IS DISTANCE LEARNING A GOOD OPTION FORYOU?

Online distance learning can be a convenient option for those who want to work towards adegree but also want to start earning by getting afull-time job.

Students aretotally free to organise how and when they study,making it the most flexible higher education option.

Materials aresent directly to the student or accessed via the internet and tutorial support is provided via electronic means such as Skype and email.

This way of learning enables you to fit afull degree around your personal and work life. It also doesn’tmatter where you live because you can gain adegree from anywhereinthe world. Youcan also study undergraduate, postgraduate and professional level courses all via distance learning.

One advantage is that adistance learning course often costs less than a full-time face-to-face degree course, with students usually offered a‘pay as you learn’ option rather than paying the full course fees at the start.

The majority of UK undergraduate students study with the Open University with courses covering arange of subjects from arts to science and everything in between.

Students can use these to build arange of qualifications that include certificates of higher education, diplomas of higher education, foundation degrees or honours degrees.

Tutors mark assignments, provide detailed written feedback, and offer support to students by telephone, email, or computer conferencing.

But many universities up and down the country now offer distance learning programmes too. They all work hardto ensurethey areofthe same high quality as campus-based programmes.

Officials say they have the same status as any student on campus but there’sno need to come on to campus. Also, they will be given deadlines like other students on campus but areable to manage their time leading up to assessments to work around what suits them best.

Those enrolled can access lectures, recordings and course material online whenever it suits them and they can study wherever they are. Then, once they’ve finished, they can celebrate their graduation with everyone else.

At most universities, online distance learning courses still follow the standard semester calendar with, usually,astart date in September

Applications need to be submitted directly to the university or college, rather than going through UCAS.

The downside to this style of learning is that some people can find it lonely and isolating because you arenot meeting your fellow course mates regularly n For moreinformation see www ucas.com/undergraduate/what-andwhere-to-study/distance-learning

However,the programmes often include day schools or residential weekends whereyou work with other students on aspecific project.

These can be followed by continued contact with the team as you work together,and result in another residential whereresults arepresented and assessed.