I received great support and fast answer to my emails, also the courses are really complete

The College team provides a lot of useful material for studying. And if you even read it, it will already help you a lot to understand the essence of the discipline you are studying. But there are also tasks for which you can use other sources of information. The tutors will always advise you on the best sources to use to get the most up-to-date and necessary documents and information materials.
Of course, online learning cannot completely replace hands-on experience. But here everything depends on the students, on their desire to become a good professional. The college requires you to document practical experience, and it is in the student's interest to do everything possible to make this experience as useful as possible for future work.
But the college uses the advantages of online education very successfully. Students study at their own pace, at a time convenient for them. The tutors advise them both through emails and during online meetings.
Administrative issues are also resolved promptly and professionally here.
I am very grateful to the Open College for the opportunity to get the knowledge I need for my future work.

Louise O Gorman is a staff member in the college and her way of dealing and resolving matters with the public was great, she is a credit to that company.

There were serious matters needing resolving and Louise O Gorman spent 3 day's back and forward to help the matter be resolved.

Studying and preparation for the final exams programme was seamless and enriching

Open College is a great learning platform to do QQI level courses, and most of the course durations do not exceed over a prolonged time period. I am currently a student at Open College and I have to admit, I am satisfied and I recommend it.

Unfortunately I have to bring it to light that there are a few downsides regarding the college staff services. I have encountered some difficulties with certain staff members, which can make up for an unpleasant experience. It is also frustrating having to ask the college staff members for something, to which they refuse to provide repeatedly...

Another thing, I dont know if I perceive this wrongly, however I do find it that the staff members sometimes reply to emails in an unfriendly or sarcastic tone. But as I said, I might take it up the wrong way, so apologies for offending the readers of this comment.

Just to mention, dearest Open College staff, I wish to remain anonymous in my comment and I refuse to provide any more feedback upon request of the college, unless I feel the need to do so myself.

To stray away from any negativity created in my feedback, I can say that apart from any downsides mentioned, Open College makes for an overall pleasant experience. It is very delightful to be able to do a QQI course at home in my own comfort, and I save a tonne of money. The time period for module completion is agreeable and the courses are easy enough to understand, especially if English is not a person's primary language.

I also appreciate the time each tutor and other staff members takes to ensure that their students are well taught and satisfied, and so I wish to thank each one of the college staff team members for your time and dedication. I had a great time with The Open College, and I see myself doing another course with you in the future.

The course is straight forward, well presented, well structured. The knowledge gained helps me to fulfill my role with confidence.
The members of the Open College team are highly professional and lovely to deal with. They assisted me every time I required help and they understood the challenges that a full time working student may encounter.
The tutors are there to answer all your questions and give you the guidance and feedback that you need.
I would highly recommend the Open College.
Thank you for your support.