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Studying Online

Studying Online

Studying online with OC is perfect for those who have a busy lifestyle. Online study gives you the opportunity to study the way you want, when you want. Find out how online study can work for you.

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Are you thinking of studying a course to help you reach your goals? It doesn’t need to come at the expense of other commitments in your life. Online study gives you the opportunity to study the way you want, when you want. Find out how online study can work for you.

Why study online with Open Colleges?

There are plenty of reasons people choose to study a course online. Online learning allows you to work at your own pace, fitting your study schedule around work, family and other commitments. It can also cut down on hours of commute time. And it means that just about anywhere—your sofa, your local park, your favourite café, even your regular bus to and from work—can become your new classroom.

Whatever your reasons, Open Colleges’ online courses can give you the flexibility and support you need, while providing you with high-quality courses developed by vocational experts.

Find out more about the benefits of studying online with us below, discover more about how online learning works, or simply go ahead and get started.

Your time is precious, and you need to be able to find a study solution that allows you to balance your life's other commitments along with your study goals. When you study online with OC, you can choose when and where to study. You're always in complete control of your study schedule.

One of the major benefits of studying online is that you can learn at your own pace. This means that if you have the time, you can dedicate more hours a week to study and finish your course earlier. Or you can choose to study without pressure over a longer period of time.

Please note - Some of our campus-based School of Health courses have set intake dates (see more about our School of Health courses below under 'What are blended learning courses?'. If you're not sure whether the course you want to study has set intake dates or not, just speak with one of our friendly Enrolment Consultants.

Online study isn't a solo journey. As you're in control of your studies, you'll need to be self-disciplined and there could be times when you struggle to stay motivated. But the thing to remember is that, there are many different ways OC can help support you through your studies. As an OC student, you're never without help when you need it.

When you enrol with OC, you join an online community of learners from all over Australia. And we've built up a multi-faceted support network designed to help all our students with different aspects of their study journey

Whether you need help managing your studies, have specific questions about your course, we have real people who can help.

With OC, you'll have access to four kinds of support - Trainers and Assessors, Student Support, Learning Support and Academic Support. You can find out more about these different support teams below under the heading 'Your online community'.

In our Certificate IV and Diploma level courses (and some of our Certificate III courses), we have a Study Buddy set up so that you can connect with other like-minded learners online. Through the Study Buddy system, you can discuss assessments, ask questions and keep each other motivated.

Money matters – and we know that the cost of studying online is a major factor to consider when making the decision to enrol in a course. We also know that you may be ready to study but might not be able to pay your full course fees upfront.

At Open Colleges, we believe education should be accessible to anyone that wants to learn, so we offer a range of payment options that mean getting qualified or following a passion doesn't have to break the bank.

Follow the link here for a full breakdown of our payment options.

Open Colleges also offers zipMoney interest-free* payment plans. With this option you can pay for your course in regular instalments to suit your financial situation. Find out more about zipMoney.

*Not available for every course. Terms and conditions apply.

When you study with Open Colleges, you’ll receive the same quality of education that you would get on a college campus. Our Diplomas and Certificates are nationally recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Once you complete your course, you'll be graduating with job-ready skills and a qualification that is recognised anywhere in Australia. While some of our short courses and partnership courses are not accredited, they'll still provide you with the necessary skills and knowledge to help you reach your goals.

What is the Australian Qualifications Framework?

The AQF is the national policy for regulated qualifications in the Australian education and training system. The AQF provides the standards for Australian qualifications and provides assurance that courses and providers are approved by government. Therefore, students who graduate with an AQF qualification are assured that their qualification is recognised across Australia and internationally.

Industry-developed courses

At Open Colleges, we develop our courses in consultation with industry experts to ensure the skills and knowledge you gain are applicable and in-demand. This means you not only complete your course with the career confidence to embrace new opportunities but also have a broader understanding of your industry of choice.

How does studying online work?

We continue to develop and evolve our online campus, OpenSpace, so we can bring a great learning experience to you.  This means that our students may be enrolled in different versions.

We were excited to launch OpenSpaceX in November 2021 for our new students enrolling in some of the Certificate III courses we offer.  Your course guide will tell you what version of OpenSpace your course is delivered in.

For our students who will be enrolled in OpenSpaceX, your experience will have a different look and feel.

