Distance higher education is a teaching method in which the teacher and student are located at a distance from each other. They are deprived of the opportunity to see each other in person, but can communicate and see each other via the Internet. Some higher education institutions offer applicants to obtain the necessary knowledge in this way, and people who want to study happily take advantage of this opportunity.

The advantages of distance higher education are obvious:

• you can live in one city/country and study in another
• you don't need to waste time on the road
• you choose a time convenient for you to study

Universities for distance higher education

Almost every state university that offers distance education on the basis of higher education is provided with all the necessary material and technical base.

In 2012, the Russian Federation passed Law No. 273-FZ “Law on Education in the Russian Federation”, which legalized and streamlined distance higher education. This was a breakthrough in the field of education in Russia, although this type of education has been practiced in the world for a long time.

• In 1969 The Open University (UK Open University) began conducting distance learning using two-way radio.

Today, universities have the opportunity to conduct online seminars and take exams without meeting students in person. Therefore, educational institutions can offer a wide list of specialties that can be studied remotely.

Of course, you will not be able to get a profession that requires certain practical skills. You cannot study remotely to become a doctor or technologist, but you can become a lawyer, economist, journalist, manager, get a diploma in psychology, logistics and ecology... Some of the most popular areas of distance education are:

• management;
• economy;
• jurisprudence;
• marketing;
• finance and credit;
• business Informatics;
• digital design;
• state and municipal administration;
• automated information processing and management systems;
• computer software and automated systems.

No matter what city you are in, you can study at any university in the country and abroad. You can find a complete list of universities of distance higher education on the website of the Unified Center for Higher Distance Education - ecvdo.ru or EduNetwork.ru.

How much does distance higher education cost?

Distance higher education is cheaper than full-time education both for the university itself and for students. The university does not pay for premises and utilities, students do not pay for travel, notebooks and other attributes.

The exact cost of education depends on the university and the level of qualifications you plan to obtain. The approximate cost of studying for a bachelor's degree varies from 30 to 60 thousand rubles per semester.

For example, at the UNIK Institute a semester (six-month) costs 48,000 rubles, training lasts 3.5-5 years depending on whether this is your first or second education.

Cost of distance education abroad ( specifically in European educational institutions) depends on the curriculum. The more items you choose, the more you pay. Load and cost consists of ECTS— modular credit system. The annual workload norm is 60 ECTS. For a bachelor's degree you need to score 180-240 ECTS, that is, 3-4 years of study, and for a master's degree 300 ECTS. In different universities, one ECTS costs differently, from 30 to 100 euros.

Another criterion is the popularity of the university.

Elite schools usually inflate their prices. For example, at the prestigious UK university Open University, the cost of ECTS is 42 euros, that is, you will need to pay per year 2500-3500 euros depending on specialization.

In Spanish Universidad a Distancia de Madrid The cost of ECTS is 73 euros, which means you will need to pay approximately 4380 euros per year.

The most expensive countries for studying are America, England, Germany, France and Canada. But the level of education there is significantly higher than that of other countries. Many foreign universities offer students to reduce tuition costs in case of high academic performance and personal achievements - this is how they motivate students to study better.

Video about distance higher education and tuition costs

How is the training going?

• If you want to pursue higher education remotely, you must have high-speed Internet and a webcam.

On the website of your university you will have your own personal account, where you can see the class schedule, your homework, contacts of teachers, and you can download past lecture recordings. For each lesson you will be sent a link to an online conference, which can be held through the service Cisco WebEx or Adobe. If you were not present at the lecture, you can watch it at a convenient time in the recording. The only difference will be that during the lecture you can immediately ask questions to the teacher in a group chat.

Distance learning lasts the same amount of time as regular learning. If you get a second higher education, the time is significantly reduced (up to 1-3 years). After each session you go on vacation, but some universities give you the opportunity to skip this time and start the next course.

How to enter a university for distance higher education

Before you begin your studies, you must go through the admission procedure. Keep in mind that some institutions accept students year-round, while others accept students at certain times once a year. Detailed information can be found on the website of the university of your choice. But there are several rules that are the same for all universities and institutes. So, how to enroll in a university for distance learning?

First, you need to provide the admissions committee with a certain package of documents. After registering on the university website, you can submit an application for admission. After this, the manager will contact you and provide a list of required documents as well as the address where they need to be sent.

Required documents:

• A copy of the first page of the passport, a copy of the page indicating registration (certified copy by a notary);
• 4 photographs in 3x4 format;
• The original certificate or a notarized copy of the document on previous education: a diploma of secondary vocational education or a diploma of higher education with attachments;
• certificate of results of the Unified State Exam (USE);
• application with your signature.

