Higher education no longer requires studying on campus. Many universities now offer fully online courses, which allow students to study from anywhere in the world. Such courses allow students to learn flexibly in their own time – which can be useful if you have other commitments. They can also often be more affordable than traditional on campus courses.
Quality of online courses can vary from institution to institution. While some universities offer basic online courses, others have elaborate online learning programs. Just what are the best universities from around the world for online learning? This post takes a look at 10 universities that are highly regarded for their online courses.
- SCU online (Australia)
Although it’s among one of the youngest and smallest universities in Australia, Southern Cross University (SCU) has been recognised as a top online educator. On top of offering affordable and accessible online courses, it’s widely praised for its strong focus on student support. From mental health counselling to careers advice, SCU online excels at looking after its students. Some of SCU’s subject specialisms include marine science, ecology, nursing and hospitality.
- ASU online (USA)
Arizona State University consistently ranks highly on lists of top online programs in the world. This is due to their constant innovation, which has resulted in their online courses being very unique and immersive. This includes incorporating real world projects into online coursework and also using Dreamscape Learn to provide exciting virtual reality experiences. Public affairs, education and business are some of the university’s strongest subjects.
- Manav Rachna online (India)
Manav Rachna is a gold-awarded institution within India that is renowned for its flexible, affordable and career-oriented approach to education. Its online courses blend modern and traditional learning methods and tend to rank highly on lists of best online courses. Tutors at Manav Rachna work hard to help students reach their real life goals. You can study many different subjects here – engineering and law are some of the top choices.
- University of Essex online (UK)
Offering some of the most highly rated online courses of any UK university, the University of Essex is another good choice for those considering studying online. This university’s cutting-edge Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) allows 24/7 access to lecture-casts, discussion forums, Q&A sessions and other educational resources. Courses are designed to cater to a range of learning styles and schedules, allowing you to choose how you want to study them. You can choose from a range of subjects to study online – some of the university’s biggest strengths include arts, humanities and social sciences.
- IU online (Germany)
The IU International University of Applied Sciences in Germany is another university that is highly regarded for its online courses. Flexibility is the main focus of this university – IU online students have the freedom to choose their own start date, set their own deadlines and even schedule exams when they want to sit them. This makes it possible to achieve a degree in as short or as long a timeframe as you desire. Being a university that is centred around applied sciences, the IU is a good choice for those considering an online science or tech degree. However, their business courses are also highly rated.
- John Hopkins University online (USA)
A pioneer in online education, John Hopkins University has been offering online courses longer than many other US colleges and continues to be one of the most highly regarded universities in the world for distance learning. Students can listen to a vast range of pre-recorded lectures or take part in live online sessions. The university also offers solo and group online projects, helping to encourage collaboration between online students. Healthcare is a big focus of this university – particularly nursing, public health and biomedical engineering.
- Massey University online (New Zealand)
Massey University has been offering distance learning for over 60 years – one of the first institutions in the world to provide it. They have continued to develop their distance learning courses over the years, being an early adopter of online courses and creating their own online learning platform known as Stream. You’ll find a huge variety of online courses being offered at Massey University. Veterinary science and Agriculture are two of the university’s strongest subject areas – both can be partially studied online (many other subjects are fully online).
- UOL online (UK)
The University of London is believed to be the first university to offer distance learning – all the way back in the 1850s. To this day, they remain dedicated to distance learning and take on thousands of students from around the world. UOL offers a wide array of online courses. Subject areas that the university has become known for in recent years include business administration, cybersecurity and computer science.
- CSU online (Australia)
Australia’s most established online university is Charles Sturt University. Students can choose from a whopping 230 online courses at CSU, making it possible to study just about any subject remotely. Graduates at CSU also tend to get jobs faster than any other university. Agriculture is a specialism at this university, however it’s possible to choose from many other disciplines – many of which also get very good reviews.
- JGU online (India)
O.P. Jindal Global University markets itself as a university for students all around the world. Last year, Times Higher Education (THE) ranked the university as no.1 in the world for online learning. Its courses have been praised for being highly innovative and are taught by the same faculty members as on-campus courses – so that both online and residential students get the same teaching. Unlike other high-ranking Indian universities that are STEM-focused, JGU’s specialisms are business, law and liberal arts.
Which university should you choose?
While these universities are highly regarded for their online courses, it’s important to choose a university that caters to your desired subject and that is within your budget. Online universities typically offer a range of courses and are cheaper than traditional courses, but that isn’t to say that every highly regarded online university is cheap or diverse – so make sure to do your own research before applying.
