Full-time education is not the only way to obtain better qualifications. Nor is it necessarily the best way for people who need to stay close to home or are unable or unwilling to break into their working time. Studying at home is an alternative.
Many universities and colleges offering degree and professional qualification courses now provide the opportunity for students to study at home. Of course, correspondence courses have been around for a long time, particularly for occupations such as accountancy, where continuous work experience is seen as important. But the arrival of video, CD ROMS, on-line computing links via a modem and other emerging technologies mean that so-called 'distance learning' is quickly becoming an attractive option for employers and employees alike.
The advantages of distance learning are that tuition fees are much lower; you can learn at your own pace; and you can go on working while learning.
Most schools offering correspondence and distance-learning courses advertise in the national press. But before you enrol, do make sure you have the right course for the qualification that you are trying to obtain. if you are unsure, check with a professional body.
Schools offering professional training courses also vary in quality. But they will be known to the relevant professional association or institution. Similarly, schools offering preparation for basic qualifications such as GCSE or A level will be known to the examining bodies. Before enrolling on a course, check its credentials with your professional body or the relevant examining body. You are also advised to question the school carefully about its previous results. Beware of schools that give vague answers or make exaggerated claims about success rates.
Only recognised universities or polytechnics may grant valid degrees. The Open University is the best known and most experienced distance-learning university in Britain, but several other universities and polytechnics now offer distance-learning undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses. Details of these can be found in local libraries. Details of Open University courses can be obtained from the Open University, Milton Keynes, Bucks.
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