You can download all application forms and questionnaires on the official website of the university. School graduates may need to pass an entrance test, and those wishing to obtain a second higher education may need to pass an interview. After enrollment as a student, you will receive an email containing a training agreement and a payment receipt for the first semester. You sign an agreement, pay for the semester and send documents to the university. The admissions committee issues an enrollment order, and you get access to classes.

Distance education of the UNIK Institute

Here we can talk about receiving distance education using the example of a real student who shared his experience with us.

As we have already said, the obvious advantage of DO is that you can live not only in another city, but also in another country. Gleb lives in Moldova, but is studying to become a designer (digital design) at the Moscow UNIK Institute remotely. All documents for admission were sent by regular mail to the Moscow address of the university.

Evgeniy studies the basics of design, academic drawing, and almost all Adobe programs. Gleb told us about the most important advantages for him -

“Among the teachers there are only active professionals, that is, designers, directors of companies and studios, those who earn money not only by teaching, but also by design. The teachers are young, from 25 to 40 years old, active and lively people who tell only relevant information, what you need to know today.”

The institute's training programs cover the full range of knowledge needed by a future specialist. Education through distance learning programs is equivalent to full-time education at regular universities. The Institute offers education in the following popular specialties:

1. Journalism. During the course, you communicate with experienced representatives of the profession; after completion, each student is provided with assistance in finding a job. The course will teach you to inspire trust in people and correctly analyze information and events. Duration of training – from 4.5 to 3.5 years. Cost – 40,000 rubles for six months.
2. Psychology. Serious but interesting program. The best teachers, lectures, seminars and master classes with the participation of famous psychologists. At this faculty you will receive the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Duration of training – from 3.5 to 5 years. Cost – 29,500 rubles for six months.
3. Design. Faculty for creative people, future graphic designers and interior designers. Developing a portfolio, training practical skills. Duration of training – from 4.5 to 5 years. Cost – 48,000 rubles for six months.
4. Foreign languages. Training is conducted in two profiles: translation and foreign language in business. Faculty specialists are in demand on the labor market. Duration of training is from 3.5 to 4.5 years. Cost – 48,000 rubles for six months.

Graduates of the institute work in various fields - from advertising agencies and media to the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. After training you will receive a state diploma. To enroll in the institute, just leave an application on the official website. Admissions specialists will call you and send you a detailed training plan. Institute staff will help prepare the necessary documents, accept the introductory task and enroll you in the course.

Distance education abroad

If you choose to study abroad, first prepare the necessary documents. This is a certificate of complete secondary education, all necessary applications, letters of recommendation. All submitted documents will most likely have to be translated into a foreign language. When applying for a second higher education or master's degree, in addition to the standard package of documents, you must provide a diploma of higher education.

When applying to some English-speaking universities, you will have to take a language proficiency test, after which you will receive an international certificate TOEFL. If you want to enroll in a German university, you will need to pass TestDaF or DSH. Sometimes you have to take additional tests. For example, in order to become a student at the National University in the USA, you will need to pass tests in arithmetic and psychology.

The operating principle of foreign universities is similar to the operating principle of Russian ones. You register on the website of the educational institution, where you study lectures, take tests, take part in seminars, communicate with fellow students, and submit completed work.

Distance higher education is an excellent opportunity to gain a profession without attending lectures and seminars and without being distracted from work and other everyday activities.

Distance education allows you to communicate with a student at a distance: provide him with the necessary literature, communicate with him and control his knowledge. All this makes the learning process easier, faster and more effective.

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After all, it was not for nothing that grandfather Lenin said: “Study, study and study again!” He understood better than anyone else how many doors not just a good, but a proper education could open.

In terms of immigration, studying abroad is an alternative to getting a job, buying real estate, or pouring millions into the economy of a given country. Moreover, it is not the most expensive alternative.

This option is right for you if you:

• young and looking for a good quality university;
• graduated from a university in Russia, but want to re-study in another country in order to receive an international diploma of education and get a decent job;
• you just want changes in life and are not afraid to learn.

Features of study

Our article will talk not just about education abroad, but about the opportunity to study by correspondence. If you are interested in free face-to-face forms - .

Many foreign educational institutions have excellent correspondence departments.

Sometimes you can even get an education remotely (using the Internet).

Agree, this is extremely convenient for adults who are not ready to give up work and family for the sake of studying.

The main advantage of distance learning abroad is a diploma, which no different from a full-time diploma.

You will be competitive in a new country. It is also a good help that the student can independently choose the workload - study intensively for a shorter period or choose the level of gradual qualification.

