Do you want to upskill, but you’re constrained by life commitments? Online qualifications offer a flexible mode of study to pursue your ambitions.
Studying a qualification has many benefits: you’ll acquire specialist knowledge and gain skills that could enable you to enter a specific career, unlock senior positions or even change your career path to a completely different industry.
However, if it’s difficult for you to attend physical classes on campus due to personal or professional constraints, then you should definitely consider studying an online qualification.
What types of courses can I study online?
There are many study options out there, ranging from free courses that can be completed in a couple of hours to academically rigorous formal qualifications such as Bachelors and Masters degrees.
We deliver a wide range of 100% online part-time degrees and short courses in business, computing, education, health, law, criminology and psychology. Our qualifications include undergraduate level CertHEs and Bachelors degrees and postgraduate level PG Certs, PG Dips and Masters degrees, with study durations ranging from as little as 8 months to 4 years.
Our programmes are specifically designed for people with demanding life commitments. You can study with us anywhere with an internet connection, at a time that suits you best – and all assessments are completed online with no requirement to travel to assessment centres.
Overwhelmed by the study choices available? Check out our helpful guide on how to choose your course.
What should I consider when choosing an online university?
If you’re concerned about what employers think about online degrees, you needn’t be. Nowadays employers accept online degrees and view it the same as campus degrees. But you need to make sure that you choose a reputable institution to study with.
University of Essex Online’s courses are delivered by Kaplan Open Learning, an experienced online learning provider, and our qualifications are awarded by the University of Essex, an award-winning UK university with a 50-year heritage of teaching and research excellence. We’re also registered with the Office for Students (OfS) and are a recognised member of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).
Another thing to consider when choosing an online university is whether the degree is accredited as it may be a requirement to pursue specific career paths; for instance, to become a psychologist in the UK it is a pre-requisite to study a BPS accredited course, such as our BSc (Hons) Psychology as it provides Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership.
For further tips have a look at our 9 tips to help you choose an online university. Alternatively, if you want a student perspective on how to choose an online university, read this student blog: Tales from an Online Student: How to Choose an Online University.
I’m unsure about studying my degree online. Can I have a free trial?
There are many online education providers that offer free courses which could teach you something new or develop a skill, but you’re unlikely to find a free online course that is awarded by a university.
However, if you’re really unsure about whether studying online is right for you, then try one of our free lecturecasts. You’ll gain an insight into what it’s like to study with us. We pride ourselves on the design of our programmes that have interactive learning at their heart – with us you won’t only be watching boring pre-recorded lectures, you’ll be engaged and challenged through varied activities and methods of assessment!
Furthermore, as we want to give everyone the opportunity to experience a University of Essex Online course, we offer a 21-day money back guarantee to all our enrolled students. We think you’ll love studying with us, but if you decide it’s not for you within the first 21 days, then you will receive a full refund (for more info on this, read our terms and conditions).
How do I apply to study an online degree?
If you are interested in studying one of our courses and would like to apply, all you need to do is submit this online application form. It’s free to apply and there are just 5 steps to complete the form – it’s really that simple!
After you submit your application an Admissions Adviser will be in touch to advise whether additional documents are needed to support your application. They will then pass over your application to be reviewed by the Academic Head of the subject who will assess your eligibility. If you’re determined to be ineligible for the course you’ve picked, we will consider you for alternative options, such as an entry award that is a stepping stone to the degree.
For a more detailed overview on how to apply to study with University of Essex Online and getting enrolled on your course, check out our blog on our admissions process.
We wish you the very best in your search for an online qualification.
If you would like to find out more about the online courses that we provide then download our prospectus. A member of our knowledgeable Admissions team will then get in touch to answer any questions.