FAQs |
How long is the course?
The course consists of 10 weeks plus one preliminary week for familiarisation/ice-breaking.
What qualification does this course provide?
This is a non-accredited course which is intended for personal development only. The course is not examined and completion of the course does not provide any formally recognised qualification or course credits.
So, what do I get out of the course?
The course provides a balanced, comprehensive, and reliable overview of parapsychology’s research methods and findings, from one of the world’s most highly-respected centres for teaching and research in parapsychology. It also gives you privileged access to journal articles that are made available through the University of Edinburgh’s library resources, and to other materials that have been exclusively developed for the course.
What feedback have past students given on the course?
"fascinating and challenging" Kylie Sturgess, Australia
"I really enjoyed the variety and breadth of learning materials... highly recommended" Stephanie Rowland, Washington, USA
"interesting, informative and stimulating... Caroline makes everyone on the course feel wanted and valued... great value for money" Russell James, UK
"an intense 3-month ride... the course material was perfect... newbies to the subject don't suffer from jargon overkill" Kris de Ruysscher, Belgium
Do I get a certificate of completion from the University of Edinburgh?
Yes. Provided that you have shown a reasonable level of engagement with the course materials and activities, you will receive a University of Edinburgh crested certificate of completion. This certificate does not represent a formal qualification in parapsychology. To obtain the certificate you must participate in the various activities that are provided in each week of the course: online quizzes, discussion boards, podcasts, and readings.
How many students are on each course?
For 2015, there is a maximum of 40 students per course. However, students are split into study groups of around 10 individuals.
Will I get any one-to-one tutoring?
No, you will learn by engaging with the core and specialist readings, listening to the audio interviews, trying the self-test quizzes, and perhaps most importantly by discussing topics with fellow students. These discussions (blogs) will be viewed regularly by the course leader, who will post comments to stimulate further thoughts from students. The discussions will also be monitored, to ensure proper netiquette is observed. The course leader will not engage in personal tutoring.
How many times does the course run per year?
In most years the course runs twice per year, starting in April and September.
What are the starting dates for the course?
The next course begins on 13th April 2015, followed by 14th September 2015.
How much are the course fees?
The course fees are £250.
How are the course fees spent?
30% goes to the University for administration and overhead costs; the remainder is used by Dr Watt to support research and knowledge exchange in parapsychology.
Is there any discounted fee rate?
Yes, Student Affiliates of the Parapsychological Association can register at the discounted rate of £125. Click here for information on how to join the PA. Note, being registered for this online course alone does not qualify you for PA student membership.
How do I register and pay for the course?
You can register and pay for the course online. Please contact Dr Watt for further information about registration. Acceptance of your payment confirms your attendance on the course. A credit or debit card will be needed for online payment.
Can I pay in installments?
No. Full advance payment is required in order to enrol on the course. If you need to pay in installments, register for a later course so that you have time to save up beforehand.
Are refunds possible?
Sorry, no. Once payment has been made a place is reserved for you on the course. If you decide to withdraw from the course, either in advance or part-way through, no refund is possible.
What is the latest date on which I can join a course?
There are no closing dates; however you should allow sufficient time to obtain the course textbook (see below) before the start of the course.
Do I need any qualifications in order to join the course?
All course materials are English language, therefore you need to be able to read and write in English. Also, since this is an online course, you will need to have reliable access to a computer, to be reasonably computer literate, to be able to use the internet, to navigate through menus, to open and download pdf and mp3 files, to post messages on a discussion board, and to use online help if needed. Otherwise, no formal qualifications are required.
What is the level of difficulty of the course?
No previous knowledge of parapsychology is required, just interest and enthusiasm. Some specialist reading has a more advanced level of difficulty, suitable for those at pre-honours or first year degree level, though these usually include a more accessible introduction/discussion or summary.
Do I need to obtain any course materials in advance?
Yes. The course textbook is in paper form.
Irwin, H.J & Watt, C. (2007). An Introduction to Parapsychology. New York: McFarland.
It is recommended that you obtain this in advance (e.g. from Amazon at around £27.00.) Click here to order it online from Amazon.co.uk.
How do I obtain other course materials?
Apart from the textbook (see above), all other materials and activities are provided via Learn, which is the University of Edinburgh’s Virtual Learning Environment. These materials include: pdf files, blogging (discussion) boards, and mp3 audio files. When you are enrolled on the course by Dr Watt, you will be provided with a username and password that will enable access to Learn as well as other University of Edinburgh electronic resources, for the duration of the course. Before being given the username and password, you must agree to the University of Edinburgh’s Computing Regulations.
Can I do whatever I want with the course materials?
No. The course materials are copyrighted and are provided for your personal study use only. Many of the journal articles are available because the University pays a subscription charge. You are granted privileged access to them through your status as a visiting student of the University of Edinburgh. You are not permitted to copy or otherwise distribute any course materials to others, or use them for purposes other than your personal study.
Can I work on the course at my own pace?
All course materials (e.g. readings, interviews) are available from the first week, so students can read/listen ahead if they like. However, discussion boards are only opened at pre-determined dates, so all students participate in discussions on particular topics at the same pace (otherwise it could get a little chaotic!). The course will close after week 10, so all students must have accessed the course materials by then.
What computer requirements do I need for the course?
You need to have access to the internet, and to be able to read or download pdf documents, and to listen to or download mp3 audio files. If you do not own the computer that you will be using during the course, you will need permission from the owner to use the computer in this way. As Learn is browser based it will run on any computer which is new enough to run current browser software and has internet access. Learn is compatible with Internet Explorer 8, Firefox 3.6 upwards and Chrome. It does not run efectively on Internet Explorer 7. It works on both Macs and PCs. We strongly recommend having broadband internet access: dial-up could be painfully slow, especially when downloading or listening to larger files.
Where can I go for computer help?
Student Support can help and advise students on computer requirements. Click on the links provided below.
Contact IS Support at Edinburgh University.
Who can help if I have difficulty accessing or using Learn?
See the Help pages listed above.
For problems using Learn, see the relevant Learn help pages. Also try the links listed above.
Sorry, the course leader is NOT able to help with computer difficulties.
Will I be required to submit any work for assessment?
Each student will be asked to write a short (up to 500 words) informal blog (opinion/commentary) piece for posting on a discussion board to stimulate discussion with fellow students. This work is not formally assessed, and there is no other requirement for assessment of work, though regular participation in course activities is required in order to obtain the completion certificate. Caroline also provides weekly informal self-assessment quizzes.
Will I have to visit the University of Edinburgh in person at any point?
No, the course is taught entirely online.
You teach an Introduction to Parapsychology course as a final year Option to undergraduate psychology students at the University of Edinburgh. Is the online course an acceptable substitute?
No, the online course is taught at a more elementary level and does not include assessment of students’ work. It is not a substitute for the undergraduate course, and does not provide any course credits or exemption from the UofE final year option course in parapsychology.
Back to main Teaching page
