Learning Curve Home Study, RHS Horticulture Level 2

I have been studying RHS 2 with Learning Curve for about 6 months and have done 5 modules out of 12 so far and have passed the first 2 exams, one with commendation.

I have found the course materials mostly clear, well-written and easy to follow. Yes, there are a few typos, but nothing too bad. They also send additional reading such as leaflets and articles from relevant organisations. You don't get all the course materials at once, but I think they will send them all if you ask.

Some people have criticised the admin and tutoring, but my experience is pretty good. I have emailed the office several times and always got a prompt, helpful and friendly reply. The tutor's comments on my assignment have also been helpful, encouraging and quite detailed. She also includes additional reading if necessary and she seems very well informed.

My first assignment was marked in just a few days. They say there is a 7 day turn around but a couple of times I have not heard anything after 7 days so have emailed the office, who presumably contacted the tutor as the comments were then sent to me within 24 hours of me emailing, so I am happy with the service and am considering doing RHS 3 with LC when I finish my current course.

I haven't contacted the tutor apart from sending in assignments so I can't say how much support is on offer, but I chose this course provider having done a bit of research and I was not expecting a lot of additional support because they were charging half the price of some distance learning providers. I've done distance learning before and was confident that I wouldn't need extra tutorial support, just doing the assignments tells me I am on the right track. If you are less confident it may be worth paying more and going for a course provider which offers a higher level of support, online classrooms, etc.

So, in general I am happy with Learning Curve. I do think you get what you pay for to some extent, and perhaps the more expensive colleges offer a more comprehensive service and more individual tutoring - I would hope so as there is a huge difference in price & I'd suggest anyone considering the course should find out first what services & learning materials you get for the course fees and whether it's going to meet their needs.

For anyone who is able to get to a college and do the classroom-based course I think that would be the ideal option, and doing it by distance learning does mean missing out on bouncing ideas off other students and doing practical work, & I would have done it that way if possible. But I would recommend Learning Curve if, like me, distance learning is the only option and you feel that the course materials and assignment feedback will be enough to meet your needs.

I enrolled on the RHS course last year, but unfortunately could not start as I became a father...

In August I attempted to contact customer service to ask for the rest of the notes so I could complete on my own.

However only after several emails did i get a reply, which appeared to be positive, however nothing appeared.

So after several more email I got a reply that they needed to check my address, which I sent straight back.

I am now several more emails on and no course notes or reply to my emails.

I would never recommend this company to anyone.

I signed up to this course (RHS introduction) in spring, thinking that the modules offered would suit me well. I'm studying towards the RHS qualification.

The money was taken from my credit card and I had a swift email with the first module attached, name of my tutor and other documents.

This is a very disappointing course, and I fail to see how the organisation meets the standards set for online learning.

In particular, this is what I've experienced:

1.Money taken from customers, but materials are not provided in full, you receive the next module once each assignment has been submitted. As a customer I would expect to get what I paid for.

2.Following one from point 1 above, I submitted my assignment nearly 2 months ago, and I have not had an acknowledgement, or any email or notification of what is going on. I was sent module 2 and 3 when I asked for them to continue studying. I have sent 3 emails to the tutor to ask when I might be expecting to receive the assignment, no response. No response from the company either.

3. The modules are full of spelling mistakes, sometimes big chunks of text missing.

4. The modules are copied from other course literature, my modules say Edinburgh Garden School on them.

5. I have called the helpline, got voicemail, and asked for a call back, describing my problem. No one has called me.

6. Selling the course with misleading information, stating that you can have discussions with your tutor by asking for help etc. I don't think the tutor exists!

I don't recommend you sign up to this course. I have since bought some RHS books, which are as good to learn with to get exam ready.

Very disappointed.

I have been studying for the RHS Level 2 for six months now and an due to take my first exams in February. Unlike the other reviewer (and I do wonder why such reviews are always posted anonymously by 'guests'). I have found the tutor support of a high quality. Not only does my tutor respond quickly to enquiries, but there is a member of the tutorial team on call 7 days a week by instant chat, so you can always speak directly to a tutor. I feel very confident in the material, as I'm working through the syllabus at the same time, so can match it up as I go. The revision material which has just arrived, and includes many plant lists and sample answers, is also excellent.

I've studied for a number of RHS qualifications recently and am completing my Level 3s with what used to be Learning Curve. Good quality tuition, excellent support right up to the exams, and very supportive tutors. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to friends and colleagues.

They do give 12 months for completion of a course, although I have found them to be flexible and reasonable on this. I completed my Level 3 Garden Planning in 11 months, but couldn't fit the exams in, so the tutors continued to work with me until the exams, which were 5 months later. You can't say fairer than that. I felt supported and encouraged all the way through.

Firstly, i have got to ask the question,Do they really exist? and if they do for how much longer. They obvoiusly have seroius administration problems, and are understaffed,contacting your tutor is just not possible,what I cant understand is how these people ever got complimentary reviews ,or did they!!!

I have had enough, waiting so long for assignments to be marked,lack of response from tutors and administration, just basically total lack of response,I wonder what governing bodies like watchdog would make of them

Perhaps its time to find out.

I'm a woman in my 50s doing this course and my tutor takes at least 2 weeks to even respond to an email let alone send my assignments back ! very fed up.

Well where do I start about these people, yes they seem good value in their price but do not be misleaded, their coursework is littered with spelling mistakes and poor explainations/diagrams. I spend more time searching the internet and going through books that explain the subject fully to complete the required modules. As for quickly returning modules, well you can forget about that!! Sometimes I have had to wait up to 2-3 months to get an assignment back. Thats if they ever get back to you at all, I've had 3 assignments lost! I'm only halfway through my course. That makes 50% of work lost in the hands of Learning Curve. As for helpful tutors, it would be great if they ever responded back to emails! Not good! If your considering distance learning I would seriously shop around before considering these cowboys! Better still go to college where you will be taught in a much more practical manner!!!

I was really excited about starting this course and found it a complete let down. The notes are colourful and pretty but full of spelling mistakes. There is so much detail from the syllabus not covered it's a complete wasted of time. I asked my tutor about it and she told me it was rediculous to expect the material to be covered together - as it is in the syllabus and would be covered later on in the course. To me, that would be the best way to cover it! Why would I want to have one area of the syllabus covered across different modules. And I really don't agree that it was anyway. A real let down.

An informative and well-written course. Really enjoyable! Although I didn't find distance learning ideal for learning about such a practical subject it was the only way I could get the qualification, and the tutor was helpful - always quick to answer enquiries and very supportive in the run up to my first exams in February. I have two more in June so will soon be revising hard again! definitely recommended!