Q1: Unable to login.

1. Check that you are entering the correct user name and password. The Student number will always start with STU0

2. Check that there is no www in the URL on your Browser. The correct URL is http://vbivc.org or http://www.vineyardbi.org

3. Delete your cookies and try again:

• To delete your cookies (Firefox) go to Tools / Clear Private Data
• To delete your cookies (IE) go to Internet Option/ General /Browsing History/ Delete /Check 'Cookies' / Delete

4. Please note that currently our site does not work in Internet Explorer 8 - please use another Browser.

Q2: 'My VBI' distorted (reduced) in Internet Explorer 8

To fix this problem click on the 'Compatibility View' icon on the right of the URL bar (on the left of the Refresh icon).

Q3: How many courses are required to qualify for the BCS Degree?

Students are required to do 7+ 7+ 7+ 7= 28 courses. The curriculum consists of 4 Certificates and BCS students need to do 7 courses per certificate to qualify for the degree. Each certificate also requires:

* Online cohort classes and Forum work
* Extra reading
* Oral Exam or Senior Seminar
* DLP (Directed Learning Project)

Q4: What level of study is most suitable for use in a Home Group setting?

The School of Ministry level. All of the courses in the curricula can be completed at this level although courses like Biblical Interpretation, The Kingdom, Human Dignity and the Poor and The Theology of the Kingdom would be inappropriate due to their level of complexity. Also, there are some courses that, due to copyright restrictions, that are unavailable for Home group registration.

Q5: How long will it take me to complete a course?

Please read the section entitled ‘Planning Your Time' in the Instruction Manual.

Q6: How do I go about registering?

You need to be registered and logged in before you can make a purchase. Before you purchase a course, you need to decide what level you want to study on. There are four options:

* School of Ministry
* Diploma
* Advanced Diploma
* BCS Degree

Choose the level you want to study on, then choose the Certificate you want to study first, then choose the course you want to study from within that Certificate.

Q7: I have credits from another institution and want to know if they can be used towards the degree?

Yes, you may. Credits may be granted for your previous studies to. Please refer to the section entitled ‘RPL’ for more on ‘credits’.

Q8: Which Diploma course should I start with?

It is best to start with the Certificate in Kingdom Theology. However, if you choose to start with the Certificate in Biblical Theology, Biblical Overview is an easy place to start as it is an introductory course. For the Certificate in Kingdom Theology, start with Breakthrough: The Nature of the Kingdom followed by The Ministry of the Kingdom.

Q9: Which Advanced Diploma course should I start with?

If you choose to start with the Certificate in Biblical Theology, Introduction to Biblical Interpretation is a good place to start, followed by Biblical Interpretation. For the Certificate in Kingdom Theology, start with Breakthrough: The Nature of the Kingdom followed by The Ministry of the Kingdom.

Q10: Are there any time restrictions?

If you are studying for the BCS degree or in an online cohort group, then you will have a timetable to follow. In this case, each certificate will take 18 months to complete. All other levels of study do not have time restrictions, although we would advise not taking longer than 6 weeks per course.

Q11: Are there any restrictions in the order that courses are studied?

At present, only the BCS qualification and study on a cohort specify certain subjects that are studied in a particular order. All of our other levels of study do not stipulate an order at present. Please refer to the Wiki for more info.

Q12: Are there DVD’s and on-line chat rooms available?

You can purchase Video, MP3, Power Point and Power Point with Flash files for some of the courses. From the VBI Home page, select Campus Shop->Course Related Products. Look on the toolbar for links to the Forum and Blog.

Q13: Which courses are currently available?

Look on the web site under "Courses->Available Curriculum->Certificates".

Q14: Is there any discount for a husband and wife team who desire to study through VBI?

No, sorry, no discount.

Q15: Am I able to study a course and teach it at the same time? Will I have to pay twice, i.e. when I register and then when I register as the student’s leader?

Yes, you can study and teach at the same time, provided it is not at the BCS level. You do not need to pay again.

Q16: Are the audio tapes that were a part of the original VBI course still available for purchase?

We have done away with the tapes. All of the information that was on the tapes has been transcribed and enhanced in our online material. However, many of the courses we now offer were never on tape.

Q17: How soon can I begin my studies?

As soon as you complete and submit the registration form and payment is approved, your course will be available for download. However, if you would like to study at the BCS level, you will need to wait until the next course in the certificate commences; this will never be longer than 8 weeks. You can determine the exact starting date of your studies by consulting the appropriate timetable. Click on ‘Bachelor of Christian Studies Degree’.

Q18: I was a VBI student who utilized your old Anaheim courses (pre-2000); will I receive credit for the courses I completed if I want to continue with my studies?

We will award credits for all courses completed in the earlier format; these will be added to credits you obtain in further studies through VBI. This form of accreditation does not apply to the BCS Degree however. Student’s applying for credit at the degree level will be handled on a case by case basis.

Q19: I want to ensure that my degree is of the highest quality. Who will issue my degree?

The degree of Bachelor of Christian Studies (BCS) will be issued by St. Stephen’s University, Canada. For more information on the nature of the qualification and St. Stephen’s University, please refer to the appropriate sections in the Instruction Manual.

Q20: I use a Macintosh and not a PC. This means I'm unable to gain access to the papers, assignments and essays since I don’t have MS Word. Is it possible to receive my tasks in another format?

VBI assignments come standard in MS Word format. For those who do not have software to work with these files, we recommend that you obtain a copy of open software which will enable you to open and edit these files as required. If you do not have access to fast internet connection (ADSL or Broadband) you may need to find a friend who can download your material and save the file to a disc, CD or USB Flash Drive. Visit http://www.openoffice.org. OpenOffice.org is a free productivity suite and compatible with all major office suites. You can download the software http://download.openoffice.org

Q21: Will I have to submit my assignments on one subject before registering for a new course?

There is no need to submit an assignment before registering for a new course although we would strongly advocate completing a course before moving on to another. Additional classes may be registered for in succession.

Q22: The course level names have been changed - what is the equivalent of Discipleship and Academic levels on the new system?

Old Discipleship level is now called Diploma level
Old Academic level is now called Advanced Diploma level