Online University Information Sessions: What to Ask Before You Enroll

Before starting any university degree program, there are a number of questions you need to ask yourself. These are:

• Why do I want to go to university?
• What do I want to do after I graduate?
• What are the entry requirements for my chosen course?
• Where and how do I want to study?

The answers you come up with will determine your choice of institution, degree course, and style of learning. If you think you might want to study remotely, however, there are several more questions you will want the answers to before signing up for a course.

There are many benefits to online degree courses, including the flexibility they give you to learn on your own time, possibly while also working and/or looking after your family. This, in turn, will lead you to develop better time management skills and demonstrate that you are a self-motivated individual, capable of working under your own initiative, which will always impress prospective employers.

However, studying online also comes with unique challenges not faced by students who are learning on campus, such as added reliance on technology and more barriers to communication, so it’s important you ask the right questions to determine whether or not studying online is the right choice for you.

What to ask before starting an online degree:

1. How long have you been offering online degrees?

A lot of online learning courses have sprung up since the advent of the coronavirus pandemic, which closed educational institutions all around the world for several months. However, teaching online classes is not as simple as delivering a lesson the same way you would to students in a physical classroom. For one, the technology used needs to be up to the task, and academic staff need to be comfortable teaching students remotely.

EU Business School has been offering fully online degree courses since before COVID-19 made remote learning a necessity. This experience means we know how to deliver top-quality teaching remotely, which makes you feel like you are getting the full classroom experience.

2. How do I access my learning materials?

One of the great selling points of online degrees is that they are flexible, and you can fit your classes into your schedule when and where it’s convenient for you to do so. However, this only works if the technology and class structure support out-of-hours learning. It is important for you to find out what format lectures are uploaded in and whether you can access them after the class has finished. This gives you the option to catch up on classes during your lunch break or after the kids have gone to bed, so you can study in peace!

At EU Business School, we recognize that many of our students are working full- or part-time in addition to completing their coursework. That is why it was important to us to make all content and class materials accessible from anywhere, at any time, on any device. Our virtual learning environment is easy to navigate and customize, allowing students to take charge of their own online learning space.

3. How can I connect with my classmates?

Class discussions are a great opportunity to share your ideas and gain new insights from your peers. Plus, participating in discussions like these will help you to develop your communication and critical thinking skills. This is the same whether you are studying on campus or online.

Online teaching at EU Business School is delivered through a mixture of open-ended group discussions, which you can contribute to at any time, and live webinars that promote interactivity between students. Don’t worry if you miss these occasionally, though! They are all recorded and uploaded for you to view later, too. Our students hail from all over the world, so this gives you the opportunity to discover different perspectives from different cultures and contribute to discussions surrounding the future of global business.

4. What happens if I have a technical problem and can’t get online?

Technical problems are a pain at the best of times, and though you can usually turn your device off and on again or refresh your browser to fix the problem, these interruptions may cut into your already limited study time when you’re learning online.

At EU Business School, we have been using Adobe Connect to deliver online teaching since 2014, which means we’re very familiar with the platform. Should you encounter any problems, our IT Support Team will be pleased to assist.

5. What support do you offer to online students?

It is certainly easier to access support services when you are studying on campus, but just because you are studying remotely does not mean you should miss out on either academic or personal support. Make sure you learn what support options are in place for remote learners before committing to a course.

EU Business School offers a full range of academic and personal support services to students, whether they are studying online or on campus. Our lecturers review, grade, and reply to forum posts on a daily basis. After the live class every week, lecturers set aside time to speak to all students individually. Furthermore, their contact details are available on the online campus platform, Moodle, so that students can get in touch if they have any questions or queries. They try to respond to all enquiries within 72 hours.

Additionally, Student Services are always on hand to assist students with personal matters. If you need to speak to someone, they can arrange for you to talk to or meet with a personal counselor, so you can get the help you need.

Are you thinking about studying for an online degree? Check out all the online courses available through EU Business School today.