Distance education Moscow today

Distance learning is an increasingly popular form of higher education. It involves remote interaction between the student and the university. On this page we will consider in detail this form of acquiring knowledge, which is no longer new, but is only now gaining popularity.

1) Distance education is a second-rate education that is not valued anywhere.

It is not the diploma paper that is valued, but the knowledge in your head. If you entered in order to study, then there will be no problems with finding a job. A number of universities that teach distance learning organize student employment.

2) You won’t get the knowledge that full-time students receive remotely.

The amount of information that full-time and distance learning students receive is no different. The environment in which they receive it differs. Some sit in classrooms and wake up at 7 am, others put on dressing gowns, take tea and sit down at the computer. You can also have a dialogue with the teachers, and you will also be asked questions. However, there are also pitfalls here. About them below.

3) After training, a non-state-issued diploma is issued.

People who say this do not know what kind of diploma is issued after distance learning. After you receive distance education at a university that has the right to issue state diplomas. sample, you receive a GOS diploma. SAMPLE. Distance education is the same, they issue the same diplomas as full-time education.

To enroll in distance learning, you must provide a set of documents to the admissions committee of the selected university. Set includes:

• passport
• photos
• education documents
• certificate of USE results
• application for admission
• application form for admission to distance learning
• certificate of marriage (divorce) (if the surname in the identity and citizenship document does not match the surname in the education document)

All the necessary documents are usually available on the university websites. Then you will be sent a contract and a receipt for payment. After payment and signing of the contract, data for access to the student’s personal account is sent by email and training begins.

1) After admission, you are given a login/password for the student’s personal account. There you will find the curriculum, schedule of classes, homework, tests.

2) Classes take place at a certain time. The teacher, using university software, creates a virtual class and, like in the classroom, stands next to an analogue board, tells the topic, asks, answers questions. This process may vary from university to university. Somewhere you study pre-recorded materials, books. Classes are being held somewhere. You need to check with the interested institute.

3) How are sessions conducted during distance learning? Typically, students are given test materials to solve. At the same time, Internet access is blocked and you have to rely only on yourself. In some universities you have to come for sessions and a diploma. Please check upon admission.

4) On-the-job training is available during distance learning. It happens that the university itself finds an enterprise. Sometimes, because the student is remote, he has to find it himself. But universities usually help.

How important is it to receive higher education remotely at a state university?

In principle, this is not the first criterion. It is important that the university is reliable. The task of determining the level of reliability lies with you. I already wrote about it here.

Do they provide a deferment from the army for distance learning?

What distance education technologies are used today?

Technologies are developing. Today we use: special software for advanced online lessons, programs for passing exams, intermediate tests and much more.

Let's first figure it out, what is distance education? Currently, the term distance education refers to an impressive variety of training courses, programs and lectures, and its popularity for this type of training is growing.

Distance learning is, first of all, the interaction of students and teachers with each other at a distance (remotely), while such additional education reflects almost all components inherent in the educational process (methods, goals, organizational forms, content, and often teaching aids) and is implemented by specific means telecommunication technologies that provide training.

It is also worth noting that distance learning is basically an independent form of learning, the main means of which is information technology.

How did distance learning come about?

Closer to the beginning of the eighties of the twentieth century, advances in the field of communications made it possible to use new methods of data transmission and satellite communications to conduct training for undergraduates, graduate students or staff (in the case of corporate training) at a completely new, hitherto unprecedented level - it no longer mattered where one was located. people, the only important thing was the presence of a network for communication with students.

In our time Internet technologies have made it possible for most people to study remotely, forming a huge network with an unprecedented amount of information and engaged students and teachers. Just 50 years ago this would have been unimaginable, but now it is a reality that claims a leading role in education. This is how distance learning appeared, declared itself and continues to confidently occupy its share of the planet. Today, in order to succeed in any business, you need to constantly develop, learn and acquire new knowledge and information, raising your professional bar - all this makes distance education possible.

