Renown as the Correspondence Course in Genealogy, this Distance Learning Course provides an in-depth knowledge of UK genealogical sources and their application. The course prepares students for examination at the level of Higher Certificate in Genealogy.

Unlike other courses there is no fixed timetable and students are able to study in their own time, at their own pace and from the comfort of their own home and local archives. A particular benefit of the IHGS course is the emphasis on using the student's own family history research as the basis for research assignments, rather than using fixed research pieces.

The course is suitable for both beginners and experienced genealogists and the academic standards followed and depth of learning are also suitable for those intending to operate a professional genealogical practice.

The course consists of twenty-four modules, starting with the importance of beginning with records available in the home, moving through a detailed look at the basic sources such as birth, marriage and death records and census returns to more advanced sources such as criminal records, manorial records and Chancery Court records. The course also considers research in the UK outside England and Wales. Each module involves reading the provided lecture notes, conducting some background reading and completing a number of assignments, marked on a continuous assessment basis.

An online Students' Forum provides the opportunity to meet other students and discuss course materials. Each student is allocated a Tutor who marks their assignments and offers guidance as they move through the course.

The course is suitable for overseas students, with adapted assignments where appropriate.

On completion of the Course students are invited to take the Higher Certificate in Genealogy examination. The exam is optional.

Timescale

The course takes between two and three years to complete but must be completed within five (5) years from the date of enrolment.

The rate at which a student progresses through the course is dependent on the time available to them to study. It is recommended that every student set aside between 2-4 hours a week with a total course time of around 482 hours.

While the standard enrolment period is five years, we are willing to consider requests to extend supervision beyond this point. Requests must be made before the end of the five-year period. If an extension is granted, an additional fee may apply, calculated proportionally based on the length of the extension requested.

Qualifications

The course prepares candidates for examination at the level of Higher Certificate in Genealogy. There is then the option to proceed to the Diploma in Genealogy, which is an recognised professional qualification. Further practical experience and the submission of a thesis or dissertation can lead to the Licentiateship of the Institute.

The Register of Qualified Genealogists (RQG) accepts students on the IHGS Higher Certificate course as student members and those with the Diploma as full members.

Graduates of the IHGS Higher Certificate and Diploma in Genealogy are granted exemptions for some elements of the Association of Genealogists & Researchers in Archives (AGRA) membership application process and are not required to complete the separate AGRA research assignment.

The University of Strathclyde recognises graduates with the Higher Certificate in Genealogy to its PgDip/MSc Genealogical, Palaeographic & Heraldic Studies course without pre-qualification.