For Australian students considering their options after high school, the idea of an online degree might sound great. An online degree could be a great way to work while continuing to study. It could also be an ideal way to learn something new. But is an online degree worth it? Is it really possible to gain the same education from an online degree as you could from a face-to-face programme? Is the additional learning worth the time and effort?
An online degree is a good option for international students seeking to study in Australia. The huge advantage of an online degree is that it doesn’t matter where you are, as long as you have access to the internet you can complete your studies. All you need is a laptop or other internet-capable device, and you can get started in an instant. You don’t need to rely on other people to teach you, you can learn at your own pace, and when you’re ready you can simply log off and continue where you left off before you went online. You can become a fully-fledged doctor, lawyer or accountant even if you’ve never formally studied these subjects.
While there are a lot of advantages to studying online, there are also a few potential downsides. The first is that you have to be dedicated to completing your studies. If you do want to go to university and study full-time, then you’ll likely have to sacrifice a lot of the social activities that students typically enjoy. The second downside is that you don’t get to experience the ‘classroom feel’ that students usually enjoy when they go to university. For those who prefer a more traditional study method, an online degree might not be the best option. The last major downside to studying online is that there’s no way to evaluate your skills and knowledge when you’re studying. While you can always take a test or two, the best way to learn is by doing. The more you do, the better you get at it. You might not be able to get that from an online degree.
Is an online degree worth it? It all depends on what you want out of your studies. If you’re looking for additional knowledge, then an online degree might be a good option. However, if you prefer to socialise or gain some work experience, then you might want to consider studying in Australia. Wherever you choose to study, just make sure that you do your research before committing.