The concept of distance learning covers both standard advanced training programs and full-fledged higher education courses, during which methods of close contact between students and teachers and fellow students are implemented, almost according to a similar scheme used during full-time education. However, during distance learning, educational institutions can engage and use a much wider range of tools: computer programs specially selected and optimized for students, conference calls, e-mail, online messengers, and if we talk about the material base, then DL serves to ensure the interactivity of the process personal computers, smartphones and even (VR).

With the beginning of the 21st century, this type of education is gaining popularity both in our country and in the world! The main advantage of DL is that it is a very convenient and flexible form of training. Judge for yourself, because distance learning allows you to provide:

• saving time (no need to waste time traveling to the place of study);
• reduction in training costs (no costs for renting premises);
• the ability to simultaneously teach a large number of students;
• improving the quality of education through the use of modern tools and technologies;
• instant access to voluminous electronic libraries and knowledge bases;
• creation of unified or industry-specific educational environments and methods.

The benefits and savings of this approach speak for themselves.

Characteristics of distance education

A full-fledged distance education course not only provides educational materials for students, but also organizes the learning process in such a way that it is accessible and interesting for students. Only by ensuring interest in subjects, passion and thirst for knowledge can students achieve good performance. Therefore, a good distance education program is aimed specifically at the full involvement and immersion of students in the educational process and further self-education.

Contrary to popular belief, a distance education course should not instill in its students a feeling of disunity, loneliness or isolation; on the contrary, the best program is one that will find methods and techniques to create an atmosphere of presence, cooperation and cooperation, similar to that which multi-user games currently provide online games (MMO).

Advice to applicants: if you decide to choose a distance education program right now, ask existing students how their training is going, how the material is presented, how they receive additional advice and help from teachers.

You must be firmly confident that you will be provided with full online support, provided with any information assistance and given comprehensive advice on any issue of the curriculum that interests you.

Forms of distance education

Remember how we already said that a normal distance education program should have a huge range of methods for delivering educational information to the student? DOs are already armed with audio/video conferences, Internet chats, e-mail, telephones/fax, and so on.

• Chat session- educational events that are conducted synchronously, that is, all participants have simultaneous access to the chat, both teachers and students. Many distance learning institutions have so-called chat schools and chat rooms.
• Web lesson- lessons, laboratory work, seminars, conferences, business games, workshops and other forms of distance learning using the Internet. Both synchronous and asynchronous interaction between students and teachers is possible.
• Teleconference- carried out using email newsletters. Educational teleconferences are characterized by the achievement of educational objectives. This type of distance learning is very popular in Europe for obtaining additional (second) education for EU residents. Students, by regularly completing practical “homework”, gain skills by combining theoretical knowledge with practical exercises.
• Telepresence- one of the experimental methods of distance learning based on the formation of an atmosphere of presence. That is, students who are outside the classroom create a feeling of personal presence inside the classroom.

We also note that programs can be one-time/synchronous - when a joint, simultaneous connection between students and their teachers is necessary to interact in real time (for example, a survey for a seminar, conference, etc.). In such cases, videoconferencing and interactive television methods are used.

Also, programs can be “non-simultaneous”, that is, asynchronous - in this case, the student has the opportunity to find a convenient time for himself to work through the material of the training program. This approach is more flexible, and interaction is carried out using Internet resources and sending materials personally to the teacher via email.

What is distance learning: 7 advantages and 4 disadvantages + 3 programs and 4 forms of this type of education + 5 secrets that will make the process of acquiring knowledge easy and enjoyable.

Many pupils and students perceive school or a higher education institution as a kind of prison, as a duty that needs to be worked off, as a punishment for unknown reasons.

Moreover, they have nothing against the very need to study and gain knowledge; they simply do not like to spend time sitting at a desk every day.

If you are one of these students or schoolchildren, figure it out.

This will help you get the necessary knowledge, a diploma at the end of the educational process, but not spend so much time visiting the educational institution.

