What to expect from a distance learning course

You'll get support every step of the way

Starting a new course can be both scary and exciting at the same time, especially if you haven’t studied in an online environment before.

Our distance learning courses have been skilfully designed for working professionals. You will receive industry recognised teaching by using engaging and relevant resources, as well as the flexibility and support you need to succeed, but at a time and place most suitable for you.

Each module is individually designed to maximise learning. Using a range of interactive resources your module could include group discussions, reflective journals, production exercises and audio or video content. Our award-winning Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) is where you’ll find your modules, teaching materials, reading lists, discussion boards and assessment information.

Things you'll want to consider

  1. Managing your time

    Like all students, you will also need to be able to manage your time appropriately so you don’t miss deadlines. Each course is different, but as a guideline you will need to allocate 10 hours each week to complete each part-time module plus a further five hours for additional reading and assignments. We recommend allocating set times throughout your week that you dedicate to your study. Students who have adopted this approach find that it’s a lot easier to maintain their lifestyle whilst still achieving the best possible grades.

  2. The distance learning community

    It’s important to remember, you’re not alone. Our distance learning students have the same support available to them as our full-time students on campus, the difference is you might speak to us by email, Teams or over the phone rather than face to face.

    For each module on your course, there will be a module tutor, whose support will be invaluable for your distance learning experience. We offer much more than just academic support; there will be a wide range of student support services available to you including library and IT support, disability advice and careers and employability guidance. On top of this, you will be part of a supportive online community full of distance learning students just like you.

  3. Student benefits

    Don’t forget, you also get access to a number of student perks, including a free copy of MS Office 365, access to our online library, a number of student discounts through your Totum discount cards, plus much much more.

  1. Familiarise yourself with the syllabus

    Our courses are designed to provide you with the knowledge needed to succeed. Each module uses a range of resources so explore and get an understanding of everything available to you through the VLE before you start.

  2. Make the most of being a student

    Being a student means that you have a number of services and facilities at your fingertips. Whether it's access to the latest industry journals or discounts at high street retailers, take advantage of all the benefits available.

  3. Plan your time

    Scheduling time each week will help you structure your study. Each activity has a guideline of how long it should take to complete, so if you have a spare 30 minutes at lunch or on your commute to work, use this time to your advantage.

  4. Stay connected

    Remember to stay in touch with your support networks. We have a great online community who, like you, are studying a distance learning qualification. You will also be assigned a module tutor who is available through email, phone or Teams.

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FAQs

Our distance learning courses are delivered online, so you can log on to study at any time or anywhere that suits you. Each module is different, but may include audio and video lectures, interactive activities, podcasts, quizzes, discussions, readings and much, much more. Each module is designed to be a series of short activities that you can fit around your current time commitments.

We recommend spending 10 hours a week studying plus five additional for dedicated reading. For each teaching activity, you will be given an indication of how long it will take to complete to help you plan your time around other commitments.

As a distance learning student, you will receive the same level of support as a student who attends on campus classes. The difference is that you might receive the support by phone, email or via Teams rather than face-to-face.

For each module you take will have a dedicated module tutor who will be on hand to guide you through the teaching and learning activities and answer any questions you may have. However, we offer much more than just academic support; there will be a wide range of student support services available to you including library and IT support, disability advice and careers and employability guidance.

We also encourage our distance learning students to set up course groups. You can use these to share experiences and help each other through the course.

Like all students, you will also need to be able to manage your time appropriately so you don’t miss assessment deadlines. We recommend scheduling time each week to stay on top of your study, however we recognise that some weeks will be busier than others. That's why we've designed our distance learning platform to be flexible and enable you to fit studying around your lifestyle.

Each module is broken down into weekly activities to help you structure your study, however we keep all teaching and learning activities live until you've finished the module. That way, if you struggle to complete all activities one week, you can catch up on them afterwards.

take your next steps

If you're ready to make an application you'll need to register your details on our online application portal. If you have any questions about the process or what to expect you can get in touch with our team who will be happy to help.