If you’re thinking about online study, you’re not alone. You’ll be joining thousands of other Australian students who’ve chosen to complete their university courses online. So, why has studying online become so popular? And is it just as good as studying face-to-face?
How online study works
Studying online was a great option before the pandemic hit – and now it’s only becoming more popular. Online learning has become well-loved because it gives us so much freedom. You’ll be able to study whenever and wherever you like. You’ll also finish your course with the same qualifications you’d receive if you studied on campus.
A common myth about online study is that you’ll feel isolated from peers and learning advisors. At Federation University Online, we want you to feel supported during every process. Our support team is on hand to answer your questions, whether they’re about studying or just getting help logging on. You’ll also have access to our buzzing online student community. You’ll be able to dive into your learning journey with a large network of support and get an amazing new qualification while you’re at it.
What does online study look like?
Our courses are designed specifically for an online classroom. During your course, you will:
- Participate in weekly live sessions with expert Online Learning Advisors, who are passionate about helping you reach your goals
- Complete online modules to help solidify your knowledge
- Interact on discussion boards and communicate online via the Student Hub. This will be your go-to place to submit assignments, talk to your peers, ask questions and access support.
The best part is you can do this anywhere with an internet connection. This means there’s nothing stopping you from studying at a local café.
You’ll need to set aside a certain number of hours per week to dedicate to your studies. To help you with this, you’ll be able to see how many hours of study are recommended for each unit. You can also reach out to our friendly support team if you’d like advice based on your circumstances. We understand that life can sometimes get busy. It’s therefore important to us to help you succeed no matter which other commitments you might have daily.
There will be four teaching periods per year and during each, you will have exams and assessments for each unit. You’ll have breaks between each teaching period so you can rest during your studies.
Your Online Learning Advisors will prepare you for your assessments, so there’s no need to be nervous. You’ll be able to use their feedback to help your learning. Many Advisors have worked in the industry and will help you refine the skills you need upon graduation.
When you graduate, you’ll be invited to an in-person ceremony. This means you’ll get to celebrate your achievement the same way you would if you’d studied on campus.
Why do students love online study so much?
While on-campus study can be great, you can’t do it in your pyjamas. You also can’t easily hold down a day job at the same time. You’d need to commute to and attend in-person seminars several times a week and have far less flexibility.
When it comes to online study, you’ll not need to compromise your lifestyle. You can play with the kids during the day and study once they’re in bed. You can choose your hours, meaning you can work alongside your studies with ease. You’ll save time and money by avoiding the commute while receiving the same high-quality learning you would on campus.
Instead of studying in a crowded library, you can work at the park, a café, or home. Stock up on your favourite snacks and put your slippers on – there are no rules!
There’s another major perk to online study that isn’t widely known. When you’re on campus, it can sometimes be hard to access support. You have to make appointments, wait in queues, or commute just to talk to someone about your schedule. When you study online, you’ll have all that support at your fingertips. Anyone you need is a message or call away.
This applies to your studies too. Ask a Learning Advisor for help via email or video chat. Your Online Learning Advisors will always be approachable if you need an extra hand in one of your units.
How do I know if I’m eligible?
Each course will have its own entry requirements. You can begin a course from a series of different entry points. You can study specific courses if you’ve completed Year 12, part of another course or have relevant work experience. You must check the exact entry requirements, which you can do by visiting the course page. For example, some courses might require school leavers to have completed Units 3 and 4 English and/or Mathematics. Feel free to contact our support team to talk about which options might be available to you.
Ways we support your success
Everyone’s learning journey is different. We offer a range of support services to help you with personal, academic and financial needs.
You can apply for extensions or special consideration if you’re unable to complete your assignment on time. An extension is a more informal request for extra time. However, you might like to apply for special consideration if you are experiencing an ongoing need for support. This might be due to reasons such as health, mental health, personal reasons or more. Our support team is on hand to offer you guidance should you need it.
Every course has fees. You may be able to access support for your course fees. Domestic and International students may have different fee-paying requirements. For everything you need to know about fees, visit the course page and scroll down to the fees section. You’ll also find information about scholarships in this section. It’s important to remember different courses will have different fee requirements.
No matter where you’re studying from, it’s important to remember why you’re studying in the first place. Enrolling in your online course could be the first step to securing your dream career. So, what are you waiting for? Visit a course page and find out where your Federation University degree could take you.
