This guide helps course providers choose a format before creating a course in Cademy. Choose based on whether learners attend scheduled sessions, arrange a time with you, work through self-paced content, or combine sessions with self-paced learning.
A course’s format, also called its course type, controls which setup options it has. Its delivery method describes where a live session happens, such as in person or online. An online session is not automatically an On-demand course.
Compare the four formats
The format picker shows these choices in this order:
Format | Choose it when | Example |
On set dates | Learners attend scheduled sessions, without a self-paced lesson area. Sessions can be in person, online or hybrid. | A live workshop or six weekly classes. |
On-request | You arrange training around the customer’s needs or offer times based on your calendar availability. Your settings determine whether customers submit a request or book an available time immediately. | Training for a company or one-to-one coaching. |
On-demand online course | Learners study self-paced content without a required attendance date. | A recorded training programme. |
Blended course | Learners need scheduled sessions and self-paced learning content. | Live sessions combined with online lessons. |
For example, six live weekly classes can use On set dates. Choose Blended course when those classes also need self-paced learning content. The number of sessions alone does not determine the format.
What each format includes
The table shows the parts of the course editor that differ between formats. Each row names a tab of the editor or an item under its Settings tab.
In the course editor | On set dates | On-request | On-demand online course | Blended course |
Dates tab: dates you schedule, booked one at a time or as a block | Yes | No. Cademy can create a private date when a customer books an available time or when you accept a request. | No | Yes |
Contents tab: lessons hosted in Cademy | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Host Externally, in Advanced Settings: learning content on another platform | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Access Options: how long learners can open the content | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Booking Options: Accept bookings, Date requests, Group requests, Allow Waitlist and External Bookings | Yes | No. The Booking Flow section of Pricing & Delivery sets how customers book. | No | Yes |
Pricing & Delivery tab: prices | Price offers and add-ons. These are course defaults; a date can have its own. | Four choices: Free, Price on enquiry, Show the customer a price range and Set pricing. Offers and add-ons belong to Set pricing. | Price offers and add-ons. | Price offers and add-ons. These are course defaults; a date can have its own. |
Pricing & Delivery tab: delivery and places | Delivery Method (In-person, Online or Hybrid) and Max Spaces. These are course defaults; a date can have its own. | Duration, and delivery as Online, In Person or both. In Person offers Customer comes to me and I will travel to the customer. | No delivery method, location or Max Spaces. The tab holds the advertised Duration. | Delivery Method (In-person, Online or Hybrid) and Max Spaces. These are course defaults; a date can have its own. |
Calendar Sync | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Every format has Certificates & CPD and a forum item under Settings. CPD means continuing professional development. What a learner has to do before a certificate is issued automatically differs by format: attend, complete the online lessons, or both. See Set Up and Issue Course Certificates and Set Up and Manage a Course Forum.
For the detail behind a row, see Add and Edit Course Dates and Blocks, Build Lessons and Organise Course Content, Set and Change Course Access Expiry, Choose How Customers Book or Apply, Create Price Offers and Add-ons, Set Course Prices and Places: Defaults and Date Overrides and Set Course Locations and Joining Details.
Some options named in this guide depend on your plan, for example External Bookings. For plan information, see Understand Cademy Plans, Limits and Fees.
Separate the format from other choices
Hybrid delivery: a session offers both in-person and online attendance. It does not by itself mean the course has self-paced lessons.
A block of dates: several sessions are booked together. Both On set dates and Blended course support blocks; you do not need Blended solely to sell a block.
Content on another platform: On-demand online course and Blended course both offer Host Externally and Content Access Details. This is a content-hosting choice, not a fifth course format.
Booking on another website: External Bookings sends customers to your own website to book. Its setting is on the Booking Options card, which the editor shows only for On set dates and Blended course. Read Send Customers to an External Booking Website before you rely on it for another format.
On-request booking: the name does not mean every customer must wait for you to accept a request. A customer books immediately when the course uses Free or Set pricing, Allow Bookings is set to Based On My Calendar Availability, and the customer chooses an available time for a duration of one day or less. Other journeys send you a request to handle. See Choose How Customers Book or Apply and Handle Course Requests and Applications.
Requests on a scheduled course: On set dates and Blended course can also let customers ask for another date or a private group session, through Date requests and Group requests on the Booking Options card. You do not need On-request for that.
Choose a format and continue setup
To create a course, use a System Admin or Course Owner account. Facilitators do not have access to the course editor.
Open the Admin dashboard and select Courses.
Select Create New. The service keyword and format picker opens.
Under Which keyword best describes this service?, choose the word that describes what you offer. This names the service; it does not select its format.
Under What is the format?, select the format you chose above. The editor opens for a new course of that format.
Use the matching setup guide below to add the course details and check how it will work for customers. Choosing a format is only the start of setup.
Create and Set Up a Scheduled Course covers scheduled-course setup.
Create and Set Up an On-request Course covers pricing, duration, delivery and the customer booking journey.
Create and Set Up an On-Demand Course covers self-paced course setup.
Create and Set Up a Blended Course covers setup combining sessions and learning content.
A new course is saved unpublished. When the setup is complete, follow Test a Course Before Launch and Publish and Share a Course.
If the course already exists
Do not use Create New to change an existing course’s format. Read Change a Course Type before changing it. There are eligibility restrictions, and some changes remove course dates. Review the consequences before confirming a conversion.
Frequently asked questions
Do live online classes need the On-demand format?
No. Use On set dates for scheduled live sessions, including online sessions. Choose On-demand online course for self-paced study without a required attendance date.
Do several dates make a course Blended?
No. On set dates supports several dates and blocks. Choose Blended course when scheduled sessions are combined with self-paced learning content.
Can On-request customers book immediately?
Yes, when the course uses Free or Set pricing and calendar availability, and the customer chooses an available time for a duration of one day or less. Other configurations use a request. Check Choose How Customers Book or Apply before relying on either journey.
Can my learning content stay on another platform?
Yes. On-demand online course and Blended course have a Host Externally option. Follow the relevant setup guide and explain how learners will access that content.