You can study, but not get lost in your studies, but live life to the fullest.

What is distance learning, what advantages and disadvantages does it have?

Let's be honest: only boys and girls without any special life problems can afford to receive full-time knowledge at a higher educational institution: without children, financially secure, surrounded by parental attention and money.

Those who have to combine study and something else most often choose a correspondence course or even refuse to obtain a diploma.

Not so long ago, they had an alternative - distance learning, which allows them to obtain both knowledge and a diploma of higher education, regardless of their life circumstances.

All about what distance learning is

Distance learning is one of the forms of interaction between teacher and student.

Its peculiarity is that communication takes place at a distance (remotely) using various interactive methods.

You will have almost traditional classes with a teacher, but you will interact with him using a computer and phone, and not by being in the classroom. Comfortable?

It's even very convenient.

Distance learning was first discussed at the end of the twentieth century (in the 80s).

Even then, there was a need to train students or improve the skills of employees not in person, but at a distance, using modern means of communication.

Today, this type of interaction between a teacher and a student will not surprise anyone - many universities and other educational institutions practice it in order to give a student a full-fledged higher education, a working person - the right to improve their skills, teach someone who is busy something useful.

The tools for distance learning have expanded significantly over several decades; now they use:

• special computer programs;
• online conferences;
• email;
• groups on social networks;
• messenger and much more.

With the proliferation of computers, smartphones and almost ubiquitous wi-fi coverage, it has become much easier to conduct classes remotely.

7 benefits of distance learning

Distance learning has a number of advantages, which encourage students to choose this method of obtaining higher education:

You save time.

You don’t have to travel to the university and home every day, which is especially important for large populated areas where you can spend several hours on the road.

You save money.

For example, if you decide to study in another city, then you will have to pay for your housing, spend money on regular trips home, buy groceries, etc.

And this way you can study without leaving your home.

You make your own schedule.

Knowing exactly how much time you need for distance theory and practice every day, you can find interesting work for yourself, for example.

Innovative approach.

You have the opportunity to use modern technologies for studying and get access to electronic libraries, which will certainly be useful to you in the future.

Unlimited possibilities.

Thanks to this form of study, distance is no longer an obstacle to obtaining a higher education diploma.

It is realistic to create a unified educational environment.

This is very important for a corporate course, when you need to provide education to a large number of employees, and at the same time.

Creative component.

You get greater freedom of action, do not have to adapt to the teacher’s mood, and maintain deathly silence in the classroom.

A moderate amount of creativity is allowed when completing all tasks.

4 Disadvantages of Distance Learning

Naturally, it would be dishonest to lie that distance learning consists exclusively of advantages and is completely devoid of any negatives.

No, this form of study, like any other educational process, has both positive and negative sides.

Money question.

If you can enroll in the full-time form without spending money, then the distance form is almost always paid.

You also need a good computer with fast Internet, which can also be a serious financial problem for residents of remote villages.

This form is not suitable for everyone.

The psychological and other characteristics of some people do not allow them to study remotely.

For example, some lack discipline and organization, some lack competitiveness with other students, some lack control from the teacher, etc.

Inability to plunge headlong into student life.

The student years are not only about classes, tests, colloquiums, exams, libraries and other not very fun things.

This also includes communication with peers, student parties, social life, skit parties and much more.

Some kind of discriminatory component.

Let’s say that it is much easier for you to express your thoughts orally than in writing, but with distance learning, all assignments have to be completed in writing, which can be a problem for some people.

Distance learning: what is it and what are its features?

If you decide to seriously understand the issue of distance learning, then you definitely need to find out about the existing forms and programs of this method of obtaining higher education.

And I’m also sure it will be useful for you to learn the secrets with which you can make your lessons successful and enjoyable.

3 forms and 4 distance learning programs

Modern applicants who want to study remotely have a good selection of programs and forms.

If you don’t find what you want in your country, you can always choose to study at a foreign university.