Where to begin?

Select the desired educational institution. Ask around on forums and with friends. It is always better to go to study at a trusted institution. If you have questions that are not covered on the educational institution’s website, do not hesitate to ask via email. Review all requirements. Find out whether this University is included in the list of accredited universities in the country of emigration.

Once you have made your choice, decide on the language. For the best assimilation of information, conversations with a curator, and passing exams, you need a good level. IELTS, TOEFL and other standards will help you.

It will be possible to quickly master the language among its native speakers - enroll in courses abroad. Follow the link to find information about.

If you are lucky with a university, then it may have a representative office in Russia. Then you will be taught in Russian, which will make your studies much easier.

The decision has been made, has the language been raised? Well, you can collect documentation for submission to the selection committee.

As a rule, obtaining higher education requires:

• school certificate (at least 10 years of study);
• a document confirming receipt of higher education, even if incomplete (A-level certificate).

Documents must be affixed with apostilles to confirm their authenticity. This can be done at the Ministry of Education or Rosobrnadzor. Do this ahead of time, as you have to wait about 2 months.

Educational process

After the documents have been submitted and you are enrolled in the university, all you have to do is study diligently and, if desired, look for a job in the desired country and establish connections. If a university requires you to take exams in your country, you will have to apply for a student visa.

If the educational institution supports distance learning, then all the necessary resources (lectures, books, manuals) will be provided to you by mail and on the website.

At certain hours you will meet with your curator through your online account, consult with him and communicate. To take the exam, you will need to go to the country that provides you with educational services, to a distance learning center. Some Universities allow you to take seminars and take exams without leaving the country.

Be prepared for what it will be like to learn much more difficult than in Russia, where correspondence education is not taken seriously.

In other countries, it is believed that correspondence students are people who can work independently and a lot.

Go for it and remember, those who don’t take risks don’t drink champagne!

Distance education, which many had not even heard of ten years ago, is gaining increasing popularity. Even the world's leading universities, including Yale, Cambridge and Oxford, offer students around the world to take advantage of this form of education. And this makes the dream of obtaining a prestigious education quite feasible for hundreds of thousands of young people. In addition, in this way you can get a second higher education, study foreign languages ​​at the highest level, and improve your qualifications.

Options for distance learning abroad:

• obtaining a bachelor's or master's degree;
• training;
• courses in various disciplines developed by the world's leading universities.

How does the learning process take place?

Students receive a personal password, which gives unlimited access to the necessary educational materials. In the learning process, programs are used that consist of video lectures, tutorials, topics for independent work, tests and were specially developed taking into account all the intricacies of distance learning. It is often possible to communicate personally with teachers via Skype or email. At the end of each course you must take a final test or exam. At the end of the entire course of study, you must come to the university in person and pass a qualifying exam.

Advantages of distance learning abroad

Prestigious international diploma

Such a diploma opens many doors and expands horizons, but only a few have the opportunity to study full-time at a university in Europe or the USA. At the same time, the reason is not only the difficulty of entrance exams, but also the high cost of training and the need to move abroad for the entire period of study.

Quality education, access to exclusive educational materials

The educational process will be coordinated by the world's leading teachers, students receive recordings of lectures given during full-time studies, numerous tests and tests will help to constantly monitor the level of their knowledge.

Independent choice of duration and training program

Students of distance learning are given a unique opportunity to independently plan the educational process, set the pace of learning, and devote more time and effort to the most important topics and disciplines.

Opportunity to work while studying and pay for the educational process

Disadvantages of distance learning abroad:

Difficulties upon admission

It is quite difficult to enroll in a foreign university, even if we are talking about a distance learning program. Good academic performance is important; recommendations from teachers or instructors and personal achievements in the chosen field may often be required. Knowledge of the language must be at the highest level.

High tuition costs

If we talk about prestigious universities in Europe and the USA, the cost of distance learning sometimes exceeds the cost of full-time study at a Russian university.

Lack of strict control by teachers

Many will decide that this cannot be called a disadvantage, but often excessive freedom discourages the student, and he begins to devote less time to studying. The result is expulsion or a low level of knowledge. Therefore, for successful distance learning abroad, you need motivation and a clear understanding that it is you, not the teachers, who need good knowledge. And it is important not only to obtain a diploma, but also to gain as much knowledge as possible during the learning process.

Choosing an educational institution and admission procedure

If you think that distance education abroad is exactly what you need, then carefully choose an educational institution. It will largely depend on the program of study (bachelor's, master's, advanced training, courses), your financial capabilities, and the chosen program.

