With our increasingly busy work schedules and personal lives, as well as many of us pursuing international careers and opportunities, online study has become more and more prevalent, and the preferred choice for many students over traditional on-campus studies.
The key benefits of studying online include:
- The flexibility to be able to study whenever and wherever in the world it suits you
- The freedom to continue to earn an income from full-time work and to carry on with family or other personal commitments uninterruptedly while studying
- The ability to connect with other students not just from your own town or city, but from around the world
- The knowledge and insight that comes with gaining a global perspective
- The opportunity to build a global network of professional and personal contacts that can support you both during your studies and throughout your future career path
Are online courses recognised?
One of the greatest myths surrounding distance learning is that an online course carries less academic weight and credibility than a traditional on-campus program.
This is, of course, just a myth.
The reality is not only can you study online through a reputable and credible university or registered training organisation (RTO), you can also gain exactly the same nationally-recognised qualification as an on-campus student would.
This means for any future employer, you’ll have a qualification that’s identical to that of an on-campus graduate as evidence of your academic competencies and skills.
How credible are online courses?
Distance learning courses are as credible as their on-campus versions. The course content you’ll cover is usually exactly the same, as are the core competencies you’ll need to successfully demonstrate to complete the program.
The credibility of any course you choose to study doesn’t lie with the format of the course – whether it be online or on-campus – but with the training provider you choose to study the course with.
When you study online courses with a recognised training organisation (RTO) such as TrainSmart Australia, you’re assured that at the completion of your studies, you’ll receive a qualification that’s nationally-recognised and accepted by the industry you chose to study and pursue a career in.
With an RTO, you’re also secure knowing you’re studying with a quality-assured training provider that’s endorsed by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA).
Are online courses taken seriously?
Another myth surrounding distance learning is that online courses aren’t taken seriously by employers.
The fact is that the qualification you’ll be awarded at the completion of a course is exactly the same qualification you’d receive if you’d been studying the same course on-campus.
What’s more, because online study programs demand a great deal of self-discipline, self-motivation, time-management and organisational skills, graduates who have completed their studies online can be even more attractive to employers.
Why? Because these key attributes are what employers highly value in any new employee.
So, as a job candidate equipped with not only a nationally-recognised qualification, but also with the valuable traits needed to be a reliable employee, your chances of success are greatly improved.