Main distance learning programs:

Distance universities.

In every developed country there are universities that offer students to obtain a bachelor's degree (less often a master's degree) by studying outside the university walls.

It is important to find out in advance whether the university you choose has the necessary accreditation and whether you will receive a real diploma upon completion of the course.

Online programs from universities.

In this case, it is more about improving your qualifications, obtaining the necessary degree, expanding your specialization, etc. on the basis of higher educational institutions.

Distance courses.

For example, you won’t be able to get a driver’s license remotely, because this requires real practice, but you can learn English, master a computer program, take a training course on personal growth, etc. - you can easily.

Many private companies offer such programs.

Today there are 4 main forms of distance learning:

Chat activity.

At the same time, all students and the teacher are connected to the chat, so they have the opportunity not only to listen to the teacher, but also to ask clarifying questions. Chat can be either text or video.

Teleconference.

With the help of this form it is good to conduct not only theoretical, but also practical classes.

The most popular type of distance learning today at universities in the USA and Europe.

Web lesson.

With its help, you can carry out not only theory, but also practice, but this form is limited by the fact that students see and listen to the professor, but do not have the opportunity to ask again.

A web lesson can be either synchronous (all students connect to it at the same time) or asynchronous (one or more students connect to it).

Telepresence.

An experimental form that has only recently begun to be practiced.

Its goal is not just to have a video chat with a student, but to create the feeling that the teacher is nearby.

What needs to be done to make distance learning successful?

There are several secrets that you can know to make your distance learning easy and successful:

Choose not only a university, but also a training course.

The distance learning course should be different from the full-time course, but not inferior to it in terms of content.

It is advisable to familiarize yourself with the course before signing the contract.

Take your classes seriously.

Yes, you may not be required to attend lectures and seminars every day, but at home you should also study and not waste your time.

Your goal is not only a diploma, but also knowledge.

Use different tools.

Webcam, telephone, email, regular mail, fax, video, teleconferencing and more.

Organize the process correctly.

There is time for studying, and there is time for everything else.

For example, from 9.00 to 12.00 you study, and nothing should distract you.

Teacher availability.

When studying full-time, you can always come to the teacher for a consultation; you should have exactly the same opportunity when you study remotely - the professor should get in touch with you.

If he doesn't do this, complain to the dean's office.

It is also extremely important to choose a specialty that you like and the nuances of which will be easy for you to understand.

What you love will brighten up not only your years of study, but also your career.

Distance learning is not that difficult

Americans have long been practicing distance learning, believing that a student is a sufficiently independent unit to study autonomously, and not sit on a leash in the classroom.

Russian university leaders also gradually came to the conclusion that distance learning is great, because it provides additional opportunities for both students and teachers.

Here on these sites you can find a number of universities where student independence is encouraged: http://www.ecvdo.ru and http://zillion.net/ru/.
The list is quite large, so you won’t experience much difficulty in choosing an alma mater.

How does distance learning work?

The algorithm of actions is quite simple: you fill out the necessary documents that confirm that you have chosen the distance learning form (each university has its own requirements, so you will have to find out at your place of study) and get advice on exactly how the process will go.

After all organizational procedures, you can begin lectures and seminars.

The distance learning form is more like a stationary form than a correspondence one, because you study every day, simply without having to visit a university, complete the teacher’s assignments, study textbooks, etc.

At the end of the semester, you, like your “face-to-face” colleagues, take exams, but also online.

Do not rush to rejoice that you will be able to cheat in the exam - they are carried out using tests and not so much time is allocated for their completion so that you have time to spy on something in the textbooks.

By choosing a university licensed by the Ministry of Education for distance learning, you will receive a standard diploma, which will not even indicate that you studied remotely and not on a full-time basis.

In addition to the diploma, just like for students who prefer more traditional forms of study, a list of disciplines that you have mastered and grades for them will be indicated.

If you don’t want to, you don’t even have to specify in your resume and during interviews that you studied remotely.

