Distance Education FAQs

• What is distance education?
• What's the difference between online learning and correspondence courses?
• Are qualifications identical to those received on campus?
• Do I need any special equipment or computer software?
• Will I have to attend any classes at all?
• What kind of support will I have?
• Is there any financial assistance available?
• How much time do I have to do the course?
• Why should I enrol with SEEK Learning?
• What if I prefer studying in class?

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What is distance education?

Distance education courses are studied either online or by correspondence. Studying a course by distance means you can study at a pace that suits you, not at the pace of the slowest learner as often occurs in the classroom. Courses can be completed as slowly or quickly as you like; it's all up to you!

Enrolment is available all year round, so you decide when to start the course. When you enrol with SEEK Learning, you can also look forward to comprehensive support to help you in your studies.

Distance learning can also be more convenient as you do not have to travel to classes, compete for car parking, or rush to make it to class on time. Distance courses often have one-off inclusive fees, so the cost will cover all your textbooks, learning materials and student support.

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What's the difference between online learning and correspondence courses?

Online learning and correspondence are both ways of studying a course by distance education.

With online learning, all course assessment tasks occur or are submitted online. If you've got access to a computer with an internet connection, you're ready to go! Course materials can be delivered online, or you might receive them in the mail.

With correspondence courses, materials such as course reading and assessed coursework are delivered to you in the mail. You need to have a postal address that you can easily access while you study.

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Are qualifications identical to those received on campus?

Yes, your qualification will be identical to a qualification received on campus.

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Do I need any special equipment or computer software?

No special equipment is required for correspondence courses. If you're studying online, you'll need a computer with internet access. For a smooth learning experience, we recommend the following minimum specifications for your computer system:

• At least 128MB RAM
• At least 1GB hard drive
• 56K modem or better
• Adobe Acrobat Reader available free from the Adobe website
• CD ROM drive
• A printer
• Microsoft Office 2000 or later

For PC users

• A Pentium I processor or better
• Windows 2000 or later
• MS Internet Explorer 5 or later (recommended browser)

For Mac users

• Macintosh G3 or better
• OS 9.2 or later
• Firefox (recommended browser)

For some courses you will also need a calculator.

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Will I have to attend any classes at all?

For most distance education courses, you complete the entire course either online or by correspondence, meaning there are no classes, meetings or other activities you need to attend.

Some providers, such as the Australian College of Applied Psychology (ACAP), require students to perform student placement, and you may need to attend on-campus workshops to attain industry accreditation. Contact a SEEK Learning consultant if you need more information.

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What kind of support will I have?

To help you achieve your goals, expert teacher support is on hand. Details of support depend on the course you're studying, but you will always have telephone and email access to tutors.

In addition, some course providers also offer online forums and study groups, as well as access to student representatives. Contact a SEEK Learning consultant for a full rundown of student support available for your course.

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Is there any financial assistance available?

Australian citizens may be able to defer costs using the FEE- Higher Education Loans Program (FEE-HELP), which means you do not need to pay unit costs upfront. Instead, the total cost of your unit fees can be repaid through the taxation system.

Under current legislation, you don't make repayments until your income reaches a minimum threshold of A$47,196 per annum. Not all courses are covered by FEE-HELP. Contact a SEEK Learning consultant if you need more information.

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How much time do I have to do the course?

Most of SEEK Learning's distance education courses offer a lot of flexibility around when you can start and how long you can take; it's one of the main advantages of this type of study. How long you take all depends on the amount of time you dedicate to your studies.

As a general guide, students usually complete their courses in the same amount of time as a part-time classroom student, but because distance learning is flexible, there are no formal completion dates. For example, you can get a TAFE certificate or diploma in six months, a year or two years - it's all up to you.

Most courses have maximum time limits set on course completion. For example, TAFE Certificate courses need to be completed in two years and Diplomas within three years.

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Why should I enrol with SEEK Learning?

SEEK Learning offers distance education courses designed to further your career. Wholly owned by SEEK, Australia's #1 job site, we make it easy for busy people to study and advance their careers.

Top 7 Reasons to Enquire & Enrol with SEEK Learning

• High-quality courses from renowned course providers
• Fully accredited and widely recognised qualifications
• Flexible study options
• No pre-requisites for many courses
• Expert advice - we'll help you find the right courses to meet your career goals
• Simplified enrolment - we'll help you get started quickly and easily
• Customised training packages available

Our consultants are dedicated to helping you find and enrol in the right course for your career or skill aspirations. Contact a SEEK Learning consultant today and get your career on track.

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What if I prefer classroom study?

SEEK Learning recognises that for most busy people looking to advance their careers, distance education is the most convenient study option. However, classroom-based learning has the advantage of face-to-face interactions.

It might also be the best option if you're the type of student who needs the structure of set class times to help motivate you. Many of our courses are available to people who prefer in-class courses.