A lot of students wish to study in Australia owing to its quality education system, even though this is simply not the best option for those who have jobs and family commitments overseas.
If you are unable to physically study on-shore, there may be a solution. Even if you are unable to make the move to Australia, you can still obtain a quality Australian qualification by studying via distance education, irrespective of where you live. Following are a few good reasons why studying by distance might preferable to you:
Gives you flexibility
In simple words, distance and online education give you the freedom 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. If you decide to work full time or require 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 speed up your studies through trimester systems.
Allows freedom
Through distance education and online courses, it becomes possible to begin your tertiary study in your home country before making the move to Australia to study on campus. Distance and online courses may also give foreign students studying in Australia the freedom to return to their home country and still finish the course that they had begun. If you decide to make a 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.
Provides interaction
Even though distance online courses can never quite compare to the experience of studying on campus, the hard-copy textbooks and study guides, the range of online support that is available really does bring the classroom to you. Distance courses are often supported by online forums, student blogs, discussion boards and library resources, which help you to take part in study experiences similar to students studying on campus. You can also 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, it may not be possible for you to take your exam online even though 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
A lot of people 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.