The Advanced Certificate courses serve diverse requirements. For some students the achievements of the Advanced Certificate is an important goal while for others, usually in later stages of their careers, the formal qualification is of little value. Some students take them as part of a graduate studies programme; others take them from industry where enrolment gives them the opportunity of access to the course material for study or later reference.

Furthermore, the Advanced Certificate qualification is not a well-known currency world-wide and this will probably remain the case until qualifications are rationalised on an international scale. It is thus less attractive than a traditional degree and therefore there is a reduced inclination to take the written paper required for these qualifications.

The success of a particular Advanced Certificate course is partially measured by whether its students have had their original expectations satisfied by their learning experience. For those students who wish to gain the Advanced Certificate, passing the examination and/or projects(s) is a measure of success. For other students, the success of the course must be measured by the award of the Certificate of Attendance and/or questionnaires aimed at assessing the student satisfaction level after the end of the course.

The School recognises the diverse expectations of students taking the Advanced Certificates and enrols students who are in a position to take advantage of the course material but who do not necessarily wish for a formal qualification.

• During the Admission Procedure the relevant course organiser considers course applications, technical information form and other supporting documentation and considers for eligible students whether the student aspirations can be met. This will affect the decision whether to accept the student or not.
• The prospective students are informed in the Course Information that they are not necessarily expected to take the written examination. In the first term of the course the Course Organiser asks students whether they plan to take the examination.
• At the planning stage of the examination the students are asked whether they definitely want to take the examination. An examination is only organised for those that say yes.
• The Advanced Certificate is awarded to those students who pass in all elements of the examination. A Certificate of Attendance is sent to those students who fulfil the specific requirements of the particular Advanced Certificate.
• A questionnaire is sent out to students after the end of each course to elicit their views on whether the course has met their expectations.

Satisfactory performance over all the assignments.