Last updated on August 5th, 2024 at 08:51 am
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Education is a universal right. It doesn’t matter what age you are or what you have going on in your life – it’s never too late to acquire new knowledge. Many people decide much later in life to go back to college and start a degree in a subject that they are passionate about.
This could be for the purpose of a career change, to write a book, or even just for the sake of knowledge itself. But whatever your reasoning, there are many benefits.
If your life circumstances dictate that you are unable to enroll in a physical university or go to college five days a week, there are other options. There are so many online degrees from a variety of academic institutions that give you the flexibility to learn without uprooting your life.
If you’re unsure about the idea of studying over the internet, here are eight great reasons to do an online degree.
Work/life balance
The fact that you can study for your degree at home means you have the freedom to continue your life as normal. YOur lectures and classes will all be delivered online, and in many cases they are recorded so you can view them later if you’re not available when they go out. This means you can even fit your study around a full time job, using your evenings and weekends to knuckle down and work towards your degree. It’s also a great option if you have children to look after or other personal commitments. If you want to go on vacation or travel the world, you can study from anywhere on the planet as long as you have a laptop and a good wifi connection. You can sustain a great work/life balance when you study online.
Lower costs
One of the main reasons some people are hesitant to start a degree is the cost. University education can be expensive, but when you choose an online course, you are making a significant cost saving. It’s much cheaper for academic providers to run courses online as they don;t have to pay for physical premises or overheads like energy bills, so they can offer them at a lower price. Not to mention the fact that you will save a monumental amount of additional money on things like traveling, parking, and reading materials.
Graduate faster
Many online degrees offer accelerated learning, meaning you can gain your qualification in a matter of months or even weeks instead of years. If you are looking to make a career change imminently, this is a much more convenient option than a three-year university course. You can get started transforming your life right away. For those interested in a travel nursing career, these programs are especially beneficial as they cater to the dynamic nature of the profession, allowing you to study from anywhere. Furthermore, understanding the average pay for travel nurses can provide additional motivation, as these roles often offer competitive salaries and the opportunity to see the world while helping people.
Less exam stress
We all remember the sensation of turning up at the exam hall ready for your important test and feeling those nervous butterflies in your stomach. It is not a pleasant experience, and certainly not one you want to relive as an adult. But fortunately, when you study online you can take all your exams and tests in the comfort of your own home. You can ensure you are in the most comfortable environment possible when taking your online assessments, with all your resources to hand and a steaming cup of coffee by your side for that caffeine boost. And when you’re done with your bug test, you can just hop straight into bed or a hot bath rather than having to travel the long way home.
Flexible learning
Everyone learns in different ways. Some people thrive in crowded lecture theaters, being inflicted with death by Powerpoint. But others prefer to learn by reading and writing in a quiet, private space. Studying online gives you the freedom to learn in a manner that suits you. If you want to sit on the sofa in your pajamas, that’s totally fine. But you also have the flexibility to go to a local coffee shop and study with the hubbub of people around you. The choice is yours.
Learn at your own pace
Most university degrees have a very rigid structure. Your lectures and seminars all take place at a fixed time, and you have a set curriculum you need to keep up with. Some courses contain so much information you have to speed through everything, and you can feel like you;’ve barely grasped one topic before you’re being rushed onto the next one. But distance learning gives you the option of adaptable learning, where you can study at your own pace. You can access pre-recorded lectures and reading materials whenever you want and you can get through the course as quickly, or as slowly, as you wish. Even your assignments won’t have a deadline, as you can hand them in whenever you get to the relevant point in your course. There may be fixed dates for examinations, but other than that you can go at a speed that suits you.
More choice
Ten years ago, there wasn;t a huge amount of selection when it came to doing online degrees, and they were nowhere near as popular as they are now. But look on the website for any online academic institution and you will see thousands of different courses available. In fact, the choice can be a little overwhelming. Whatever your areas of interest, you can be assured that there will be a course for you.
Online community
You might be thinking that studying online is quite an isolated activity, but nowadays it is so easy for people on the same course to communicate. Especially in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic. For any course, there will usually be opportunities to have Zoom calls with your fellow students, and message boards to discuss particular topics. You may even be asked to collaborate together on assignments so you can be assured that you won’t get lonely studying at home.
These are just a few of the reasons to consider doing an online degree in 2022. All you need to do is figure out which course you want to take and then sign up. Good luck with your education!
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