Career Advice

Keeping your distance

'What purely online degrees are available? What course is best for IT management?'

I want to find out what sort of courses are available as online degrees. I believe these may be more affordable. But how can I find out about them?

It can be difficult tracking down purely online courses as most university websites and course search sites don't differentiate between online and distance learning, grouping them together as the same thing. Distance learning courses can involve email and the internet, as well as more traditional written and audio-visual methods. Tutorial support is often provided by phone, post or email. Some courses require you to attend occasionally at tutorials, workshops or for exams, meaning they are not completely internet based. The Open University (www.open.ac.uk), the largest distance learning university in the UK, is a good example. Hotcourses has a database of online courses but ideally you need a subject area to be able to search it effectively (see www.hotcourses.com/online-courses). Otherwise one of the most extensive ranges of purely e-learning programmes is offered by the University of Derby (visit www.derby.ac.uk/e-learning). Resource Development International, in partnership with a number of UK universities, provides a range of management and business related higher education programmes, (see www.rdi.co.uk). Kaplan Open Learning and the University of Essex are also working together to offer online foundation degrees (www.kaplanopenlearning.org.uk), and Ultraversity, in conjunction with Anglia Ruskin, offers a bachelor's degree in learning, technology and research via e-learning (www.ultraversity.net).

It's important to check what qualification is offered at the end of the course and that the degree is recognised in the UK, and you can do this on www.dcsf.gov.uk/recognisedukdegrees. In assessing the cost of the course remember that part-time and distance learning courses usually don't attract the same range of loans, grants and university bursaries as full-time courses.

A softer touch

My son is very skilled at IT (and maths) but is worried a computer course will be overly technical and wondering if he should take business studies instead, to be able to work eventually to a managerial position. He's good with people as well as machines.

Although your son can search the Ucas website for the right combination of IT and other subjects which interest him, as he is thinking about business studies he should certainly look up the details of a relatively new course developed by businesses and the government specifically to provide students with a combination of business and IT skills. Employers are now looking for a wider range of "softer" skills from graduates and on this course - the IT Management for Business honours degree - students don't just focus on technical areas, but learn about business, project management and personal skills. It's the only honours degree endorsed by e-skills UK, which represents the IT industry to the government. The course is backed by a group of employers who are committed to providing industrial mentors, networking events, talks by business leaders and placement opportunities to the universities offering the scheme. You can see a list of those at www.e-skills.com, and you can link through to the courses to have a look at content and entry requirements. At Birmingham City, for example, they say the focus will be on learning through project work in small teams with external mentors from business, and that the work will be supported by local employers.


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