Five Benefits of Distant Learning & Its Accessibilities

Distance learning sounds like a tempting alternative to traditional face-to-face learning. And it can actually be. In particular, working people who do not want to take long-term breaks from their job and the associated loss of salary can benefit from a part-time and flexible distance learning course.

The selection of distance learning courses and distance learning universities is large. The providers advertise with "distance learning programs that adapt flexibly and individually to your everyday life, high graduation rates (“96% get their degree right away”) and "comprehensive and very personal support". For instance, take an example of GCSE chemistry tutors at StudyMind, they are quite personal supportive and use comprehensive methodology for explanation.

We have compiled a few major advantages of distance learning. Students planning for distant learning should weigh up points and consider them of high value. These benefits are mentioned below: 

Benefits of distance learning

1. Usually a few presence phases

Most distance learning courses only have a few attendance phases per year. Some attendance phases are compulsory, i.e., compulsory, while others are voluntary. In most cases, the attendance appointments are designed in such a way that they can be flexibly integrated into the professional life of the students. Many appointments take place in block events on the weekend. In addition, the distance learning universities have several locations and offer numerous alternative dates. In the face-to-face seminars, work is usually carried out in small groups and under personal guidance.

The presence phases serve as a supplement to study books and virtual forms of learning and are a good opportunity to use the knowledge and methods learned directly to solve problems in everyday working life. Whether there are attendance phases, what scope they have and whether participation is voluntary or compulsory, must be checked individually. Most distance students find it an advantage if the number of mandatory attendance appointments is kept as low as possible.

At StudyMind, for example, participation in seminars, mentor meetings or other events as part of the bachelor's and master's degree programs (with the exception of the MBA) is absolutely voluntary. In technical courses, laboratories are compulsory in some modules and subjects. These are practice-related exercises and simulations in subject-specific and modern laboratory facilities. Real machines and standard industrial measuring systems and software tools are used.

The extent of the attendance phases can differ significantly depending on the course. Nevertheless, most distance learning universities try to keep the mandatory attendance part as low as possible.

What is still mandatory at most distance learning universities is participation in the exam dates. In most cases, you have to go to an examination location of the distance university to take the exams. However, there are often several exam dates and locations to choose from. Meanwhile, some providers, such as the IUBH, also offer online exams that can be taken anywhere, anytime and immediately (with an internet connection) - including live examination supervision.

2. Practical study material

The study documents from distance learning universities are often very extensive and of high didactic quality. As before, the classic study books are usually sent in printed form. The scripts are divided into clear and understandable learning units and are processed independently.

After working through it independently, you can work on so-called submission tasks for the individual learning sections They are used to check what has been learned and are sent to the distance learning university, where they are corrected by a tutor and then sent back.

But the range of study material for distance learning goes far beyond the classically printed study scripts. In addition to the digital form of the study books as PDF, knowledge transfer extends from textbooks, CD-ROMs and other software tools, live webinars, online lectures, tutorials and seminars to interactive exercises and automatically evaluable online tests.

The remote university's virtual campus also offers the opportunity to network with fellow students, to find online-based learning groups or to take part in regional get-togethers.

3. Study possible without a high school diploma

Studying without a high school diploma or college entrance qualification? Is that possible? Yes! Many distance universities offer vocational qualifications access to a bachelor's degree even without a high school diploma. The prerequisite for this is either a subject-specific advanced training examination and a consultation with the distance learning university or a completed vocational training with a subsequent activity of at least three years and an aptitude test.

In addition to starting a bachelor's degree without secondary education, managers without a first degree have the opportunity, under certain conditions, to be admitted directly to the master’s degree via a master’s entry program.

4. International orientation

Not only the bachelor's and master's degrees, but also the content of many distance learning courses are internationally oriented. Although most of the study materials and lessons in most distance learning Bachelor programs are in German, they often also contain English-language modules. Some distance learning courses have a strong international focus and have a correspondingly larger proportion of English.

In addition to the internationally oriented course content, which can vary depending on the provider and course, many distance learning universities are internationally networked with numerous renowned partner universities and colleges, as well as well-known practice partners.

At StudyMind, for example, the two-week attendance phase at a partner university abroad is an important part of many courses. And, it also offers its students an exclusive 3-week internship at a partner university in California (USA).

5. Extend & pause

Not only the free time management is a major advantage of distance learning, the pace of learning can also be adapted to individual living conditions. Whether it's a job change, special professional stress, wedding, the birth of a child, parental leave, relocation, illness, caring for a relative or unemployment: it is not always possible to plan distance learning over several years in advance. Sometimes life just gets in the way.

Therefore, distance universities usually offer the possibility to extend the duration of study free of charge (by 50 percent of the contractually agreed standard period of study). A Bachelor's degree with a standard study period of 36 months could therefore be extended by a further 18 months to a total of 54 months. In the case of a 24-month master’s degree, the standard length of study could be extended by 12 months to 36 months. Sufficient time to be able to react flexibly to individual living conditions in distance learning.

The extension of the standard period of study is not associated with any additional costs. All distance learning offers (including supervision, campus, exams, seminars, thesis, etc.) can be used during the extension phase.

In addition, some distance learning universities offer the option of completely pausing distance learning for a certain period of time. For instance, at University of Minnesota, you can take a break of up to six months. There are also no tuition fees during this “break”. Examination achievements can still be taken, just as the online campus can still be used.

At the Harvard University, the distance learning course does not necessarily have to be completed within the standard period of study. In addition, in contrast to private providers, the extension period is unlimited. This means that you can determine your own pace of study and study according to your own time management even far beyond the standard period of study.