The obvious advantages of distance learning are described in detail in the video of the European Distance University:

Why did I choose distance learning?

One day, in search of inspiration, I wandered onto a website. There people shared their stories and boasted about their successes.

I was very interested in one lady’s story about combining study and childcare without mothers or nannies. The lady's name was Inna.

She said that in her first year she became pregnant from a guy she had dated since school.

The pregnancy was unplanned, but abortion was not even a question. They merried.

Inna still managed to complete her first year at the institute while pregnant, and during the summer holidays she gave birth to a charming daughter, Anya.

Inna adored the child, but she did not want to interrupt her studies and take maternity leave for 3 years.

The correspondence form was also not suitable: firstly, during the sessions she would still have to look for a nanny (her parents, as well as her husband’s parents, lived far away), and secondly, Inna did not believe that the correspondence form would give her enough knowledge for further work.

And then, while studying the options, she saw that there was a distance learning option.

Filling out the documents turned out to be a breeze; it was much more difficult to study well and combine caring for the baby, but the girls managed it.

For the first three years, Inna studied remotely, thus completing 4 courses.

Having sent the baby to kindergarten, the young mother had the opportunity to enroll in the 5th year at a hospital.

Possessing a diploma with honors and real knowledge, Inna found a good job without any problems. She claims that she has not regretted for a day that she once chose the remote form.

Yes, it was difficult, yes, she wanted to give up everything, but she managed and in the end received everything at once: a happy family, a beloved daughter and a higher education.

It is young mothers and working students who first need to find out what is distance learning.

This will help you juggle several things at once without sacrificing your studies.

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Modern life requires a person to constantly improve his skills and abilities, as well as expand and deepen his existing knowledge. And if previously everything ended with receiving one higher education, now any person has the opportunity to attend a variety of advanced training courses, educational trainings and seminars, as well as receive two or more higher educations. There is only one question - where to get all this time? Distance learning comes to the rescue in such a situation. What is distance learning? What are its fundamental differences from full-time and distance learning? How is the distance learning process carried out? You will find answers to these questions in our article.

Distance learning system

So, first, let’s figure out how the distance learning system works. Distance or distance learning is a form of distance learning that does not require the physical simultaneous presence of a teacher and a student in one place, organized primarily on the Internet and using modern methods of communication - audio, video equipment and satellite communication channels.

The distance learning system has a fairly large number of advantages compared to the stationary method of education, including:

• the opportunity to study in a familiar, comfortable environment, without leaving your home or office;
• establishing individual terms and pace of learning, taking into account the characteristics of the student;
• developing the ability for self-organization and independence necessary for learning, while having the opportunity to contact the teacher and receive the necessary advice;
• significant savings in money, since distance education is cheaper than full-time education at the university;
• Distance learning saves time and effort required to overcome distances, for example, when a student permanently lives in another city and is forced to either move to the city in which the university is located, or travel to consultations and sessions during correspondence courses.

Modern technology of distance learning involves the student’s independent mastering of the necessary educational and methodological materials in an interactive mode over a certain period of time, while the student can independently choose the sequence and pace of studying the material. The only thing that matters is that by the time the test is taken, the student is familiar with all the necessary manuals and has completed all the tasks assigned to him. When the process of studying the material is completed, the student takes the test, performs test work with the help of methodological organizers, after which he receives a grade and moves on to the next stage of training. Throughout the entire study period, the student interacts with other students in the virtual group using e-mail and forums. Also, any university on the basis of which distance learning is possible has a specially designed distance learning website. When enrolling in distance learning, a student receives his login and password, with which he can log into the site, use educational materials, manuals, and also communicate with students and teachers of the virtual course.

It is clear that the bulk of educational materials are posted on the distance learning website in electronic form or sent directly by e-mail from the teacher to the students. During the learning process, a person is accompanied by: teachers of relevant disciplines, with whom you can interact through video consultations, as well as in the format of individual communication via chat and email, a resource center methodologist responsible for free access to the distance education library, as well as a specialist from the technical service support.

