At the 2006 TESOL Arabia Conference in Dubai, Phil Cozens and Heather Baba presented a consciousness-raising session about Distance Learning. Part of their presentation was based on informal feedback received about DL in the UAE. View the Powerpoint: Ready, Steady, Study.ppt (Right click to open in a new window.)

Are you worried about doing a DL course? What are your concerns? Write them here. (Time management, lack of contact, accreditation, support, how to choose a course ...)

If you decided to do a campus-based course rather than a course by DL, why was that?

Concerns:

1. Home or Overseas Fees?

People elect to do DL courses because they can study while working, while living abroad and they don't need to give up their job, go to the UK (or wherever), pay for accommodation, re-settle their families and so on. Few people can afford to stop working for a year or more and pay fees and living expenses, etc. etc. out of their own pocket.

Next comes the issue at UK Universities, at least, of 'home' or 'overseas' status - and the difference is 3000 Sterling for an MA Course. Some universities have forms to complete and request documemntation, others spot that you are British or an EU passport holder and automatically give you 'home' status, others focus on an overseas correspondence address and label you as 'overseas' without investigating.

What can you do?

Here are couple of links to government documents which clarify how status is determined:

http://www.ukcosa.org.uk/files/pdf/info_sheets/tuition_fees_ewni.pdf

http://www.ukcosa.org.uk/student/information_sheets.php#tuition_fees

If you would like to contribute any advice, insights or share your experiences, please contact tailearn@yahoo.com for the password.