10 Reasons Why You Should Choose A Distance Learning Degree

Increasingly aware of and increasingly receptive to what students want, higher education institutions are treading a fine line and creating quite the balance between traditional and new-age methods of teaching. In an age, where more and more students are trying to gain access to more knowledge and training, academic behemoths are opening doors and welcoming them, even if it isn’t to their brick and mortar avatars.

With distance learning, an academic solution that allows students to learn more and learn better and allows higher education institutions to reach out to more students, we have in place a system that democratizes and globalizes education.

Here are 10 reasons why distance learning is the new classroom setup.

1. CHOICE

Study from a variety of courses

Probably one of the biggest advantages of doing a degree via distance learning is the sheer number of programs available for you to pick from. From pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing or even Criminology, and even Digital Marketing to choosing to do a quality MBA via distance learning, the options are not only endless but also diverse.

With the recent Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) announcement that top higher-ed institutions with high NAAC ratings will be eligible to offer online degree course, the distance learning environment is only fast gaining credibility and momentum.

2. FLEXIBILITY

Enjoy adaptable study schedule

No more is it enough to do your Bachelor’s and Master’s at one go and then continue on the rest of your career path without updating your skills. Increasingly companies are seeking out individuals who are willing to learn more and up-skill themselves. Distance learning programs offer students the flexibility to pursue the course they have enrolled for while fulfilling other work, family, or academic commitments. Students have the freedom to set their study pace, fix assignment submission deadlines, or even set their examination schedule.

3. SAVINGS

Save money and time

While it isn’t necessary that a distance program is going to be definitely cheaper than studying at a traditional college, in most cases, it is so. Virtual programs can be cheaper while offering the same quality of education and network. Along with financial savings, a distance program also saves you time. For a working individual especially, this means not having to take a break from their career, and finding a program that fits around their schedule.

4. NETWORK

Meet people from across the world

A concern that many students have about enrolling in a distance program is whether or not they would be driven enough to complete the course if in isolation. What they don’t realize is that most online, distance learning programs have a worldwide network of fellow students who become friends, guides, and study partners making the whole process of solitary studying simpler.

Some universities offering distance education programs also give students complete alumni status, helping them develop connections and receive references that can help you grow in your chosen career.

5. QUALITY

Get taught by top professors and guest lecturers

With the rising popularity of online education, the quality of education being offered has also improved drastically. Students are being taught by some of the top names in the field, receiving an education that would be otherwise impossible. Several universities offer distance learning keeping in mind to offer a high quality of education, creating a flexible study environment, and offering dedicated academic advisors to students.

Several distance learning programs are now also offering placement assistance to students, getting top companies to recruit students who graduate from their programs.

6. PERSONALISATION

Choose a format that works for you

With data analytics and machine learning forming the foundation of MOOC providers, distance learning programs are designed to constantly enhance how you study, helping you analyse areas of improvement and success. With personal tutors and academic advisors, distance learning providers are going an extra mile to give students a course structure that they are not only learning from, but also acing.

7. EFFECTIVENESS

Outperform products of traditional classroom set up

In a 2009 study by the US Department of Education, it was found that students taking online courses “performed modestly better, on average, than those learning the same material through traditional face-to-face instruction.” It also said that “the effectiveness of online learning approaches appears quite broad across different content and learner types.”

Related studies have also heralded distance learning programs for better retention and greater learning experience, thanks to the use of multimedia content, and state of the art technology.

8. REMOTENESS

Break free of the shackles of location and commute

It may seem like a lone-ranger like situation but remote learning via distance programs not only makes you location independent but also saves you the long commute time that full-time students have to occasionally undertake.

With a distance learning program you get a quality international degree while studying from the cozy confines of your house or your fav neighborhood cafe.

9. EASE

Get admission to your desired program easily

On-campus programs tend to have tough requirements that can sometimes be difficult to meet, thus, hampering your chance of gaining admission. Distance learning programs, very often, have minimal eligibility criteria. While some distance programs do have entrance exams, too, the cut off scores have been often observed as being lower and counselling sessions often easier.

This ease means that even students who may not have an excellent academic record, can turn it around, and gain admission to a college of their choice, albeit the college has a distance learning program.

10. EMPLOYABILITY

Enhance your skill set and increase your hireability

In a job market, that is only getting increasingly competitive, training and skill upgradation is not only advisable but essential. In 2013, Manpower Group conducted a Talent Shortage Survey, which cited that 34% of recruitment managers had observed a lack of hard skills required for particular roles, resulting in resource shortage. Pursuing a globally-recognized degree while still working shows commitment to growth and an appetite for challenge that can only enhance your on-the-job growth track and increase your employability chances.

Studying on your own, without the aid of a class full of students, and teachers constantly monitoring your work, is not an easy thing to do. It take commitment and will power to ensure that you are on track and motivated to finish the course.

The impetus to stay on track can come from choosing not only the right course but also the right college. A great alternative to traditional classroom learning, distance learning can be the perfect stepping stone for your path to success.