Online Degree, Online Courses and Distance Learning in The United Kingdom

Distance learning lets students take a British course or degree without living in the United Kingdom. Lectures, reading and assignments are delivered online through a virtual learning environment, and most programmes are part-time so that students can keep working. An online degree from a UK university is awarded by the same university as its campus degrees: the University of Liverpool, for example, states that its online degrees have the same standing in the UK as those of students who studied on campus.

This directory lists six online and distance-learning providers in the UK, from university online programmes to business colleges and language schools that teach entirely online.

What you can study online

• Online master's degrees: the most common format for international students. The University of Liverpool's online MSc programmes, such as Data Science and Artificial Intelligence or Cyber Security, take 24 months part-time, and its online MBA 30 months; the programmes are delivered in partnership with Kaplan Higher Education UK
• Distance-learning bachelor's and master's degrees from universities with a long tradition of external study, such as the University of London
• Professional qualifications: Magna Carta College teaches the Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership awarded by Pearson, and runs seven online MBA programmes with the Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM)
• Language courses: live online classes with teachers based in the UK or abroad; Meridian English, for example, teaches English online to children aged 5 to 12 in 30-minute lessons

Qualifications and recognition

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, qualifications are placed on numbered levels: a master's degree (MA, MSc, MBA) is a Level 7 qualification, as are Level 7 diplomas and certificates from professional awarding bodies. A diploma at the same level is not a degree, however. The UK government advises students to check that a degree is officially recognised, because employers or universities might not accept one that is not. The degree may also be awarded by a different institution from the one that teaches it, which is common in online partnerships. In England, institutions that can award degrees appear on the Office for Students (OfS) Register.

To use a UK qualification at home, students should check how their own country recognises it. Within the UK, UK ENIC is the official organisation for the recognition and comparison of international qualifications, for example when an online student needs a previous foreign degree assessed for admission.

Admission and visas

Online programmes usually ask for the same entry qualifications and English level as their campus versions, set by each university. A Student visa is not needed to study from home. The UK government allows distance-learning students to visit the UK as Standard Visitors for parts of their course, such as induction weeks, face-to-face intensive teaching, progress checks or exams; for a distance-learning course the programme itself may last longer than six months, because most of the study happens outside the UK. A Student visa is only for courses with a licensed student sponsor, and part-time courses qualify only above degree level (RQF level 7 or above).

Costs

Tuition for online programmes is set by each institution and is often charged per module or per year of part-time study, so the total for a two-year online master's is the figure to compare. Studying from home saves the cost of moving to the UK, and the visa and healthcare surcharge that a Student visa requires. Some universities offer discounts or scholarships for online students; the programme's own fees page is the reference.

How to choose

• Awarding body: which university or awarding body issues the final qualification, and whether it can award degrees
• Level: a full master's degree or a diploma or certificate at Level 7
• Format: self-paced study or live online classes in UK time
• Time: the part-time duration and the hours per week the programme expects
• In-person elements: whether induction weeks or exams in the UK are required
• Recognition at home: whether employers or authorities in your country accept the qualification

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to study a UK online degree?

Not while you study from home. If your distance-learning course includes short stays in the UK, such as induction weeks or exams, you can visit as a Standard Visitor, according to the UK government.

Is an online degree from a UK university the same as a campus degree?

It is awarded by the same university. The University of Liverpool, for example, states that its online degrees have the same standing in the UK as its campus degrees.

How long does an online master's take?

Most are part-time. At the University of Liverpool, online MSc programmes take 24 months and the online MBA 30 months.

How can I check that a UK online degree is real?

Check who awards the degree and, for England, whether that institution is on the Office for Students Register. The UK government warns that employers or universities might not accept a degree that is not officially recognised.