Choosing a study mode that suits you best
More and more you will find uni courses being offered in ways other than full-time study on campus. Before deciding on a uni course think about whether an alternative study mode might suit you better. Study mode means whether you study full or part-time and whether you study on or off campus. These other study modes may be more attractive for you for various reasons, including:
- the effects of your disability;
- a need to work to earn an income and/or
- other carer or family responsibilities.
Part-time Vs full-time mode
- Part-time study means that each semester you study fewer units than the full-time course load.
- Some students find that a full-time study load is unmanageable and need to reduce their subjects some way into the uni year. Having to make this change after starting uni can be very disruptive, costly and discouraging for you.
- Where there may be a chance that full-time study will not be feasible for you, we strongly suggest that you consider starting with part-time study. This way you have the option of increasing your subjects later and avoid starting your uni career with a negative.
External study Vs internal study mode
- External study (also referred to as off-campus or distance study) means that you complete your uni course mostly using written material supplied by post or online (or both) rather than attending lectures and tutorials on campus. Some external courses still require students to attend for a small amount of classroom learning.
- The content and standards of external study are the same as internal study, however there are several major differences you would need to think about.
- You will need more access to a computer to complete your uni work than if using an internal study mode.
- External studying primarily involves studying on an individual basis with much less socialising with fellow students. However many courses are now starting to 'buddy up' online students for some course activities involving online group discussions and projects.
- Some courses may also be available using a mixed mode of external and internal study. This way you may be able to experience the benefits of the flexibility of external study with the uni life experiences of internal study.
- Not all courses are available using external study.