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Distance learning is a flexible way of studying and it is designed to suit your individual circumstances by fitting around your existing work and personal commitments. You can choose when and where you study. As part of your Distance Learning experience you have the support of expert tutors and a community of fellow students. All of this is provided within our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called BREO. Provided you have an internet connection, you can access BREO at any time or place. Once you have applied to join a distance learning course at the University you will be given access to your learning materials, activities and tasks, and you will be able to take part in the online Learning Communities with your tutors and fellow students. We use group discussions and online collaboration sessions to bring you together with fellow students and tutors.

We provide you with a range of different parts to your learning experience. The first is some base material to ensure you can understand the topic area you are studying. Built into our materials are video, audio and animated content to explain and to help you understand the course’s content. Most importantly though we provide opportunities for you to interact with your fellow staff and students by: solving problems posed within the course material, discussing and developing your understanding by sharing your experiences from working life and beyond, and by sharing and discussing elements of the course material with your fellow students – and of course support and guidance from your tutors. 

The answer to this question depends upon the course you wish to study. Some of our more popular distance learning courses have two/three intakes a year. You should contact the teaching team responsible for the course you wish to study.

Your course and unit tutors are experts in their subject area and will be your facilitating guide throughout the length of the units within your course. The tutors job is to help you to explore and develop your understanding of the learning that you will need to complete your assessment.

This depends on the course you undertake, but it is quite likely they could be from a very diverse background, and likely from another country. This provides an excellent opportunity for you to develop understanding, contacts, and share ideas which you can apply in your learning and possibly in your workplace.

We offer three types of support: academic support, IT support and administrative support. Academic support is provided by your tutors within course units, and comprises of answering questions about the material and your assessments.

IT support is provided to ensure you can gain access to resources within your unit sites. For issues of a technical nature you can contact the Distance Learning team via e-mail at dl-support@beds.ac.uk. Our services only extend to supporting your access to the services within the University, and nothing outside of this remit. During term times the Distance Learning team will respond within one working day between Monday-Friday, enquiries logged on a Saturday or Sunday will be dealt with on the next working day (usually Monday).

Administrative support helps you with other services such as checking grades, and gaining access to support services throughout your course. We provide you with a full and comprehensive range of services you can access after you are enrolled from a space within BREO.

We will ask you to complete a piece, (or pieces) of work to demonstrate that you have a critical grasp of the learning within your course. The work we set you is described and written online, and the grading we use is clearly displayed for you. Within the learning materials and tasks – we will help you build up a clear bank of knowledge which is used for your assessment. So our support for your assignments is not only when you come to complete an assignment, but helpfully broken up into easily manageable steps. We do not set exams for distance learning students, and most of the work we will ask you to complete is submitted online directly to your tutors.

We have a section of the University that deals specifically with ensuring that your needs are understood. The range of support services available will depend upon your own circumstances, and where you are studying. If you have a disability it is important that you indicate clearly on your application. This way we can ensure that you receive an evaluation of your needs. More information is made available when you apply, but if you have questions in the meantime you can contact the Distance Learning team's support e-mail address: dl-support@beds.ac.uk

This depends upon the course you are studying, and how quickly you can complete the assessments. Generally speaking our programmes last from a year to three years. We are very flexible and can allow you to progress faster, or indeed slower should you need. This is something you can discuss with the teaching team for a given unit.

Yes, your degree is awarded by the University in the same way that it is for any student studying on campus would.

Our fees pages will show you how much you can expect to pay.