By Akin Caulker
With the recent rise in tuition fees, more and more people are looking for an alternative to a university education to gain the qualifications they need to begin their career. But it's not just the tuition fees you have to consider when deciding whether or not to attend university: there's also the question of travelling to and from your chosen degree course... and finding somewhere to live while you're studying there.
So perhaps you should be looking into distance learning instead. Distance learning? It's exactly what it says on the tin: learning at a distance. The establishment offering courses could be hundreds - if not thousands - of miles away but thanks to the internet, it's as close as your smart phone, tablet or laptop. And you can those anywhere - on the way to or from work, at home or even sitting under a shady tree in a park on a hot summer's day.
When it comes to tuition fees, a distance learning degree is considerably more economical than one gained at university. Another advantage is that you simply don't have any of the associated costs like travel, food and accommodation t think about. It's possible to spread payments throughout the academic year, and there are still some government loans and grants available.
And as for the study materials? Again, they are as close as your smart phone, tablet or computer. All you need to do is download whatever you require... and then start work on it. And when it comes to submitting any assignments, all you have to do is either email them to your tutor, or upload them somewhere your tutor can find them.
But even if you to choose to study in the shade of a tree, distance learning is no walk in the park: you'll need a lot of discipline to make a complete success of the course you've chosen, because there will be deadlines, meaning that every now and then you may have to decide between a night out with friends and staying at home to finish an assignment. So if you're the kind of person who's able to prioritise like this, then it definitely will be worth your while looking into distance learning.
So perhaps you should be looking into distance learning instead. Distance learning? It's exactly what it says on the tin: learning at a distance. The establishment offering courses could be hundreds - if not thousands - of miles away but thanks to the internet, it's as close as your smart phone, tablet or laptop. And you can those anywhere - on the way to or from work, at home or even sitting under a shady tree in a park on a hot summer's day.
When it comes to tuition fees, a distance learning degree is considerably more economical than one gained at university. Another advantage is that you simply don't have any of the associated costs like travel, food and accommodation t think about. It's possible to spread payments throughout the academic year, and there are still some government loans and grants available.
And as for the study materials? Again, they are as close as your smart phone, tablet or computer. All you need to do is download whatever you require... and then start work on it. And when it comes to submitting any assignments, all you have to do is either email them to your tutor, or upload them somewhere your tutor can find them.
But even if you to choose to study in the shade of a tree, distance learning is no walk in the park: you'll need a lot of discipline to make a complete success of the course you've chosen, because there will be deadlines, meaning that every now and then you may have to decide between a night out with friends and staying at home to finish an assignment. So if you're the kind of person who's able to prioritise like this, then it definitely will be worth your while looking into distance learning.
About the Author:
Notgoingtouni.co.uk helps people by showing jobs and training that exist outside of university. Find learning from home, distance learning, foundation degrees, gap years and voluntary work as well as ways to get a sponsored degree. Visit the site for IT apprenticeships.