Any distance learning process consists of the following stages:

• distance learning itself using modern information technologies and communications;
• classroom training at the annual session, during which tests and exams are taken that require the physical presence of the student and teacher, lesson plans are drawn up for the future academic period, etc.;
• independent work to find the necessary information, complete test tasks and other tests necessary to successfully pass the exam.

Distance learning at school

Today, distance learning is possible not only in higher educational institutions. Distance learning at school is also developed in our country. Typically, a distance learning class consists of children who, for various reasons, are unable to attend daily classes and take exams directly at school. Most often, distance learning is chosen by athletes who are constantly traveling for competitions, gifted children who simply do not need that much time to master the necessary material. Distance learning applies to frequently ill children or disabled children who, due to health conditions, cannot regularly attend classes at school.

At the same time, distance learning is not suitable in cases where the teacher and student must directly interact with each other in order to transmit and receive knowledge. For example, on the Internet you cannot learn to play a musical instrument, learn painting or sculpture, dancing, singing, and it is also impossible to master the profession of a doctor.

Just like in the higher education system, a distance classroom at a school has its own website, which can be accessed by all participants in the educational process via login and passwords. This website contains lists of disciplines studied, schedules for passing tests and completing certain tasks, and there are also electronic grade books in which teachers give grades for tests completed and exams passed. In addition to individual work, there are also paired and group assignments. For simultaneous participation in the educational process of teachers and students, chats, ICQ, interactive TV, teleconferences, Skype and other programs are used. In order, for example, to send a completed test to a teacher, it is enough to send it by email or attach it to your personal account on a distance learning website. It is very important not only to study the material, but also to create new educational documents under the guidance of educational materials and with the help of consultations from a distance teacher (for example, creating and posting a student’s own web page is clear evidence that he has mastered Internet programming skills).

Today, everyone can use the distance learning system, regardless of place of residence, age, employment level and other criteria. It is only important to choose the desired university, specialty and find out about the possibilities of distance learning in the specialty that you like. Live and learn! Be sure to follow this folk wisdom. We wish you good luck on the path of self-improvement!

Currently, young people are striving for more convenient living conditions that the Internet provides. Virtual stores, online consultations with doctors and even distance higher education! Reviews from students and graduates, advantages and disadvantages, wishes and warnings - all this is collected in this article.

The fact is that there are many who want to study without leaving home, but every such person has fears and doubts. Let's figure out what distance learning is, what pitfalls and advantages it has. The information is based on various sources, which contain real reviews, discussions of students and experienced students.

What is distance education

First, let’s get acquainted with the concept of “distance higher education,” since many of you probably just want to know what it is. Imagine a student who was told: “Don’t come to the university, I will provide all lectures and assignments, as well as a list of references, by email.” Probably, modern full-time students, as well as evening and part-time students, have at least once encountered such a situation when the teacher could not be present in person, but gave homework through the computer.

Distance education in this case occurs at a distance constantly. Often students come only for state exams and diploma defense. The rest of the time you need to study either at home (at a short distance from the educational institution), or at another point in the world.

How do teachers and students communicate?

Distance learning occurs in the following ways:

1. The teacher sends the student a list of literature, a plan and series of lectures, as well as assignments by email.
2. The university sets up a personal account on the website for the student and gives him a login and password to log in. On the internal server, the student must download all provided material.
3. The lecturer provides a link to notes and a list of references.
4. Training takes place online, that is, webinars are created.

It’s worth talking about the last way of interaction between teacher and student, since not everyone knows what a webinar is. Surely many of you communicated on Skype, instant messengers using a microphone and webcam. At the same time, you can see each other, talk, and write off. This is what a webinar looks like. The only differences are that:

• the teacher does not see or hear a single student, but he can observe who has arrived for training (usually a list of participants is displayed on the right), and also, if he wants to get an answer from the students to his question, then he can read the answers from everyone in general chat;
• You can only arrive at the webinar at the strictly designated time.

