In this article, we'll explain how to set a deadline for a Course. Deadlines can be applied to any Course, ensuring learning is completed within a specific period after enrollment. Users will view these deadline details in their Courses view for the Course.
Additionally, email reminders can be configured to notify assigned Users, their Manager, and a Course tutor when a deadline is approaching or has passed.
We'll cover how to:
- Set a Course deadline
- Configure the notification schedule for Users, Managers, and Tutors
- Applying deadlines at three levels: Course, Group, and User
Steps to set a Course deadline
- Browse to the Course area of Learn admin:
-
Select the Course to which you want to add a deadline. Use the search fields if needed to narrow down the list of Courses. The free text search applies to Course Title, Code, and Description:
- Select Deadline from the Course administration menu:
- The default deadline setting is 'This course does not have a deadline'. To add a Fixed deadline date, select Must be completed by and input a specific date. To specify a date that is relative to course enrolment, select Must be completed within and specify the number of days or weeks the User will have to complete the Course from point of enrolment. This is helpful for assignments to new starters or specific User Groups, ensuring completion within a specified timeframe after Course assignment:
- Select the box Apply this deadline to all existing course assignments if the specified deadline should apply retrospectively.
- Adjust the User, Manager, and Tutor notifications as needed. The default setting is 'Use the default notification schedule.' To configure notifications, see below.
- Select Submit to save the changes
ℹ️ Info: Deadlines are calculated from the enrolment date, not the exact time of enrolment.
For example, for a course with a 1-day deadline, if a learner enrols on 1 January (and the course appears in My Courses from the start of that day), the deadline will be 2 January.
In other words, deadlines are based on calendar days, not a 24-hour period. The day of enrolment is treated as day zero.
Example: If a learner enrols on 1 January, that day is considered day zero. Day one is 2 January, so a 1-day deadline falls on 2 January, regardless of the time the learner enrolled on 1 January.
Applying deadlines at three levels: Course, Group, and User
Deadline Added to the Course
Applies to: All Users enrolled in the course
Best for: Simple, universal deadlines
When you add a deadline directly to the course, the same deadline applies to every learner, regardless of how they were enrolled (self‑enrolment, group assignment, manual enrolment, etc.).
Key points:
- One deadline for all learners.
- Easiest method to manage.
- Not suitable when different audiences need different due dates.
Deadline Added to a Course Assignment for a Group
Applies to: Specific Groups the course is assigned to.
Best for: Different deadlines per department, team, region, or role
If the course is assigned to multiple Groups, you can set a different deadline for each Group.
Key points:
- Overrides a Course deadline
- Highly targeted deadline control.
- Deadlines can be updated, removed, or changed for one Group without impacting others.
- Slightly more administrative effort, but much more flexible.
Deadline Added to a Course Assignment for an Individual User
Applies to: Individual learners
Best for: Exceptions and unique cases
Courses assigned directly to Users can each have their own personalised deadline. Although less commonly needed, it’s useful for individual arrangements, accommodations, or special circumstances.
Key points:
- Overrides a Course and Group deadline
- Allows one-off deadlines for specific users.
- Useful for exceptions rather than general scheduling.
Configure the notification schedule for Users, Managers, and Tutors
By default, deadline reminders will follow the default notification schedule. However, it is possible to configure a unique schedule for Users, Managers, and Tutors.
Note: deadline reminders will be sent for up to 28 days after the deadline
First, follow the steps above to configure the deadline for a Course, then follow the steps below:
- Set the User notification if required. The default is set to 'Use the default notification schedule'. Options include 'Do not notify' and 'Use a custom notification schedule':
- If 'Use a custom notification schedule' is chosen, you can specify when notifications start before or after the deadline by days, weeks, months, or years. Additionally, you can set the frequency of follow-up notifications after the initial one is issued:
- Set the Manager notification if required. The default is set to 'Use the default notification schedule'. Options include 'Do not notify' and 'Use a custom notification schedule
- Set the Tutor notification if required. The default is set to 'Use the default notification schedule'. Options include 'Do not notify' and 'Use a custom notification schedule
- Select Submit to save changes
To read more about managing emails and notifications, see 'Notifications and messages 101'.
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