How to Choose a University for Your Online Masters

Deciding on a university for your online Masters isn’t quite the same as picking one for a traditional, on-campus programme.

After all, whether or not a university has a swanky new student union building or a state-of-the-art library doesn’t matter a whole lot when you’re going to be studying a Masters from the comfort of your own home.

Other factors to do with a university’s location will also hold less sway if you’re interested in distance learning. You won’t have to worry about commuting logistics or whether the university’s city is somewhere you can envisage living for the next year (or longer). So, in some respects choosing somewhere to study an online Masters is rather simpler than going down the traditional route.

But this doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of other factors you’ll need to take into account when picking an online programme and university to study at. We’re going to look at some of the main questions you should be asking yourself – and your prospective university – when making the decision.

Before we begin, you should also know the COVID-19 outbreak means that increasing numbers of universities are hosting ‘virtual’ postgraduate open days for students to find out more about the courses they offer. These are perfect for distance learners, allowing you to attend webinars and speak to university staff about funding and support.

This is one of the most important things you’ll need to know as a prospective postgraduate. Online Masters are taught using many different methods and you’ll want one that suits your personal learning style.

A course might make use of pre-recorded video lectures or expect you take part in scheduled webinars with your fellow students and tutors.

Similarly, some distance learning Masters do expect students to attend an exam in person at the end of the year (this is less likely to be the case for Arts and Humanities subjects, which are usually assessed via online coursework submissions).

Another factor to consider is the flexibility of the course and whether it fits in with your personal circumstances and plans for the future.

For example, how much work will you be expected to complete each week? Will online lectures and webinars take place in the evening? And how long will you have to complete the Masters - one, two or more years? These will all have an impact on the degree (no pun intended) to which you can make the most of your time gaining the qualification.

Some distance learning Masters involve participating in on-campus study sessions that take place over several days at the university in question. This can be a great way to get to know your fellow students in person, as well as to meet your programme tutors – perfect if you’re worried about feeling isolated during your studies.

Of course, these residential study schools won’t be practical for everyone, particularly if you live in a different country to your university. However, it’s worth checking whether they’re an optional part of the Masters. You should also find out if you’ll be required to attend any exams in person.

Many distance learning programmes are designed to be studied completely online, making them ideal for students who live far away.

In some ways, budgeting for an online Masters is a little easier than a traditional, on-campus equivalent. There isn’t the possibility of you moving to a new city (or country!) to study, and most programmes are structured so that you can continue to work on a full-time basis.

Tuition fees for distance learning Masters are generally comparable to traditional courses, but you have greater scope for part-time study, splitting the fees over more than one year.

Studying online also means that you aren’t restricted in terms of the location of your prospective university – you have more freedom to shop around for the most affordable option, even if the location would have been impractical for an on-campus Masters.

An online Masters is something that requires plenty of motivation, determination and support – from your fellow students and course tutors, as well as your loved ones.

It’s a good idea to find out what kind of support is available from the university for people on your course and decide whether it’s suitable for you. This could take the form of frequent feedback, regular contact with your lecturers or a discussion board through which you can keep in contact with your coursemates.

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