The Smae Institute (1919) Ltd - Maidenhead

Warren P.

I was recommended Smae via a friend so decided to sign up. I found the course to be hard so after 6 weeks I decided to leave. The course style just did not suit me. However, I did not find the course doom and gloom and did take a lot away from it in this short time.

Smae start of with a theory course with a multiple choice questions test followed by an academic style essay. There are 12 modules in all. To help with the essay you have a webinar presentation to help you with this. However they did not do this on catch up so trying to find a time to fit in around this was hard. I will add that they did try to fit in a webinar to suit me, but by time this was suggested I wanted to leave. I also had an email that I waited 7days to get the answer and found this frustrating.

I asked for a refund but I was over the 14 days cooling off period. I feel that the cooling off period needs to be a bit longer so people can see if the course is for them or not.

Smae are extremely professional and a big mention goes to Jess. I found her to be very helpful and easy to talk too.

Susan T.

I have just graduated from SMAE as a FHP. It took me a year to do the theory, it was not a walk in the park. Remember this course is a Diploma that is accredited by QMU Edinburgh, it is marked at same level as degree level study. The support you receive is the support you ask for. If you think you can wing this course, think again.
The clinical part is over 2 weeks and it is intense but the tutors are amazing. Use them, pick their brains, they have a huge amount of knowledge and they are happy to help you. I would absolutely recommend SMAE to anyone, just wish they had a training branch in Scotland.

Mel C.

Don't waste your money, very unprofessional organisation, limited support and poor qualifications which are not respected by Podiatrists/Chiropodists.

Once at Level 5 and realised I'd been taught nothing about what the job actually entails and I found this extremely worrying.

As the previous reviews said they are more interested in essay writing to keep themselves recognised by Universities.

I personally would not use any person who has been 'trained' by SMAE for my feet and that has to say a lot really.

lynne M.

Waste of time and money. There is NO support. They can't even be bothered to respond to emails. The course is geared toward those aiming to go onto the degree. The focus is on academic writing and correct referencing. Very little feedback on the actual content of the essays. The feedback on submitted material was petty and condescending. I left and qualified with another organisation who's focus WAS on learning and much better support and feedback. AVOID. My response to you. Not all my emails were answered. I emailed 2 "lecturers" and NEVER received a response. The only people to respond to my emails were 1 fellow student and someone in the admin office. Yes, you are accredited by QMU, however is being able to write an academic essay evidence that you are competent and knowledgable to actually treat someones feet? No, it is not. That takes more than 2 weeks training at your centre. - And while on the topic of academic writing, please check some of your responses here. If you submitted them for marking you would fail on the grammar alone.

Val

I qualified with Smae 5 years ago and found the training excellent. There was huge support and encouragement from them, with very committed, knowledgeable tutors. I’ve built up a very successful business since qualifying and enjoy an extremely fulfilling career. I am very thankful for the training they gave me and with be forever grateful I chose to study with them. Thanks Smae

rizwana M.

On the phone lady said one hour appointment went there took two hours long was in a hurry had to pick my son up from nursery. Unprofessional service despite free service better if you pay money and get it done from a professional better and quicker such a waste of time.
Wouldn’t recommend to anyone feel no difference to my feet booked with a qualified podiatrist in a months time.

Scott L.

You can’t be with an underage child for their appointment, to be shouted at by a receptionist and treated poorly. No phones or laptops are allowed apparently, in a day and age where you need to be able to access an electronic device for calendar appointments etc, even though she is batting away on her laptop. Poor service, avoid like the plague.

LW

Please do not waste your money studying here. Lack of support hardly any feedback given in-order to better support assignments. Waste of money and time. Tutor comments are rude, they take 4-5 weeks to respond for an assignment. Also rather than providing modules that actually teach you about foot health they waste their time on how many full stops and commas you have put in your essay. The first module was ridiculous, something about doing research on academic writing. What an absolute joke of an institution you are. One of the worst academic courses I have enrolled on. You spend most of your time worrying about your Harvard referencing than the content.