Having made your choice, visit the website of the educational institution and carefully study the requirements for applicants, as well as the list of required documents.

In most cases, you will need to prove your language proficiency by obtaining an international certificate (for example, TOEFL).

Also prepare a certificate of complete secondary education, a university diploma, if you have one, fill out the application accordingly, and also attach information about personal achievements and letters of recommendation.

You can always get up-to-date information about admission on the official website of the university. It is advisable to start preparing for admission in advance. Contact the educational institution in advance and clarify all controversial issues, prepare for entrance examinations, if they take place, and collect a package of documents. If necessary, take the time to improve your language skills to the proper level, otherwise you simply will not be able to master the curriculum.

First of all, it is necessary to clearly distinguish between distance learning and correspondence learning. Without pretending to be precise, let us separate these two concepts as follows.

1. Under distance education we understand the learning process in real time, using the capabilities of remote data transfer as they are formed by the lecturer, teacher or tutor, for example, using technology skype . Students connect to the lecturer’s personal account in, for example, a webinar mode, and listen to the course with or without feedback.

2. Correspondence education does not involve direct contact between the student and the teacher, he studies independently, as any correspondence student does, studying the topic on topics offered to the university, sometimes consulting with the teacher, and passes exams, confirming the results achieved.

Please note that it is not necessary to receive consultations and take exams at the educational institution itself; this can be done in Russia by contacting an authorized university.

Interbridge offers distance education onlyonly at the University of London, one of the most respected universities in the UK.

In distance education mode, certificate programs are offered (2 years of study), Bachelor's Degree (4 years of study) and Master Degree (2 years of study). Training may take longer.

The main thing you need to know:

• Correspondence education will cost up to 12 times cheaper, than face-to-face in the UK.
• Correspondence education is a full-fledged education, as a result of which the student will receive a full-fledged diploma in his specialty University of London;
• The learning process requires a significant investment of time; according to our estimates, it is 4 hours a day. Before entering a university, you need to correctly assess your strengths.
• Training is conducted in English and proficiency in it must be at the level required for a full-time student.
• Textbook costs can be quite high, around £600 per year, and shipping textbooks can be a labor-intensive matter. Textbooks are purchased independently.
• The exams are taken in Russia, and there is no need to travel to the UK if you don’t want to.

How does it all work?

University of Londoncooperates with leading UK universities. The place of study depends on the specialty and program in which the student is studying. For example, many economic specialties are studied on the basisLondon School of Economics and Political Sciences , (LSE ) is the world's first university in theoretical economics.

The student can choose the following study options:

Level	Who can apply	Qty	Price	Duration
Program Preparations	If the student does not have the necessary preparation, he can prepare for entry into a bachelor's degree, or gain admission to a two-year diploma program		£1,650	1-3 years
Diploma program	If the student is qualified to study in this program and upon completion would like to: Apply to study for a bachelor's degree if you do not have the necessary qualifications for direct entry or		£1,370	1-5 years
Bachelor (standard entry) Standard Route	If the student is qualified for admission, he receives a bachelor's degree, or can enter a related specialty, receiving an exemption from studying some subjects.		£4,205	3-8 years
Non-standard arrival Graduate EntryRoute	If the student already has a bachelor's degree, then he can choose two options: Obtain a second bachelor's degree that will allow him to progress in a different field; Obtain a Graduate Diploma, which is of great importance in the professional field.		£3,175 £1,425	2-8 years 1-5 years

The price is given for the entire number of courses, i.e. A bachelor's degree, no matter how many years of study lasts, costs £3,175 for 12 courses, which is 12 times cheaper than face-to-face training.

It is important to add that instead of a training program, you can use training at a Russian university, after which you can directly enroll in University of London.

Universities that cooperate in University of London:

