The new coalition government has asked universities to find new cheaper and more flexible ways to teach. Universities like many other public services will find there budgets cut in order to tackle the national deficit, meaning that new more cost affective ways are needed to provide the same high standard British universities are know for.
Ministers are pointing to the University of London as an example of how some universities could be run. For the past 150 years the university has allowed students unable to travel to the capital to study a degree at home, a system Charles Dickens described as "the people's university". This model of learning is seen as away to higher education even more accessible without costing a fortune.
Previous notable alumni of the scheme include six Nobel Prize winners including Nelson Mandela, who was able to study while incarcerated on Robben Island.
There are currently 45,000 students taking part in distance learning with the University of London with flexible learning available in 180 countries.
It is argued that students should be given the opportunity to study at their local colleges for an external degree provided by a university. This not only saves the university money but also means students would not have to incur the living costs associated with moving to university.
The average cost to most students of an external degree is 3,500, far less then the usual cost of studying a normal university degree that would cost 3,225 in tuition fess alone.
An external degree scheme may not be appealing to all students despite the potential savings. For some the social aspect of university life is just as appealing and important as the actual courses it self. Many see it as a place to make life long friends and gain that first touch of independence from their families.
Studying at university also provides a more structured learning environment than perhaps most people would provide at home but thanks to the internet those studying from home or their local college can easily access help and information lectures and fellow learners from across the world.
While distance learning might not be suitable for everyone, it will certainly benefit many more people of all ages who wish to study, be it for a future career, for the achievement or simply to learn more about a subject. Such a scheme could really transform the UK educational landscape.
Ministers are pointing to the University of London as an example of how some universities could be run. For the past 150 years the university has allowed students unable to travel to the capital to study a degree at home, a system Charles Dickens described as "the people's university". This model of learning is seen as away to higher education even more accessible without costing a fortune.
Previous notable alumni of the scheme include six Nobel Prize winners including Nelson Mandela, who was able to study while incarcerated on Robben Island.
There are currently 45,000 students taking part in distance learning with the University of London with flexible learning available in 180 countries.
It is argued that students should be given the opportunity to study at their local colleges for an external degree provided by a university. This not only saves the university money but also means students would not have to incur the living costs associated with moving to university.
The average cost to most students of an external degree is 3,500, far less then the usual cost of studying a normal university degree that would cost 3,225 in tuition fess alone.
An external degree scheme may not be appealing to all students despite the potential savings. For some the social aspect of university life is just as appealing and important as the actual courses it self. Many see it as a place to make life long friends and gain that first touch of independence from their families.
Studying at university also provides a more structured learning environment than perhaps most people would provide at home but thanks to the internet those studying from home or their local college can easily access help and information lectures and fellow learners from across the world.
While distance learning might not be suitable for everyone, it will certainly benefit many more people of all ages who wish to study, be it for a future career, for the achievement or simply to learn more about a subject. Such a scheme could really transform the UK educational landscape.
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