Online education is something a lot of students are very familiar with now, but not necessarily by choice. However, it has been revealed to some people that online university is a completely viable option. Sure, it has pros and cons, but what doesn’t? Here are the pros and cons of online university to help you decide whether to make that move or not!
Pros of online university
1.Pro: flexibility
One of the greatest things about online university is that there is a huge amount of flexibility. You can pick up your studies wherever you’d like, however you’d like, and sometimes even whenever you’d like! In a Café Nero and fancy doing a lecture? No worries. Away for a couple of weeks skiing, but have a 45-minute slot for that seminar? Perfect!
2.Pro: accessibility
If you’re someone who struggles with access issues (maybe you’re chronically ill, require mobility aids, or can’t afford to move to university), then online university solves those problems. All you need is a computer and internet access and you’re ready to go.
3.Pro: affordability
University isn’t cheap. From the £9,250 course fees each year to the student rent, living costs, moving and travel costs… Studying online helps you save some cash. The course fees are usually cheaper than a normal in-person course, and you don’t have to stress about any of those other expensive additions.
4.Pro: skills
Studying university online not only gives you the skills from your degree, but you also get to home in on communication skills, self-motivation, organization, planning, and IT literacy. These are all transferable skills that will help you in job roles or further education.
Cons of online university
1.Con: reputation
It’s no secret that up until recently, online educations were often disregarded. However, this is slowly changing. But it may be something you want to consider if you’re looking to achieve a level of prestige from your degree. Online university isn’t exactly Oxbridge.
2.Con: isolation
University is known for its social life, particularly over here in the UK. Freshers and the social expectations around university are huge. There is much less of this with online university, which can be a blessing or a curse. It all depends on how much of a socialite you are!
3.Con: availability
There are more online courses available now than there have been in previous years, but there still is nowhere near the same range as in-person courses. So if your course is a little niche, you might be out of luck when it comes to studying online.
4.Con: responsibility
When studying online, you are even more at risk of losing motivation and letting your grades dip. If you are someone who needs a lot of external pressure to make your work, then online university might not be for you. There is a lot of self-motivation and responsibility needed to push yourself to get the grades you deserve.
5.Con: delays
If you study in person, you can go and visit your lecturers during office hours or schedule an appointment and receive almost instant feedback. This is not possible online, and you may have to wait until your lecturer has A) received your email, B) has time and C) remembers to email you back with any notes you need.
Don’t fancy an online degree? There are also plenty of shorter online courses out there-great for pre-uni students or graduates.
