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Online and distance education

Many students have trouble fitting their studies into an already busy schedule. Others, such as rural or remote students, may not be able to study the course of their choosing due to the university’s location. Luckily, getting a qualification doesn’t have to mean changing your lifestyle or where you live. If you can’t get to the classroom every day, you still have plenty of options to complete your course through distance study.
Distance education (also called external or online mode) allows you to study wherever and whenever it is convenient — there are no regular classes to attend and all the information you need is delivered through the post or online. For those who prefer a little face-to-face contact, or for hands-on courses with practical components, mixed mode or flexible enrolment combines some on-campus classes with distance delivery.
Whether you’re finishing school this year, returning to study as a mature age student or beginning a postgraduate course, most universities will be able to cater to your needs.

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Different distance options

Online delivery

Distance students have access to many of the same resources as their on-campus counterparts at the touch of a button. This means that lecture notes and other course information can be delivered by email, on the university website and even through subject blogs. Some universities may allow students to download the lectures themselves as sound or video recordings, or in some cases, watch or listen to lectures through online classrooms. The only catch is the need for good, fast internet access, so students in rural areas should consider this if their chosen course relies heavily on online materials.

Course materials delivered to your door

Before internet technology, the only method of delivering course materials was by ‘snail mail’. Many distance students still receive their course materials in the post, but the more common method these days is email, or in some cases, ‘virtual classrooms’. The course materials usually contain a subject guide, written versions of the lectures or classes that on-campus students attend, as well as any further reading material suggested in class. Distance students can use the subject guide to find out what course materials or other resources they must read each week, as well as any additional information required to complete assessments. As with on-campus study, there will usually be one or more assignments (or exams) to complete during the semester.

Flexible class schedule (mixed-mode)

In some distance courses — especially those with a strong hands-on learning element — parts of the course may be delivered in large class blocks on campus. This is often called ‘block mode’ or ‘intensive study’ because students can get all of these classes out of the way in one hit. The only drawback with this method is the sheer volume of information that you are required to absorb at once. Mixed-mode study is common among postgraduate and mature age students, who may need greater flexibility due to work schedules or childcare arrangements.

What can you study?

A wide range of courses can be studied by distance through universities, TAFE institutes and private tertiary education providers. While many of these courses can be completed entirely by distance, the practical nature of the learning process in some fields (such as nursing) means that you should be prepared to commit to some time on campus.

Any field involving a trade, or professional fields such as architecture, creative arts, dentistry, medicine or veterinary science demand a significant amount of hands-on training. In these cases, universities will advise which subjects or course specialisations are available through distance education and which components are strictly delivered on campus.

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