Open, flexible and distance learning

Flexible or open learning is a way of taking courses with nationally recognised qualifications, such as NVQs and GCSEs (in the UK), which you enrol for at a college but instead of regular classes, you will be given teaching material to be used in your own time, at home, work or in college, supported and assessed by a personal tutor, who you meet on a regular basis to suit you and the tutor.

Flexible learning is also used as a way of delivering learning through small workshops for students attending regularly at college or for distance learners who can participate in small group sessions. You can usually start and finish a course at any time of the year. It is also a way of continuing to study on many courses, if you start attending college and then find you have other commitments, responsibilities or employment, and can transfer to a flexible or open learning arrangement.

You will normally be a fully-enrolled member of the college, with full access to all the services of the college, including the learning resources centres (formerly known as libraries!), student support and leisure facilities. The courses last as long as you need, although you may need to re-enrol at regular intervals.

Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) (sometimes called Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning) for NVQs or higher education qualifications, is often offered as a flexible or open learning option, with attendance at workshops only where skills need topping up.

Open Learning is a description of strategies by UK colleges to offer learning opportunities, including qualifications, to people in ways which are flexible, negotiated and suited to each person's needs. This could cover the time, place, style of learning & length of time of the learning programme.

Distance learning (including traditional correspondence courses) usually means learning at home or work, with no need to visit the learning centre, although the Open University has regional centres and encourages students to attend tutorials and residentials. There is online support for many courses through real time chat, advice and email discussion groups with staff and other students. Where students are unable to attend tutorials, the Open University and some other providers offer telephone tutorials or visits to a student's home.

Some Open University courses are also designed to be studied by friends and community groups working together. Students receive materials and equipment, where appropriate, and are allocated tutors for specific and general support.

Distance learning courses are available for leisure, vocational & in-service needs at many levels, including degree & post-graduate qualifications. Providers can be colleges, universities, independent or private training organisations, TECs, and employers. Many colleges and universities are increasingly offering more of their existing courses and learning programmes, including MBAs and other degrees, through distance (or flexible) learning options, as alternatives to traditional attendance.

Some open, flexible or distance learning courses may use e-mail, WWW or video-conferencing, but many are still likely to use traditional written and audio-visual materials and tutorials, tutorial support by telephone and post and some attendance at workshops or residentials.

The numbers of completely on-line courses is growing, but some examining or professional institutions expect you to attend for examinations, practical applications or have some kind of local face-to-face supervision.

Open, flexible and distance learning can often make it easy to study by unit or module and for many subject areas, you can study for pleasure and interest as well as for qualifications.

If you apply for a course online, please be sure the institution and its qualifications are accredited by the appropriate national organisations. This will ensure that your learning will be well supported and that your qualification will be recognised by other educational institutions or by employers or can be used overseas.

The Open College and the Open College of the Arts do provide distance learning courses but there are also courses & qualifications in the UK, accredited by an Open College Network, which are not usually delivered at a distance but are locally developed courses, offered by colleges or other organisations.

They offer alternative qualifications where more traditional qualifications are inaccessible or inappropriate. They don't provide professional qualifications, but do allow students to study from early levels to degree entry and are commonly accepted by many universities as part of an Access course to Higher Education for adults, usually as an alternative to "A levels".

The courses may also be community based, covering a range of skills such as community activities, childcare, writing and numbers.

If you need a recognised qualification for work, it is very important to check that the qualification and organisation is appropriately accredited. Some organisations you may find on the WWW offer courses and degrees that are not recognised by employers, professional associations or other academic institutions.

It is also worth remembering that qualifications recognised in one country may not be acceptable in another. To check the validity of qualifications for use in Britain and Europe, contact NARIC (or the British Council if you live outside the UK), and see our page on UK accreditation and standards.

For US and other international standards, contact other recognition services and look at some of the sites listed in the open and distance learning main section

Many Further Education colleges also offer introductions to Further Education, general Higher Education Access courses or Access courses specialising in access to further and higher education in specific areas such as the law, social welfare, science, and computing.

Search for a local access course from UCAS - the main aim of Access programmes is to prepare adult learners from non-traditional backgrounds and under-represented groups for admission to undergraduate education.

This database includes all the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) recognised Access programmes.The database includes more than 1000 Access programmes that are recognised and registered by QAA.