For our other students not in OpenSpaceX, check out the video below and find out about your online campus and how online study can work for you.

 

Your online campus

Is it difficult to use? No – we’ve made sure OpenSpace is easy to use and completely intuitive, and through our consultation process, we will make sure you are capable to handle the demands of online study. When you first start using OpenSpace, you can familiarise yourself with the platform by watching a video tour* or you can book an induction with our support team. If you ever do feel a little confused, you can call us to help you find your way.

*Not currently available in OpenSpaceX

As long as you’re online, you can access OpenSpace wherever you are. It’s designed to let you access your learning materials on any device – your mobile phone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer – so it’s perfect for fitting learning around your life and studying on the go.  Please check the course page about what requirements there might be for completing your assessments though.

How can I make sure I'm a successful student? One of the main benefits of studying online is having total flexibility – you can fit your learning around your everyday commitments and study when it suits you.

However, this freedom and flexibility requires you to be truly dedicated and disciplined to ensure you are successful in your course. Although it can be hard work, the end result is definitely worth it!

Follow these tips to keep you on track to succeed:

  • Attend an orientation session with Student Support when you first enrol.

  • Familiarise yourself with OpenSpace.

  • Try to set aside regular times to study each week or month. As you are working independently, we find this is the best way to stay on top of the coursework. Remember, our Support Team can help you set up an academic plan.

  • It’s a good idea to also try to complete learning activities and assessments regularly. This means you’ll get valuable feedback as you move through the course, and get closer to your goal with each milestone.

  • If there are webinars or other activities for your course, try to attend. They’ll help to keep you motivated and you’ll meet some great people!

  • Finally – get into the habit of getting in touch! If you get stuck, or aren’t sure about something, contact us so we can help. We want you to succeed. 

Your online community

Just because you’ve chosen to study online doesn’t mean you’re on your own. In fact, when you enrol with OC, you’re joining a huge, online community where you can get help with everything from managing your studies to specific questions about your course and staying motivated.

Student Support

Our Student Support team are your first point of contact for anything non-academic related. They can help you get all the administration information you need, including course help and how to get started.

Learning Support

From enrolment to graduation, our Learning Support team are here to help you get the most out of your course. They can help you with things like planning a study schedule, navigating OpenSpace and helping you stay motivated and on-track to finish your course.

Academic Support

Our Academic Support team can help you out with anything academic-related. They can assist you with work placement as well as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and credit transfer.

Trainers and Assessors

If you get stuck with an assessment or have a question related to the learning material, our Trainers and Assessors are available to give you guidance and feedback. You can contact them by sending a message through OpenSpace. They try to respond to all queries as quickly as possible (within two business days at the most) so you’ll never be left without an answer.

If you’re studying in OpenSpaceX, our friendly Student Support team are there to get you in contact with your Trainer and Assessor.

Your fellow students (not applicable for OpenSpaceX)

Got a question related to your course? You won’t be the only one. Log in to the student discussion board in OpenSpace to check in with other students studying the same course as you. Here you can ask questions, share your experiences with others and help one another to stay motivated through your studies. You can also join our voluntary Study Buddy system and connect with other like-minded students.

 

Practical experience

Some of our courses include Structured Workplace Learning, otherwise known as a work placement. A placement involves completing a certain number of hours in a suitable workplace environment. Check to see if your chosen course requires you to complete work placement by visiting the course page on the Open Colleges website.

While it will be your responsibility to find an organisation to complete your work placement with, you'll find information and tips on how to secure a placement in OpenSpace. If you feel like you need more help after that, you can speak to one of our Academic Support officers who can offer some extra assistance to get you into a suitable workplace.

What are blended learning courses?

Not all of our courses are delivered exclusively online. Our School of Health courses feature a blended style of learning, where your time is split up between online and on-campus learning. We have two campuses in Australia: one in Western Australia and another in South Australia. Open Colleges developed this blended style of learning to help accommodate students who wanted to combine the flexibility of online study with face-to-face learning.

Our School of Health courses, unlike our exclusively online courses, do have set intake dates. So if you’re keen to enrol in one of these courses, you need to make sure you don’t miss the intake date.

If you’re not certain if the course you’re looking at studying has set intake dates, you can always chat to one of our friendly Enrolment Consultants.

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