1. a college that has been part of the University of London group for over a hundred years, which guarantees the highest quality of education. Teaching is based on creative and innovative ways of learning, and is based on the highest academic standards of teaching and research. The teaching approach encourages students to explore new and bold ideas. Students will gain the ability to intellectually and creatively explore new approaches to thinking. The college has highly qualified professors and is one of the leaders in some areas of research.
2. Royal Holloway, University of London , One of the UK's most progressive, research-intensive institutions across a range of disciplines, it is recognized internationally for providing high quality education in the arts, sciences, social sciences and management.
3. UCLInstituteofEducation, UniversityofLondon , is a world-class institution in the disciplines of education and social sciences, ranked 1st in the world by the QS World Rankings 2014, and was nominated for the title of "University of the Year" in the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2014.
4. is a world-class research and teaching institution, part of the University of London. It is now a dynamic center for academic research and the only provider of part-time specialist training. Birkbeck is located on the central campus of the University of London, close to many other London universities and colleges. A central location just a few minutes' walk from the British Museum and other famous London attractions. Founded in 1823, Brikbeck has a long history of offering high quality university education. The College is a comprehensive college offering more than 200 undergraduate and graduate full-time undergraduate and graduate programs.
5. Royal Veterinary College (RVC), University of London Founded in 1791, the college is the oldest and only independent college in the UK to be highly ranked in the biological sciences and conduct significant research in this field. The RVC is the driving force behind the creation of the veterinary profession in the UK and has always been at the forefront of teaching, research and practice in the veterinary and biological sciences.
6. SOAS, UniversityofLondon , is the only university in Europe specializing in the study of Asia, Africa and the Middle East, it is a unique institution combining disciplinary knowledge and regional focus, it has the largest teaching staff teaching disciplines related to Asia, the Middle East. Scientists SOAS deal with current issues of democracy, development, human rights, legal systems, issues of poverty, religion, covering two-thirds of humanity and at the same time remaining the custodians of specialized knowledge that allows solving problems of a global scale.
7. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The School is dedicated to improving health and health innovation in the UK and around the world, including excellence in community and global health research, education and the translation of knowledge into policy and practice. Founded in 1899, the school has expanded in recent years to two large campuses. Employees, students and graduates work in more than 150 countries in government, academia, and international health care providers. The school's interdisciplinary expertise includes the work of physicians, epidemiologists, statisticians, sociologists, biologists, and molecular immunologists. The number of graduate students has increased to more than 1,000 full-time students, and more than 2,000 distance learning students in more than 3,000 courses. 1000 students are enrolled in short courses and continuing professional development courses each year. In 2015, the School launched a series of free online courses (MOOCs), studied by approximately 25,000 participants worldwide.

Modern distance learning opportunities

We live in amazing times with unique opportunities. The Internet opens up limitless information horizons for us. Modern technologies allow you to expand your education from anywhere in the world.

If previously our person could combine work and distance learning at one of the domestic universities, this was already a victory. Now everything has changed dramatically. We can get decent distance education, and distance education in European universities.

Distance education is now very popular, it’s kind of a trend. They write about it, talk about it, discuss it in various TV shows, on forums and in home kitchens.

Difference between correspondence education and distance learning

What is this distance education and what is the difference between it and correspondence education? Many people consider these concepts to be synonymous, but this is not entirely true.

So, distance education today has affected almost all levels of education, from free online courses or English language courses in Europe, to higher education and even an academic degree.

Correspondence education is fundamentally different from distance learning in its approach. Correspondence education involves giving lectures during a certain period, when the student is forced to attend sessions at the educational institution, take them and communicate with the teacher only during these periods of time.

In Ukraine, for example, a form of correspondence education is more common. This is closer, more comfortable and more familiar to us.

Distance education is a constant trend between students and teachers; they can be constantly in touch on the Internet, discuss some issues, and move on. It is also possible, while receiving education via the Internet, to communicate online with your classmates and discuss the material being studied from anywhere in the world. This is very convenient, especially if you decide to undergo distance learning abroad. This system allows you to save money on travel, accommodation, visas, etc., but at the same time guarantees a higher quality of training.

A student can receive his assignments using various methods, including:

• mail – telephone (case technologies). The student receives his assignments and sends those already completed by mail. Teacher advice can be obtained by telephone or in special training centers;
• the use of television and satellite technologies is not very popular due to the high price and disadvantages associated with feedback;
• studying via the Internet and everything connected with it (social networks, e-mail, websites and other resources).

Second higher education remotely

Thus, distance learning abroad can take place in different ways. Either, sooner or later, the student must attend a university and pass the appropriate exams, tests and defend a diploma, or complete training entirely via the Internet. Experts advise, in any case, not to receive your first higher education in this way. Distance learning requires a lot of self-organization and concentration, which is often lacking for young people who do not yet have experience in obtaining an education. But a second higher education remotely is a very profitable process. At the same time, you can get a new, more in-demand specialty, get that coveted European diploma, and save time and money on training. You can also complete your master's degree remotely and receive (2)

Who benefits from distance education most?

We recommend paying attention to
distance education next
population groups:

1. Housewives or young mothers who are on maternity leave. While caring for your baby, you will be able to devote time to studying subjects on your own, without having to go anywhere and waste precious time. This is a great way not to fall out of life, improve your skills and self-esteem.
2. Workers and employees who cannot afford not to work.
3. Young people, graduates of secondary and higher educational institutions, who must work, but want to improve their educational level.

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