With the changing world and the growing diversity among the students, the structures or patterns of study such as the courses offered in higher education have to change as well. Many students in the UK opt for flexible study plans as they are struggling to find the balance between studies, work, family or personal life.
Such traditional models of education make it difficult for students to juggle between education and strong professional commitments or personal obligations. In this regard, flexible and distance learning strategies are constructed in such a manner that the students are able to design their education around their personal needs and situations.
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Flexible study options are developed with the aim of enabling students to manage their studies alongside other aspects of their lives as this can include the rate of study, the time, or place of learning, or even the type of material.
In this blog, we will analyze the ways UK universities are introducing flexible study plans and why you should opt for this option when looking for equilibrium in today’s world.
Your Search Ends Here ! The UK Now Offers a Range of Flexible Study Plans.
Having been historically very rigid in its course structures for Higher Education. The recent years have seen a shift to more flexible study options across all major universities to meet the varying needs of diverse students. Let us look at the common flexible study plans being offered by top Universities:
Work While You Study
Some who wish to hold on to their professional lives or other practices can selectively approach the UK universities while working. Such a system exists in the UK though there are some aspects that should be evaluated prior.
Cost
Tuition fees are charged only for the parts of units studied and in fact part time study alleviates part of the paid once an income has been generated.pressures of a full time student. Some regions even offer a part time loan for students that is only to be
Time Commitment
On an average there are approximately 280 GLH a year that should be attended. This would mean that an individual subject should be able to accommodate around 1 such session in a week.
Career Development
Being employed while pursuing part-time education, you can gain new knowledge and abilities making use of part time education gives flexibility and scope in one’s career whilst enhancing skills. Real graduate job opportunities however can only be explored post employment experience.
Benefits
Working While You Study!
There is a reason why most of the courses are flexible, they are designed to fit your other commitments to work, and in many courses, you are encouraged to use the knowledge and skills acquired in the employment as part of the course. Many employers are ready to invest in employees’ capacity building through additional education regardless of the cost or the need to depart from work responsibilities.
Commuting While Being a Student
One of the biggest benefits as a part-time student is that you can enjoy the ability to learn and still take care of family or other personal responsibilities. Part time study programs, though at times it can be difficult, give you the ability to manage the various spheres of your life and study at the pace of your choosing.
Financial Advantages
This will help you in balancing your personal obligations with the finances of your education. Generally the part-time undergraduate fees are cheaper than the full-time equivalent. Also, both undergraduate and postgraduate part-time students are charged only for the units which they actually take in any one.
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Blended Learning / Hybrid
Blended learning or hybrid learning as it is commonly called is common in teaching methods employed in Top UK universities that incorporate both online and physical activities. Blended learning has become increasingly popular due to its flexibility, convenience, and ability to cater to a wide range of learning styles, making it an ideal choice for those who have busy schedules or live far away from campus
Also, it is a combination of online components and physical components for education, which promotes a diversity of instructional methods that caters to different learning types in learners. It encompasses things such as watching videos, listening to podcasts, or e-learning modules as well as meeting and talking with teachers and other learners.
Benefits
Blended learning may help you with time constraints or if you are situated far from campus. It shows promise in improving such issues as educational access, educational engagement and educational outcomes.
Challenges
Some of the challenges include ensuring that the educators receive enough training as well as maintaining equity in students’ access to the technology. Even in this context, there is a discussion about the pedagogical effectiveness, level of education or quality of education and the student experience of online learning.
Examples
Some examples of blended learning include:
- Flipped classroom: You are introduced to online activities with an expectation to undertake prior to attending a physical lecture or classroom time.
- Face-to-face class with remote learners: If you are encumbered by distance, you can still attend classes by utilizing web conferencing platforms in a hybrid mode.
Fact Check: As noted by the BBC, almost a third of university courses still have some elements of blended learning.
Online Learning, Study From Wherever You Are
UK university online learning enables you to do degrees and certifications outside the workplace and also while taking care of your family or pursuing other personal commitments. It allows full programs and specialized courses for the local students.
Benefits
- Flexibility: It enables learners to study at their own pace at any time at any place.
- Accessibility: It reduces geographical and mobility barriers that enable students’ diversity enrollment.
- Cost-Effective:Sacks housing, transport, and materials.
- Tech Skill Development: Acquits new digital skills required in the world today.
- Independent Learning: Boosts the attributes of self-discipline and time management.
Challenges of Online Learning
- Less Face-to-Face Interaction: Results in low in-person networking.
- Self-Motivation Required: Demands a lot of discipline and time management.
- Gaps in Digital Access: Limited access to technology hampers learning for some.
- Practical Experience: Some areas only need hands-on work, hence the in-person parts
- Screen Fatigue: Too many screens can affect attentiveness and health.
Day Release, Study One Day a Week
Education through day release enables you to carry on studying whilst you are working. While you are working (usually full-time), your employer allows you for one day a week to attend a college or training provider so that you can study for a qualification.
Day release is a training system in the UK where employees, mostly apprentices, spend part of their working week at college or on training courses. In most cases, it means working four days and attending one day of formal education. This will assist in developing both practical and theoretical skills at the same time.
Day release forms an important part of the structure of an apprenticeship-a well-balanced blend of work experience and classroom teaching. This is also applied to this day in accelerated degree programs whereby you can speed through college while earning work experience at the same time.
Benefits
- Balancing Practical and Academic Learning: You can use the classroom learning in real-world situations to make sense of the material learned.
- Career Development: Day release will always facilitate further professional development of participants by upskilling without interrupting one’s career.
- Income and Learning: Earning a wage while learning makes it more accessible to education but also eliminates student loan debt.
- Supported Learning by Employer: Normally supported by day release programs since they provide employers with an experienced workforce consisting of skilled people attuned to their needs in the sector.
- Accelerated Routes into Higher Education: Accelerated degrees offer an option through day release, ensuring that the student remains at work but learns and becomes qualified much sooner.
Indeed, in a day release program, work and study are combined to enable you to gain the education and skill-building experience needed both by employees and employers.
Some Commonly asked Questions ?
How do I balance my Personal & Academic Life ?
One of the greatest advantages of part-time study is being able to combine learning with family, work or personal commitments. Although sometimes challenging, part-time study allows you to balance different parts of your life, and to study at a rate that suits your personal circumstances.
Please note, many part-time courses are studied over a longer period of time than their full-time equivalents, however, you spend fewer hours per week in a classroom.
Alternatively, the fast-track intensive courses (Saturday study and day-release) allow you to complete your studies in less time.
Are flexible study options easier ?
Definitely not! The main benefits here are time management, motivation, determination. It might be difficult to manage due to high-level study with other commitments such as work, raising a family or undertaking other care responsibilities. Also, the flexible study options have a fixed deadline as well.
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Conclusion
Flexible study plans transforms expereince of Studying in the UK. Nowadays, it is easier to harmonize learning with work, family, and other engagements. With flexible learning pathways, you can shape up the pace, place, and method of studying their goals without having to sacrifice personal priorities. You will have the freedom to form education around your lives and not vice versa, as universities are continually innovating towards responding to these needs.
How can Global Educare help?
Find the Right University for you !
Finding the right flexible study plan is complex and that is where Global Educare comes in. It is specialized in guiding the students to universities and their programs according to the particular needs of the students, be it flexible online courses or part-time degrees or other blended study options.
From personalized program recommendations to application support, we help you find the university experience best suited to your lifestyle and ambitions.
Let Global Educare be your partner in creating an education path that really fits you.
