Study 'in' Australia by distance or online

Many students want to study in Australia to take advantage of its quality education system, although sometimes this is simply not an option for those who have jobs and family commitments overseas. If you can’t physically study on-shore, don’t worry! Even if you are unable to make the move to Australia, you can still gain a quality Australian qualification by studying via distance education, no matter where you live.

We have compiled a list of reasons why studying by distance or online might be a good option for you.

Flexibility

Put simply, distance and online education give you the power to study what, when, where and how you want to. You can choose from a large range of VET and higher education courses— from nursing to law, business to engineering — from a range of education institutions, many of whom can be found right here on the Studies in Australia website.

If you work full time or need to be close to your family in your home country, distance and online study allows you to study part-time at a pace that suits you. Alternatively, if you want to complete your course quickly, many institutions also give you the option to accelerate your studies through trimester systems.

Freedom

Distance education and online courses make it possible to begin your tertiary study in your home country through an online or distance course before making the move to Australia to study on campus. Distance and online courses might also give international students studying in Australia the freedom to return to their home country and still finish the course that they began.

If you do decide to make the swap from distance/online study to study on campus, many institutions enable you to apply for advanced standing, which may give you credit for units you have already studied.

Interaction

While distance education and online courses can never quite compare to the experience of studying on campus, the hard-copy textbooks and study guides, and the range of online support that is available really do bring the classroom to you. Distance and online courses are often supported by online forums, student blogs, discussion boards and library resources, which allow you to take part in study experiences similar to students studying on campus. You can interact with other students, share your work and opinions, access readings, listen to lectures, consult tutors and complete assessments and, in addition, many institutions include online student support and technical assistance as part of the service.

While essays are submitted online or by post, you may not be able to take your exam online. While some institutions allow exams to be submitted online or by mail, others require you to complete exams at venues in your home country. In many cases, other options are available for those who cannot get to the venues due to distance or special circumstances.

Accessibility

There are many people out there who would like to continue studying after they leave school but are unsure about which type of institution (university, TAFE institute or private college) is right for them or if they could handle the study commitment. As well as offering you the opportunity to complete entire courses, online courses and distance education allow you to enrol in single study units, which are perfect if you would like to see whether you like an institution or a particular area of study.

While students need to have achieved a designated level of English proficiency prior to study (this varies between institutions), online and distance education also gives you the chance to develop your English skills through interaction with tutors and other students.

As you can see, distance and online education can differ greatly to traditional on-campus education, but they also provide you with a range of benefits, as well as the opportunity to achieve a recognised Australian qualification while living abroad.

For more information on the basics of distance and online education, click here.