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Earn your degree online - Distance learning courses

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Are you looking for the opportunity to improve your skills, but can't afford to go back to college full-time? Perhaps you have children to support or a mortgage to repay and simply can't take time out of work to study. There are many alternatives to full-time college attendance such as following a distance learning course or getting a degree online. Could either of these be the right option for you?

The concept of distance learning has been around for a long time, starting up years ago, in the days when traditional correspondence courses were the only option. Now the variety of subjects available and the ways in which qualifications can be obtained has expanded enormously and of course, the internet means you can earn your degree online, in the comfort of your own home, with the benefit of audio and visual learning materials, as well as email contact with your tutor. Online learning isn't just limited to degree courses - you can take a short course to update your IT skills or develop news ones, learn a new language or enhance your knowledge of one you studied at school. In fact, you can do just about anything at any level from improving your basic reading, writing or numeracy skills to gaining a post-graduate qualification. So read on for inspiration which might just change the course of your life.

What are the advantages of online learning?

First of all, it's possible to fit this type of study around your existing commitments:

You don't have to leave your job, pay a fortune in childcare and trek to a campus miles away from home.

You won't end up with a huge student loan to pay back.

You can gain qualifications without having to interrupt career progression.

You can learn at your own pace - degrees are usually modular, allowing you to take breaks if you need to.

What are the disadvantages to online learning?

There are several potential disadvantages, but this depends on your personality and preferences.You will miss out on the student experience - interaction with other students, sports, clubs, drinking and other traditional student pastimes.

You will also miss the buzz of learning in a classroom environment, being able to discuss topics, argue and ask questions as soon as they come up. You may find it hard going to study after a full day's work and your social life is likely to suffer - weekends will be needed to catch up on assignments.Other family members may feel neglected or interrupt you when you're trying to work. You may find it difficult to motivate yourself when you'd rather watch TV or go to the pub with friends.

Making the decision

The decision to follow a particular online course is not to be taken lightly and should be a result of considering all the options and then choosing the one which will work best for you.If you missed out on education the first time round, online degrees offer a wonderful opportunity to get the qualifications you need to advance in your career, get a raise, or study a subject you really enjoy. So, if you want to earn a degree online, how should you go about it?

The article below relates to the UK. If you are in the US, go to learn online US

It's important to think about why you want to gain a degree. Make sure the course is properly accredited by the education department of the country in which you live, in the UK this is the DfES. There are plenty of bodies which accredit courses, but many of them are not recognized officially.

If you have a specific career path in mind, it's crucial to make sure you do the right course. In this case, start at the end! Think of the end result you want - not just the job, but also the type of organization for which you'd like to work. Contact an employer you plan to apply to once you're qualified and check whether or not they accept the qualification. Alternatively, get in touch with the professional body which represents those in your field and get their opinion. They should be able to provide you with a list of approved courses, both off and online. Once you've narrowed the choice down to acceptable courses, you'll need to decide which is most suitable for you.

Look at the course content - does it cover all the subjects you want to take?

How flexible is it? Will you be able to switch modules if you aren't happy with your original choice?

How much time are you allowed to complete your online degree?

Is it all online or does it include other methods of delivery? For example the Open University, which has been providing distance learning courses since 1969, offers tuition via the TV, CDs and days schools tutorials and summer schools.

Will you need to brush up on your study skills and does the course provide it?

How much will it cost and is there any financial aid available?

How do your family and friends feel about your studying?

Will you employer be supportive, if you have to arrange time off for exams or to finish assignments on time?

Studying for a degree, online or offline, is a major undertaking. So make sure you do your research, weigh up the pros and cons and discuss your plans with friends, family or a careers advisor. But in the end - it's your decision and your life. So don't reject the possibility for the wrong reasons.

The Open University

The Open Univeristy is the UK's only university dedicated solely to distance learning and came fifth in the national rankings for teaching quality in universities in 2004, placing it above both Oxford and University College London.

The OU started was established in 1969, with the first students starting on foundation courses in January 1971. Initially, tuition was provided via TV and correspondence course, combined with some more traditional university classes.

The university continued to grow and during the 80s added a number of professional training courses to reflect the need for continuing career development. The business school is now the largest in Europe.

As technology progressed, the OU introduced new teaching media such as cassettes, video, CDs and the internet. OU teaching materials are now used in many traditional universities and colleges.

A huge variety of courses is now on offer, ranging from short courses to postgraduate degrees and teaching certificates. Teaching is delivered in various ways, depending on the course studied. And a number of courses are also offered to students outside the UK.

Distance learning with the University of London External Programme

Regardless of which part of the world you live in, you can earn your degree online via the University of London External Degree Programme, which will enable you to gain an internationally recognised qualification at either Diploma, Bachelor or Masters level.

The university has examination centres in 140 countries and it is possible for students to receive local support in more than 45 countries. To find out what is available, click on the link below:

University of London

Some Important Considerations before you take up Distance Learning.

If you are considering taking a degree online, or following any form of distance learning, there are a few things you'll need to take into account

First of all, you must ensure that the course is right for you. Ask yourself the following questions:

Will it lead to the career you want?

Is it accredited?

Is the qualification accepted by the profession you wish to enter?

You can find answers to these questions by consulting a careers advisor or getting in touch with a company in the industry. Speak to someone in the HR department and ask them if the degree you are considering is acceptable. If not, ask exactly which qualifications you need for the job you're after. Alternatively, you could contact the relevant professional body and ask for advice. Imagine spending 4 or 5 years and a large sum of money taking a course and then finding that it isn't what you need. It doesn't bear thinking about. So check it out thoroughly before you go ahead.

Let's look at some courses available online:

Business Degrees Online

You can now study both for a wide range of business qualifications online, reaching degree and postgraduate level without having to give up your day job. The University of Sunderland offers a 2 year BTEC HND and a third year to convert this to a BA in Business Studies.

Postgraduate students can study for a BTEC diploma and on completion, and this can be topped up to an internationally recognised MBA.

Entry requirements for the MBA are Edexcel Diploma in Management Studies or a CMI Executive Diploma.

Students must be 23, with 3 years' managerial experience. Students can start at one of four times during the year.

For more information go to :

Sunderland

As well as researching online courses, you will need to find some information on how to finance your studies

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