General Information
The majority of SDS courses take place in the Students’ Union, although sometimes courses are moved to other university locations. Attendees will always be notified if there is a location alteration.
SDS courses take place throughout term-time during both daytime and evening slots. First Aid courses usually take place on Saturdays.
Eligibility
All current Cardiff University students on an undergraduate degree and post-graduate courses, including doctorates, are eligible to attend SDS courses. Additionally, Masters Students who have completed their studies and are awaiting the results of their Autumn dissertation may attend SDS courses in the Autumn term.
Booking courses and sessions - CPD/DPD/Well-being
Bookings usually open around 2 weeks prior to the date. If a workshop appears full it is possible to turn up unannounced as we will will endeavour to accommodate you providing space exists.
Some sessions in the Well-being section are delivered by the University's Student Life team, and require a different website and these will appear on the session title line in the bookings list.
Booking Fees
All SDS courses, apart from the externally-certificated ones, are provided free of charge for participants.
Externally-certified courses are fee paying and can be booked at "What's On" and you will be advised accordingly. For details of costs associated with externally-certificate courses please click here
Course leaders
SDS courses are led by a variety of people, including its 2 staff members, specially-trained student-peer trainers, University staff and outside instructors and presenters.
Assessment
SDS courses do not culminate in exams as such. Aside from the formal assessments required of the individual externally-certificated courses and sessions, learning is measured through discussion, active participation and reflection.
Gaining certification
Certificates of Personal Development
Upon completion of 5 workshops (units) in the Certificate of Personal Development scheme you will need to send in the "reasons for attending and outcomes" log available on the website. Certificates of Personal Development are issued in e-format and will be emailed to you around 2 weeks after receipt of the log. You can print the e-certificate at a library, University print centres or print it off yourself.
Diploma of Professional Development
Once your submitted work has been ratified you will be eligible to receive the certificate at the applicable level.
Externally-Certified Courses and Sessions
Certificates for externally-accredited courses will be issued by the providers in question and can take between 2 and 12 weeks to be processed following successful completion.