Studying by distance learning doesn't mean you'll be on your own. We’ll be with you every step of the way to help you with your studies and study planning.
If you have a question or are unsure of something, just ask. No question is too small, and nothing is a bother - helping you is what we’re here to do.
Get help planning your study
If you need help deciding what to study, talk to one of our Student Advisors. They can help you:
- choose the right qualification to suit your study and career goals
- decide what course to start with
- plan your study load to make sure it suits how much time you have available
- understand how to structure your qualification so you know what course(s) to do next
- plan your studies so you can staircase from certificate to diploma then onto a degree
- work out if your previous tertiary study can be cross credited to one of our qualifications.
If you’re already studying with us, they can help you work out how many courses you need to do to finish your qualification and graduate.
Contact our Student Advisors for help planning your studies
Getting started with online learning
Our friendly team of Student Mentors is here to support you through your study journey.
If you’re new to on-line learning or haven’t studied with us before they're here to help you get started. They can help log in and find your way around your new online learning environment. They'll also make sure you have all the information you need to get started in your studies.
Look out for an email inviting you to book an orientation call with a Student Mentor, or you can call and ask to talk to one:
- 0508 650 200
If you prefer you can ask to talk to a Māori or Pasifika mentor.
Supporting Māori learner success
You can also talk to a specialist mentor if you have a disability, learning difficulty or chronic medical condition and need support or information for your studies.
Support while you study
You can also talk with a mentor at any time during your studies. They can give you help and advice about:
- study skills
- motivation and time-management
- how to get an assessment extension and what to do if you need more time.
For course related support, every course has a Course Leader who is an expert in the subject. They’re skilled at teaching by distance learning and committed to helping you achieve your study goals.
Your Course Leader will guide you through the coursework, and make sure you understand the course materials. They’ll be active in the course talk channels, responding to questions and leading discussions. Sometimes, if I wanted to make sure I was heading down the right track with assessments I would send queries and I would get responses back quickly.
They’re only a talk channels message, phone call or email away to answer any questions and give you the help you need when you need it.
Before you start your course you’ll get the name and contact details of your lecturer. If you ever have trouble getting in touch with them or have issues with your studies, contact us:
Entering into study and embarking on a new career is nerve wracking. That’s how you know it is important to you. We have all been there and are here to support you every step of the way.
Research and assignment help
When it comes to assignment time, our Library and Learning Centre, Te Whare Pukapuka Wāhanga Whakapakari Ako, team are here to help. They can give you advice and support with researching your assignment, improving your academic writing skills, or with general study skills.
Learn more about how to get help with academic writing, research and study skills
The support from staff was excellent. The supportive comments of my lecturers were the force that developed my confidence to get this far and push even further. Study with Open Polytechnic laid the foundation for everything that came after it, including the confidence necessary to succeed after Open Polytechnic.