Distance Learning

I am an advocate for distance learning and part-time tertiary academic education offered by institutes of higher learning. The traditional form of tertiary education is full-time on-campus study. While this mode presents no wrong, it may not be feasible for individuals with commitments and needs that prevents undertaking this course of action.

Long ago, I was enrolled in a full-time on-campus course in a university but decided to withdraw and look for a job. At that time, immediate financial income is more important than the prospects of a possibly better future job after graduation. Additionally, work experience was more important to me as well, compared to academic qualifications. In retrospect, I still now stand by the decision I made, although the job I started out with was not what I desired. I thought about tertiary education more and later on, I went back to university study with a part-time Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science.

I graduated a few year later and subsequently decided to enroll in a Master’s in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. But I realised that the Computer Science degree, and in extension, the Master’s, which I initially thought I needed, is no longer what I truely need. I feel that at the current state of the world, tech university degrees are no longer as valuable as they were back in the day, especially with the advent of very good alternative educational and skills courses, together with on-the-job and vocational training.

At this time, I want to pursue academic subjects I love, and that starts with studying physics or mathematics at a university. I hope to eventually switch to an academic career to continue my passion. I regretted not majoring in those subjects previously but choosing Computer Science instead. Physics and mathematisc are subjects which I love very much since young. I have done a few online courses through Coursera and edX but those are less complete compared to the modules of a formal degree. Additionally, I believe one should pursue a course in an university if it is neccesary and few alternative avenues exists. Due primarily to the financial cost of university education, students may consider alternate courses, but for certain academic subjects, university study is still very meaningful because ultimately, the university produces experts in those areas.

I searched a considerably long time for a part-time or distance learning course in mathematics and eventually enrolled in a distance learning graduate certificate in mathematics. I completed that programme which consists of pure and applied mathematics but did not get desirable module results. I felt the programme duration was too short and thus rushed, given my not having studied mathematics for a long time and lack of adequate understanding and practice. I was hoping not to spend on a full Bachelor’s degree before going on to postgraduate but my academic future will be better if my background and academic grades are better. So the time has come for me to repeat the first sentence of this post and advocate for distance learning from an amazing education provider. 😏

In my opinion, the world’s best distance learning education provider is none other than The Open University [OU] in the United Kingdom. Last October, 2022, I enrolled into the recently available Master of Physics [MPhys] Integrated Masters programme. I did not have to think long before deciding because a physics distance learning degree is almost non-existent. For one, part-time physics is not available in my country, only full-time on-campus, and there is only one part-time mathematics undergraduate degree programme. The OU’s module choices, module delivery and tutorial flexiblity is top-notch. I dare say that the OU is an expert in distance learning education since this is also the reason of its existence.

The MPhys is a 4 year full-time equivilent programme with first 3 years of undergraduate study and last 1 year of postgraduate study. The OU defines this as stages, i.e. Stage 1 to 4. It allows a choice of physics or applied mathematics modules at Stage 3, and a choice of the “Standard Physics” route or “Astrophyics with Space Science” route at Stage 4. I love and enjoy both physics and mathematics and have yet to know which of the two I love more. Given this, I would have to decide whether to take physics modules and forgo mathematics or vice versa. I was sadden by this and accepted that in life, sacrifices needed to be made.

However, the OU allows for Stage 1 and 2 modules to be reused in multiple qualifications if the modules meet the graduation requirements of the qualification. So now, after discussion with the university’s student support team, I planned to complete both the MPhys and also the BSc (Honours) Mathematics programme, utilising the common Stage 1 and Stage 2 modules for both. This also means that financial cost be damned. The cost is worth for me to do what I love. I now get to take physics, and both pure and applied mathematics modules in fulfilling the graduation requirements of the two programmes.

I have prepared the entire study plan. It definitely takes a long time to complete given the lower module credit load each academic year recommended for part-time study and also, I am not at the age where a typical student starts undergraduate study. This has crossed my mind but I am no longer concerned about it. One can pursue their passions no matter the age and time required so long they are healthy and can meet other commitments.