University is a life-changing experience for so many people. Getting to live on your own, meeting new friends, and studying the course you want are all great reasons to move out and go study somewhere. What do you do if this isn’t for you?
Many want a degree but don’t want to leave home or go to university for a number of reasons. That’s where studying online comes in.
Though it was growing before, online study boomed in the pandemic, as students were forced home for their own safety. Now there are so many degrees that can be done from the comfort of your own home. Here are just a handful of reasons why you should do a degree online.
1. Works around you
While normal degrees that you study at a university can be somewhat flexible, an online degree can be even more so.
This is true in all the usual ways, like being able to do it part-time over a longer period of time and being able to catch up on models over the summer. However, it’s also true in the sense that the work and even lectures can be completed in a time that suits you.
More of a night owl? Why not watch that recorded lecture in the wee hours of the night? More of an early bird? How about getting all your work done in the morning and having the rest of the day free? The choice is really up to you.
Online degrees are often a popular choice for people with other commitments. Whether you have a family to support, children to look after, or just don’t want to be tied down to studies alone, an online degree might be right for you.
2. More choice
When you aren’t limiting yourself to the courses that just a few universities have to offer, you really open up doors for yourself in regards to the number of courses you can choose from.
Whether you go with a completely online university or just one that has a campus but allows students to attend fully remote, there are so many courses out there for you. This can be great news if you are looking to study something more niche.
From popular degrees to uncommon ones, the world of online study is really your oyster. You can also come to online learning at any point in your educational journey.
If this is your first experience of university education, you can choose from a number of undergraduate degrees. However, if you already have your degree but want to continue your education, an online MBA is a great way to do this.
From any point in your education to any course or field, online study caters to you. This means if you’re an undergraduate looking to study ancient history or a postgraduate wanting an online MBA in marketing, there will likely be something available for you.
3. Can be cheaper
Online degrees can be cheaper in two ways. The first is when the course is actually less expensive than something you’re looking at in a more traditional university setup. Whether you live in a country where the university is expensive and are looking at an online course abroad or have been looking at pricey courses before knowing you can study somewhere else remotely, you might find that it’s cheaper to take your studies online.
The second way that online learning can be cheaper is with the cost of living and the expenses involved with the university. Doing your degree isn’t just about paying for your course. It’s about paying for accommodation, travel, food, and much, much more.
When you take your studies online, you eliminate a lot of this. You might be able to stay living at home this way and therefore are cutting down your cost of living. Maybe your commute to university will add up when you could just do everything from home.
In many areas, an online degree can be the cheaper alternative.
4. It’s more comfortable
From people that work remotely to people that study that way, many will say that it’s undeniably more comfortable. What could be better than being able to stay at home to get your degree that way?
Lectures at 9am are much easier when you can just hop out of bed and turn on your laptop. The thought of attending seminars in the coldest of winter months is much more palatable when you know that you can stay in the warmth of your own living room
Anyone who works from home will likely speak about the benefits of it, and studying this way isn’t really any different.
5. Travel while you study
So many people, especially those of the average student age, want to travel and see some amazing countries. With careers ahead of them and probably a lot of studying to do, the thought of taking a gap year can be too much.
This is where doing your degree online can really be a winner. When you travel while doing your degree at the same time, you can really have the best of both worlds.
Just imagine attending a lecture or two, doing a bit of work, and then spending the rest of the day on a beach somewhere. Meet a deadline from your hotel one day and travel to the new interesting city you’re in the next? This really is a possibility when you study online.
Though there is a lot to consider, like the financial implications of it, if you have the means, then it really is an option for you.
6. Helps you develop your time management skills
When you study in a more traditional sense, there is a lot set in place for you. From lectures being at a certain time and not recorded to your fellow students holding you accountable, there is a lot less self-control involved when it comes to your time.
Studying online, though, has the complete opposite effect. Suddenly, your time is completely your own, and you have to decide what you do with it. It’s very easy to sleep in all the time, spend hours watching TV, go out with friends and generally just procrastinate on all the things you have to do.
This will really cause your grades to slip, though, something that is most students’ worst nightmare. It’s for this reason that studying online forces you to develop your time management and skills so that you can get your work done.
Studying abroad comes with a lot of flexibility that can be enjoyed. Whether you want to put your work off for a little bit (or get it done earlier) to spend a day of good weather with loved ones or just need a break, you can take advantage of this.
Having said that, though, it’s so important to keep on top of yourself so that you aren’t falling behind. After completing your course, you will probably be a time management pro, something that also looks great to potential employers.
7. Safer environment
The main reason students were sent home during the pandemic was that it lowered the risk of catching COVID-19. The online study allowed them to continue their degree without going into crowded lecture halls or living with a lot of other people.
These benefits are still there if you’re someone who needs it. Many people with certain conditions feel that the world of university and obtaining a degree isn’t for them because they can’t leave the house.
No matter what their reason for not being very mobile is, it doesn’t mean that they should be excluded from the great privilege that is education. Online learning really bridges this gap, and almost anyone can apply to study on a course they are interested in and eventually get their degree.
8. Stay with the people you love
Despite university is a great experience and the aspect of it in which students gain new levels of independence having so many benefits, it’s natural if you want to stay at home.
Sometimes loved ones rely on you either physically or financially. Other times you rely on them. A lot of the time, though, you just can’t imagine living away from them for such a long period of time. If the traditional way of living away at university isn’t for you, an online degree means you don’t have to miss out on getting a degree.
University is an incredible experience like no other. Traditionally though, this has been only available to those who are willing or able to venture out and live somewhere new. Education shouldn’t be for just a small number of people, though, and online degrees have really started to change that.
Although it will take a while for online degrees to become as popular as more established, in-person ones, they are certainly on the up and are ideal for the right kind of student. Finding the right online course for you is just a matter of looking in the right place.
