Online degrees What is an online degree? - Strictly speaking, one where all learning takes place via the internet. Under this format, students receive course material via email. Work is similarly returned to the tutor for marking. In practice they are very little different from distance learning degrees, where some hard copy is sent by post.
- Strictly speaking, one where all learning takes place via the internet. Under this format, students receive course material via email. Work is similarly returned to the tutor for marking. In practice they are very little different from distance learning degrees, where some hard copy is sent by post.
How does this work? - The advent of widespread internet use has added extra dimensions. Virtual classrooms such as Blackboard – essentially, chat rooms with extra bells and whistles – enable simulated class contact. File archives and message boards flesh out the system. Some providers use online Virtual Conferencing facilities as well.
How do I find a course? - An internet directory such as www.hotcourses.com has a distance learning search filter. The OU is the best known online/distance learning provider, with excellent student satisfaction ratings – but many other established universities offer distance learning programmes as well.
Ensure legitimacy - It pays to exercise a 'buyer beware' policy. There are some pirate operations offering expensive degrees with zero educational currency. Assess carefully the credentials of any institution you are unsure about. Use www.dcsf.gov.uk/recognisedukdegrees to check. With the proliferation of good quality online degrees there is no need to risk valuable time and funds on questionable courses.
What are the pros and cons of distance learning? - Convenience and flexibility are the main advantages. Distance learning fits more readily into busy lives, cuts out time spent at the institution, and can be pursued as and when time allows. Moreover, online degrees are often offered on a modular basis, enabling students to 'pay-as-you-go'. On the down side, social contact is lacking - and some employers still harbour wariness towards online degrees.
Will my tuition fees be paid? - Again, each student will need to check that for themselves. Distance learning is not an obstacle per se; courses are assessed on other criteria – full or part-time, subject etc.
So what is the cost? - With the caveat that prospective students should check each course individually, online/distance learning degrees often cost the same as traditional counterparts. And they offer no short cut in study time – they are designed to be as challenging as a class-based degree.
The flipside is that holders of these qualifications will know they are worth every bit as much as their non-online counterparts.