Education varies greatly in different parts of the world. The current university system however is globally acknowledged and generally accepted as standard. Now with the Internet becoming so accessible it has opened up great new horizons for educational institutions- most universities now offer courses online and provide study materials themselves. Some of these courses are completely free whilst others are paid for. Courses use techniques like video conferencing to bring the classroom in to your own home, but like everything else these educational methods too have their own pros and cons.

Advantages:

-> One of the main reasons people choose distance education is because it enables them to work and therefore earn while they study. For students who already have families or come from low-income households this could be a deciding factor in whether they will acquire an education or not. Many of Britain’s already established and accredited universities offer online courses but often at costs proportionate to their traditional study fees. There are also specific online universities like NC Italian University London that offer excellent low-cost courses in different subjects.

-> Online distance courses offer greater flexibility in studying. Students have the choice of studying whenever they feel most motivated and interested rather than attending mandatory lectures. It also allows them to study at their own speed.

-> Distance education is cost-effective. It enables one to cut down on living expenses that would otherwise be incurred by actually going to university and living there. Travel expenses will also be reduced drastically. In some cases tuition for online education is much cheaper.

-> For students with physical or mental health issues distance education is a great alternative to get their degrees and prepare for a good career.

Disadvantages:

-> One thing that people opt for distance education will miss out on is the camaraderie and fun of university life. This is the time when people make memories and solid friendships as well as establish a base for their future careers. This is absent in the cases of distance education.

-> One of the things that give students a boost in studies in campus education is the presence of a learning environment. In the case of distance education it is the students alone who are responsible for creating this. If he or she is unable to do so then they might just be setting themselves up for failure.

-> The absence of a teacher in many courses might be a deterrent. Some students thrive on being left alone to figure things out while others need a firm guiding hand. The latter type students will have a tough time without a teacher especially in subjects that they normally find difficult.

-> Not everyone has access to or knowledge of the technology required for undertaking distance education. For students who are uncomfortable with the technology used by online universities this is not such a suitable option.

Distance education might not be suitable for everyone but the trend is here to stay. For those who cannot for whichever reason take the regular path, distance education provides an extremely valuable alternative as well as learning opportunities that our societies up to about half a century ago could not even imagine.

As someone who is currently contemplating further education via distance learning I would love to hear your experiences.