This is what distance higher education might look like. Universities should strive to ensure that the servers work uninterruptedly and have advanced functions for students, for example, the ability to check coursework for uniqueness, download a form of title pages, send the work to the teacher through a special form, see your grades, ratings, and so on.

Are universities real?

You can sometimes hear questions on the Internet on forums and communities: are universities real or are they virtual? Remember: there are no virtual institutes! Paperwork, tuition fees, admission - all this must exist in reality, that is, the university/academy must truly exist.

Often, reviews of higher education remotely are quite critical in terms of the fact that the money was paid for the studies, but the diploma was not issued. And it is impossible to understand whether the university is real or just some unaccredited center. Therefore, dear friends, if you are determined to study remotely, but the educational institution is unfamiliar to you, then first visit it.

One-stop center

There are unified centers for distance education (abbreviated as EDDC). Reviews about them vary. But most often they are negative. The fact is that when signing an agreement, many people are lazy or embarrassed to read absolutely everything. In addition, there may be questionable items, in which case people often take it for granted. Therefore, it is advisable to get acquainted with a single center or university in person, ask students (if possible), try to find graduates to ask whether they managed to successfully obtain an education and a diploma.

In addition, the single center may turn out to be fake, that is, the owner of the site has nothing to do with real universities. Therefore, you should study the information carefully.

And most importantly, in order to get a truly honest and worthy education, it is recommended to visit the admissions office of the university that interests you. It's better if it's accredited

Who is it suitable for?

People most often interested in this type of training are:

• employed in production;
• mothers on maternity leave;
• disabled people;
• compatriots living in other countries;
• rural youth without the opportunity to regularly go to sessions, as well as those who do not want to live in a hostel and in rented apartments;
• the poor.

For those who cannot even attend distance learning, distance learning will be available. In this case, higher education is considered full-fledged, as in the case of correspondence education.

How to submit documents

On the Internet you can often find a tempting offer, for example: “You don’t need to come with documents! You can submit a request here. We contact you, clarify all the details, and you enter the university.” Don't fall for these scammers' tricks! Similar methods of “entry” can be offered by unified centers of higher distance education, reviews of which can only be found negative.

You should not assume that not a single UTDC works honestly. Actually this is not true. Indeed, most often it is suggested to leave your full name. and contact details on the application form. But all necessary documents must be brought to the university in person. In this case, the following documents (copies) must be present:

• passport (person and registration) or birth certificate (if under 18 years of age);
• document on previous education, including an insert with grades;
• photo 3x4 cm;
• certificate of change of surname (if it differs in the diploma and in the passport).

Remember that not a single real and serious university will accept documents remotely!

Reviews from students and graduates

Now let's talk about distance higher education in state universities. Reviews from real students and graduates are mixed. Everyone sees both the pros and cons in their own way. Some people like that the teacher gives assignments by email, while others like to ask questions about the topic of study, and there are a lot of them, but they cannot get an answer right away.

As for getting an education as such, each student expects something different: some just need a diploma, while others want to seriously study and become a competent specialist. Often expectations are not met, so let's look at all the nuances in detail below.

Advantages of distance education

Among the happy students who enrolled in distance learning, you can find positive reviews. Let's take a look at them:

• no need to travel to lectures and sessions, waste time and money;
• You can study in your free time from other activities;
• no need to receive unnecessary and off-topic information from the lecturer;
• you can gain much more knowledge than through full-time and evening studies;
• The training period is much shorter; you can become a specialist in 2-3 years.

As you can see, getting higher education remotely is a profitable business.

Disadvantages of distance learning

Despite such excellent advantages, one should also take into account the disadvantages, which can significantly affect further postgraduate activities:

• no laboratory or practical classes;
• teachers can answer questions using the Internet for a very long time (given their busy schedules and the large number of distance students);
• you have to train your willpower to take up your studies;
• there is no opportunity to communicate with classmates to analyze the material together.

