Lotte Chow is a freelance writer based in Sydney.
Studying the Options
Dozens of universities and education centers offer distance learning. Here are tips for choosing the one that's right for you:
Reputation. The school's standard and reputation is key. "It must have a high standard of academic excellence and reputation in distance learning," says Victor Ngo, an audit manager who shopped around, taking a few courses via distance learning before settling on the best option for his MBA.
Program. Carefully consider the academic program you wish to study. Some schools are better known (and usually for good reason) for some programs than others. "Look for the one that interests you and check out its ranking," recommends Terry Hilsberg, CEO of NextEd, a supplier of E-learning computer systems based in Sydney.
Resources. The greater the school's resources, such as tutorial support, E-library and E-database, the better. If you want to take courses and receive credits from different universities concurrently, look for one that has alliances, says Deakin University professor Lindsay MacKay in Victoria, Australia.
Special needs. If you have a specific need, look for a school that meets it. Virginia So knows she may not be able to finish her MBA in two years due to work commitments, so she enrolled in The Open University of Hong Kong, which doesn't impose a time limit on how long students may take to complete their degrees. She also knows she wants to work in China one day; Open University is known for its China content, and its faculty's China knowledge and connections are widely acknowledged. Ngo, meanwhile, prefers a Western university because its distance learning students are more likely to be multinational, just like Citigroup, the company he works for.
Students who are keen to make a career change after finishing their advanced studies may look for a university that has an active job placements service. Others want to work overseas, so they choose a school whose credits are recognized abroad. —LC
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