Distance and online learning

You can do courses at home without having to attend college or university. Some distance and online courses are free and others have a cost.

About distance and online learning

Distance learning is a way of learning where you are not physically in the same room as the teacher, tutor or trainer. Distance learning is a flexible way to learn and get a recognised qualification.

Online learning (also known as e-learning) is a type of distance learning. Online learning is education that takes place over the internet.

Blended learning is a combination of distance and online learning with some face-to-face teaching. For example, in a course, you might have some online learning but also be required to attend for practical sessions or exams.

Top tips - choosing the right course

Choose the right course by following our top tips:

Research the course well. Get as much information as you can about the course, the content and how it's taught and assessed to make sure it's the right course for you
Try a free course. Before committing and paying for a course, why not try a free course to see if online and distance learning is for you. There are a lot of free taster courses available. Look at the list of useful links below which include some free courses
Contact us. Talk to an Adviser about the course and to confirm it is the right course for you before you commit. Our Careers Advisers may also know of any funding that you might be eligible for
Be aware of costs. Unless it clearly says it’s free, you'll be expected to pay for your course. Make sure you know what the exact cost will be and what's included and remember to find out more about the options for funding your studies
Consider your next steps. Think about what you want the qualification for. It is worth making sure that the course you’re doing is recognised for the career you want to do. Check out the qualifications needed for different jobs in Job Information
Be careful. It is important when paying for a course that you’re certain that the course exists and it’s not a scam. Check the site, the organisation and its background before committing

How can I find free online courses?

Some distance and online learning courses are free. It’s important to check with individual providers before you sign up.

Personal Learning Accounts. These are flexible, part-time online courses which are fully funded. You must check to see if you meet the eligibility criteria .
ReAct+. Grant programme to support you if you've recently been made redundancy or under current notice of redundancy. There is support for up to £1,500 if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Providers like the Open University, Wales offers free online learning through:

Open Learn. Resources which includes interactive content, videos and games
YouTube. Includes bite-sized videos on a range of subjects

You could also:

Look at Course Search. Select 'online' as a study method and type ‘free’ into the keyword field to see online courses available in Wales
Keep up to date with some of the free online courses offered in Wales on Adult Learning Wales
Look at Google Coursera. It offers free online courses

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about online learning

View some of the FAQs:

Is distance or online learning right for me?

To decide if distance and online learning is right for you, start by thinking about:

How you learn best? Can you learn on your own or do you need to work with others?
If you can motivate yourself and prioritise your time well? Or do you need to be guided and given specific deadlines by others?
If you can you work well remotely at home and using a computer. Or do you prefer physical face to face interactions?
If you can afford to attend courses in college or university. There will be costs involved in face-to-face courses, for example, travelling or accommodation

What qualifications can I get?

You can gain the same qualifications studying a course by distance and online as you would attending college and university.

You can study courses at different qualification levels online. These courses can:

Be full-time or part-time
Be short courses
Be stand-alone modules

You can work towards qualifications from entry level to advanced at level 8. The level shows how challenging the course is. The higher the level, the more challenging the qualification is. Some of the qualifications you could study towards include:

Entry levels
Diplomas
Foundation degrees
Bachelor’s degrees
Master’s degrees
Doctorates

Find out more about qualifications.

Will I do coursework and sit exams?

Every course is different, so some courses may be assignment based and others may have exams.

For some courses, especially courses with accredited qualifications, you will probably have to complete assignments and sit exams.

Some courses may not have any assignments or exams. These types of courses would not usually offer an accredited qualification at the end.

What help will I get when doing an online course?

Any information and materials you will need for your course will usually be provided by the education provider and is usually accessed online. You might also be sent books or resources in the post.

You will have a dedicated tutor to support you with your work. You may meet up every so often with your tutor or other students. Distance learning providers sometimes have online forums and groups where you can ask questions and get support.

Can I get help to pay for an online course?

Funding for distance and online learning courses depends on your circumstances and on the course you require funding for. Check out the following to find out if you might be eligible for any funding support:

Visit Student Finance Wales to find out about funding for college and university courses
View funding your studies to find out about specific funding
Use our Support Finder tool to find out more about funding and support available in Wales
Contact us to find out if there might be any funding for training that you might be eligible for

Important note: If you are seeking funding for a course, then make sure you find out the funding options before you start your course and before you pay any money to the provider.

How do I apply for an online course?

Once you've found the course you feel is right for you, you'll need to contact the course provider directly to find out how to apply. You may have to register with them first and complete an application process.

What are the pros and cons of online learning?

Pros and cons

Some of the pros of distance and online learning include:

Some courses are free
Some courses are funded. For example, the government might fund some courses to help people to upskill. Personal Learning Account is one example of this
Flexible studying at your own pace. You choose when you want to study and from where
Study can work around your lifestyle and commitments
Getting a qualification without having to go into a classroom
Communicating with other people from all over the world doing the same course

Some of the cons of distance and online learning include:

Finding it hard to set aside the time to study
Feeling isolated with no direct face-to-face contact with other learners or the teacher (although you will be allocated tutor support)
Issues with information technology which can cause frustration
Having distractions that may come from studying at home

Useful links

The links below are not a full list of distance and online learning providers but will give you a starting point.

The Open University in Wales

The Open University

OpenLearn

UCAS (you can filter 'Distance Learning' as a study option)

Course Search

Distance Learning Centre

Future Learn

ICS Learn

Open Study College

Oxford Open Learning (offers GCSE and A Level as distance courses)

Alison

BBC Bitesize

Training Link (AAT and ICB courses online)

Oxford Home Study

The Good Things

Disclaimer: Through this web page you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of Careers Wales. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of the courses or content available on these sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the content or views expressed within them.