Distance higher education only requires the presence of a computer or laptop, as well as uninterrupted Internet. If difficulties arise while completing tasks, you will have to act independently or ask for help from those who know the discipline (subject) well.

Therefore, almost all students and graduates of this form of education are strongly recommended to take their studies seriously, since tests, exams and diploma defense will be carried out in the same way as in full-time, evening and correspondence courses. You should not expect concessions and concessions from the examiners and the commission.

Second or first higher

Increasingly, people are striving to obtain more than one higher education. So, many once in their youth entered the wrong specialty, but the time to study was lost, or there was no desire to sit at the same desk with the younger generation. At the moment, there is a chance to catch up and get a second higher education remotely. Universities do not reject applications from those who already have a higher education. On the contrary, there are even those who receive it for the third or even fourth or fifth time.

As for the first higher education, you can choose distance learning if a person has at least secondary specialized education and also works in a field that is close to the specialty in which he wants to study.

Retraining online

Those who already have specialized secondary or higher education do not necessarily have to go to college or university and study for five to six years in order to gain new knowledge with the right to work in their specialty.

Retraining on the basis of higher education remotely is the dream of everyone who wants to change their profession to one they like. In addition, it is absolutely not necessary to spend money and time on acquiring new knowledge. Distance learning lasts no more than one year in total, and the number of teaching hours is about 700-900.

About universities

Above, we discussed possible fraud on the part of sites calling themselves single centers for distance learning. In addition, there are universities that also accept documents on their official website and send receipts for payment for the semester or year. Unfortunately, many students were left without diplomas due to the fact that the university is not accredited. There is another disadvantage: they can issue certificates, but they will not be of state standard.

To avoid getting into such trouble, you need to check the accreditation number, see whether it is a state university or not, and then accurately determine your higher education remotely. Student reviews online can be either real or false. Therefore, you should seriously approach the choice yourself or with the help of people experienced in this matter.

Is it difficult or easy to study (student opinions)

First of all, you need to understand that no one will force you to complete tasks on time. The student must manage his own time, and questions may arise when solving problems or completing coursework. This often applies to technical and economic specialties. Therefore, distance learning in engineering professions is suitable for those who already have a first higher education degree.

It is easy to study at a distance, usually in the humanities, such as law, sociology, and political science. Just to avoid mistakes, you should choose higher education remotely at a state university.

In general, if you take your studies responsibly, then nothing will be difficult.

Cost of education

Many people think that the cost of distance education is much lower than that of correspondence education, but this is not the case everywhere. In this case, the student saves money on travel and accommodation (if the university is far from their place of residence).

In addition, the cost depends on the following factors:

• geographical location of the university;
• volume of hours and duration of training;
• specialties;
• assigned qualifications.

There is a significant advantage here: a person who lives in a big city and does not have a lot of money to enroll in a prestigious specialty can choose a university for distance learning in another city. However, he must come there only to submit documents and defend/receive a diploma.

To act or not? General conclusions

Perhaps after reading the article you will have a dilemma: is it worth getting a higher education remotely? Not everyone has positive reviews. In fact, a lot depends on the students themselves. Let’s say, if your first specialty is in the humanities, and now you want to become a civil engineer, then it’s better to abandon the idea. Remember studying mathematics, physics and chemistry at school: without the help of a teacher it is almost impossible to understand how to solve certain problems. Often you have to ask again many times until it becomes clear. Same with engineering sciences. Therefore, technical specialties are suitable for those who are already intimately familiar with many of the disciplines that need to be studied. On the contrary, after an engineering specialty, you can without a doubt enroll in the humanities.

And in conclusion, we will again touch on the topic of a single center for higher distance education. Student reviews show that it is better to submit documents only in person to the chosen university, and not via the Internet. This way you will protect yourself from fraud. We wish you good luck in choosing distance learning!