How to choose your ICs during Calibration Phase

Overview

Calibration Phase is where you build the skills and knowledge that will carry you through the rest of your degree. It’s also the phase where learners most commonly run into difficulty - not because the content is too hard, but because they try to take on too much at once.

This article explains how IC selection works, why we recommend taking ICs one at a time, and how to plan your path through Calibration with confidence - without feeling like you need to rush.

🌟Following a Programme? If you're enrolled in a predefined Programme (such as an IMBA Programme Pathway or a BSc core curriculum sequence), you must choose from a specific set of ICs. The pacing guidance in this article still applies - taking your Programme ICs one at a time, in the recommended order, is the right approach. The sections on choosing between ICs are most relevant to learners on a self-curated path.

What is an Impact Certificate, and how demanding is it?

Each Impact Certificate (IC) is a structured, three-week block of intensive, challenge-based learning. Within each IC you can expect:

Weekly live sessions (attendance is core to your learning experience - these are not optional)
Weekly deliverables and project work
A capstone challenge submitted at the end
A weekly workload of reading and working towards deliverables

That adds up to a dedicated workload per IC across three weeks - on top of any work, commitments, and life outside university.

⏱️ What does the weekly workload actually look like?

Attending a 90-minute live session

Watching and reviewing challenge content

Working on your weekly deliverable and responding to peer feedback

Engaging with your cohort in Slack and in study groups

Across two ICs, all of the above work will be doubled.

Why we recommend one IC at a time

The one-IC-at-a-time recommendation isn’t a rule for its own sake. It reflects what learners actually experience:

Live sessions for two ICs can conflict meaning you won’t be able to attend both
Delivering quality work on two simultaneous capstone challenges is harder than it sounds
When learners fall behind in one IC, they often fall behind in both
Learners who pace themselves consistently report higher satisfaction and better grades

The goal isn’t to go fast - it’s to go well. One focused IC completed with strong engagement gives you more than two rushed ones.

🙋 A note on the urge to sign up for everything

We hear this a lot, especially from early-cohort learners: “I want to get ahead.” It makes sense. But here’s what actually happens when learners over-enrol:

They sign up for ICs whose live sessions overlap, because the schedule shows intake blocks - not the actual session times within them.

They mistake enrolling in an IC for securing a spot in a future block, when actually they’re joining the current one.

They hit the first week of two concurrent ICs and realise they simply don’t have the time.

Signing up for your next IC when you’re ready is not falling behind. It’s how this is designed to work.

How to read the IC schedule and plan your path

A common source of confusion: when you look at the schedule, you see intake blocks. These show when each IC is available to start. Within each block, there are multiple live sessions spread across three weeks - and those sessions have specific times that may or may not overlap with other ICs.

To plan well:

Open the full schedule for your program before signing up
Identify the specific live session times for any IC you’re considering
Check whether those times overlap with your current IC or personal commitments
Then enrol in the IC that fits your schedule, and your readiness - not just the one that’s available.
If you are enrolled on a program, ensure that it also comes from the list of ICs you need to take for your program.

You don’t need to plan your entire Calibration Phase in advance. Start with your first IC, then look ahead to the next once you’re in it.

For BSc learners choosing their own IC sequence: You have more time than you think

Bachelor’s degrees at Tomorrow University are longer programmes, and Calibration Phase spans a significant part of that journey. It’s natural to feel urgency early on - but the degree is deliberately structured so that pacing yourself serves you better in the long run.

Here’s an example of what a sensible IC sequence might look like for a BSc in AI & Sustainable Technologies learner taking one IC per block:

When	IC	Why this, why now
Block 1	Foundations of Tech Impact	Core curriculum IC - builds the foundation for everything that follows. Take this first.
Block 2	Data Science Fundamentals	Second core IC - builds directly on Block 1. Completing these in order matters.
Block 3	Applied Machine Learning	Third core IC - you’re now halfway through your core curriculum with strong foundations.
Block 4	Elective of choice	With core ICs done, you can now explore. You know what you enjoy and what you need.
Block 5	Elective of choice	Second elective - at this point you’re well-paced and in a strong position.
Block 6	Elective of choice	Final calibration IC. You’ve completed the Calibration Phase with depth and quality.

This sequence takes roughly 18 months at one IC per block. That leaves substantial time for Elevation and Activation - the phases that build on everything you’ve learned here.

✅ Remember

There are enough IC intakes across your degree for you to take them one at a time and still graduate on schedule.

If you’re worried about the timeline, visit your PD Office Hours and we’ll map it out with you.

Can I take two ICs at the same time?

💡Note for learners on a Programme: If you're following a predefined Programme, your IC sequence is already determined. You shouldn't need to enrol in two ICs simultaneously - your Programme is designed to be taken one at a time. If you feel you need to deviate from this, speak to your PD first.

If you have a genuine reason for wanting to take multiple ICs at a time you are able to enrol on up to two concurrent ICs. But we’d encourage you to ask yourself the following before doing so:

Have you checked that the live sessions don’t overlap?
Do you have protected hours per week available for study across both ICs?
Have you already experienced at least one IC and have a feel for the workload?
Are you in a period of your life with lower external demands?

If you can answer yes to all of the above, taking two ICs simultaneously can work. If you’re unsure about any of them, take one first.

⚠️ The platform will not allow you to enrol in more than two ICs at the same time.

Frequently asked questions

What if I miss the sign-up window for an IC I wanted?

Each IC runs multiple times throughout the year. Missing one intake doesn’t mean missing the IC entirely. Check the schedule for the next available block and plan from there.

I can’t see a date for the IC I want to take

The app displays the next upcoming intake date, but each IC runs several times throughout the year. If the current date doesn't work for you, you don't need to sign up for it. Check the full schedule to find the next available block - you'll be able to enrol on the platform once the current intake has finished.

What does enrolling in an IC actually do?

It enrols you in the current intake of that IC - the one starting in the upcoming block. It does not reserve a spot in a future block. If you want to join a later intake, wait and sign up when that block opens.

Can I unenrol from an IC after signing up?

Yes, as long as you haven’t missed the Kick-Off Live Session. After that, you’ll need to complete the IC or it will count as an incomplete. If you’re unsure whether to unenrol, come to Office Hours first.

I’m worried I’m falling behind. What should I do?

Come to Office Hours. This is exactly what they’re for. We can review your schedule, look at what’s coming up, and make sure your path through Calibration is realistic and achievable.