Distance learning degrees mean you can study for a degree in your own time and at home. Could it be your best option? Find out more!
If you’ve considered going to university for a Bachelors, Masters, or other degree course, you might have felt constrained by geographical location. Perhaps you can’t or don’t want to move away from your current location, perhaps your dream course is in a city you wouldn’t be happy living in, or perhaps you’d benefit from a course that isn’t even located in your country.
But what if you could get the same educational experience from the comfort of your home? Enter Distance Learning! In this piece, we’ll tell you all about this very modern form of education and how it can benefit you.
What is a Distance Learning degree?
A Distance Learning (DL) degree is a course that you study without needing to attend the physical university campus.
Distance Learning grew out of correspondence courses as early as the 1930s, but modern technology has allowed it to really take off. Contemporary DL courses involve a lot of work on the computer. You might be expected to attend online lectures, download and engage with various course materials, and perhaps even work with your classmates via mediums such as forums, video calls, and email.
Some DL courses offer a limited face to face element, such as yearly events or meetings. These may be optional or compulsory, so always check.
How are Distance Learning degrees assessed?
It depends. Some Distance Learning degrees require you to attend a specific location to sit exams. Others will be based entirely on coursework, such as essays and a written thesis. Research-based courses may include a viva, or verbal exam, which can take place either online or in person.
There is no one-size-fits-all, so make sure you can meet your course’s requirements before you commit.
Which universities offer Distance Learning degrees?
The biggest provider of Distance Learning is the Open University. This institution has offered DL courses to more than two million students to date. However, Distance Learning has spread far more widely throughout the higher education system.
Many of the UK’s top universities now offer DL programmes. Just some of your options include University College London, the University of Edinburgh, The University of Manchester, King’s College London, and the University of Sheffield.
DL degrees are available at all levels: Bachelors, Masters, and PhD/Doctorate.
Is a Distance Learning degree worth as much as a campus one?
In short, yes!
You might hear that a DL or correspondence course isn’t a “real degree”. This is false. As long as you study through a properly accredited University, your degree will be just as rigorous and valid as a campus-based one.
You’ll get access to and support from tutors, study many of the same modules as campus-based students, and be graded in exactly the same way.
What are the pros of Distance Learning?
Distance Learning is an accessible option for many people. It mitigates many of the issues associated with accessing higher education, such as time constraints or not being able to move to a different area for study.
Many DL degrees are part-time and, since they tend to involve a lot of self-directed study and materials you can access at any time, they are ideal for people with competing priorities. You might need to log on for online seminars at a specific time, but in general DL courses are more flexible than campus-based courses. DL courses are particularly popular with parents, mature students, and those who want to work and study at the same time for this reason.
DL courses are often an accessible option for people who would find campus-based learning difficult for disability or health reasons.
Though you’re not in the same location, a DL course can be a surprisingly good way to make friends. Geographical distance often encourages people to get creative, so you might find yourself attending online socials or enjoying lively virtual chats with your classmates. You might even end up arranging to travel to meet some of your classmates in person.
Distance Learning is also often cheaper than campus-based learning, which we’ll discuss more in a minute.
What are the cons of Distance Learning?
Many people go to university for the full experience as well as the degree itself. If you want the social aspect of university and the opportunity to live in halls of residence, join clubs, or explore the nightlife, then a DL course will be a poor fit for you.
Some people say Distance Learning can be lonely. Since you do not have classmates in the same physical space as you, it can be harder to build connections and enjoy the support network that comes with studying the same course. If you do not enjoy online socialising, Distance Learning might make you feel isolated.
Finally, some students find it difficult to stay motivated during a Distance Learning course. You’ll need to be highly driven and able to work under your own initiative with little oversight.
How much does Distance Learning cost?
A DL course is sometimes, though not always, cheaper than its campus-based equivalent. An Open University undergraduate course currently costs £6336 per year full-time, far cheaper than the £9250 per year some universities are charging for on-campus courses.
Other universities charge the same fees for their DL and on-campus courses since they believe you are receiving the same quality of education, just in a different medium. Always check the fees for your chosen courses.
Aside from the often cheaper tuition fees, a DL programme means you do not need to commute to campus or pay for pricey student accommodation.
Don’t forget that all the same funding options are available to you as for campus-based students. This includes student loans for undergraduates, as well as postgraduate loans and various bursaries.
Is Distance Learning for me?
You’re the best person to answer that. If you’re still not sure, try answering the following questions:
- Do I want to attend university purely to get the degree, rather than for the campus experience or social life?
- Am I committed to putting in the hard work of a rigorous university course?
- Am I self-motivated and able to work under my own steam?
- Do I value flexibility and self-directed study in my learning?
- Do I want to study at an institution that is located somewhere I cannot (or do not want to) physically move to?
If you answered yes to all these questions, then Distance Learning might suit you very well. Take your time to do your research and then decide if it is right for you.
