Distance learning providers in the UK
A list coordinated by Paul Bacsich
The following document aims, in time, to be a complete list of providers of distance learning for
“education” in the UK. A recent report [6] indicates that there are over 600 distance learning
providers of education and training in the UK.
A broad definition of distance learning is taken – that the locus of learning is much of the time
physically distant from the core premises of the provider. The prime focus will be perceptions of the
students.
This current version of the list (release 1.1) has been produced by searching for “distance learning”
in site:ac.uk (first 200 hits) and also in site:uk (first few hits not in ac.uk). This was augmented for
colleges by searching for “distance learning” AND “college” in site:ac.uk. A few other sites have
been added when it was clear that it was foolish to exclude them despite their low rank (some have
high rank under other searches such as for “online learning”).
In time further searches will be done using various alternative phrasings such as “online learning”,
“e-learning” etc – noting that such searches will require filtering out of a mass of on-campus
offerings which are not relevant to this list.
From now on it is hoped much of the effort to make input to the list will come from the community. I
will act as coordinator and from time to time make consolidated versions of the list available, with
priority given to those institutions that have contributed to or verified their data. I am starting with
circles with whom I have had contact in the recent past and will spiral out to the wider communities
in due course. Hopefully the list will soon reach the stage where it will be clearly in the community’s
interest to help to rapidly complete it.
In due course the list is to be made public and in such a form and location(s) that it will aid providers
and learners searching for courses.
No value judgements will be made as to quality or of accreditation or validation of provision by UK
or other agencies. The only judgements made – in consultation with providers – will be to get some
idea of scale of provision. The notation for this is bold for a large player in the field, italic for a more
minor but sizable player in the field – with bold underline reserved for “mega-providers” such as
the Open University and similar-size providers.
The work is part-funded by a number of projects including Re.ViCa1 and research/analytic projects
related to new modes of learning.
See next page for the lists.
Re.ViCa – Review of (Traces of) Virtual Campuses – is funded under the EU Lifelong Learning Programme. Its web
site is at http://revica.europace.org/
1
Distance learning providers in the UK
Universities and university colleges
Currently 61 institutions.
1. University of Aberdeen:2 Information Technology –
http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2008/08/19/231910/aberdeen-university-unveilsit-degree-completed-entirely.htm; Law – http://www.abdn.ac.uk/law/llm/; Science –
http://abdn.ac.uk:8080/mediareleases/release.php?id=1438; and there are more
2. Aberystwyth University: Department of Information Studies –
http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/distance-learning/
3. Bangor University: College of Education and Lifelong Learning: Lifelong Learning –
http://www.bangor.ac.uk/ll/dl.php.en (Writing with Intent, Welsh for Adults); School of the
Environment & Natural Resources (Forestry) –
http://www.safs.bangor.ac.uk/courses/distancelearning/index.php
4. Birkbeck University of London: general –
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/study/all_courses/distancelearning.html; Geographic Information
Science – http://www.bbk.ac.uk/study/pg/geography/TMSGGISC.html; School of
Management and Organisational Psychology – http://www.bbk.ac.uk/manop/prospectivestudents/why/distance#distance
5. University of Birmingham: International Development –
http://www.idd.bham.ac.uk/degree/distance.shtml
6. University of Bradford: MBA (30 students per year) –
http://www.brad.ac.uk/acad/management/external/progs.php?section=prog&text=dlmbaatagla
nce&id=dlmba
7. University of Bristol:3 Translation Studies –
http://www.bris.ac.uk/sml/prosppost/matranslation/index_html
8. University of Cambridge:4 Latin GCSE – http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/dp/2006061402
9. Cardiff University: School of Medicine –
http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/medic/degreeprogrammes/postgraduatetaught/distancelearning/inde
x.html
10. Cranfield University – http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/dcmt/shortcourses/distancelearning.jsp
(short courses on Explosives etc)
11. University of Derby5 – http://www.derby.ac.uk/online
12. University of Dundee: general (“at the forefront of distance learning for some 30 years”) –
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/admissions/distlearning/courseprofiles/index.htm and
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/admissions/distlearning/general/atoz.htm; History –
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/history/distancelearning/; Nursing and Palliative Care –
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/admissions/distlearning/deptprofiles/nurdlc.htm; Department of
Orthopaedic & Trauma Surgery – http://www.dundee.ac.uk/orthopaedics/dls/welcome.htm;
Town & Regional Planning –
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/planning/students/prospective/distance.htm
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk. (Such footnotes are to control and guide the searching done
– they will become of increasing irrelevance as time goes on and the database fills up.)
3
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk
4
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk
5
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk. This is probably because they prefer the phrase “online
learning”.
2
Bacsich – release 1.1
2
25 February 2009
Distance learning providers in the UK
13. Durham University: Durham Business School (MBA and degrees) –
http://www.dur.ac.uk/dbs/degrees/mba/mba_dl/ and
http://www.dur.ac.uk/dbs/degrees/distance-learning/
14. University of East London – http://www.uel.ac.uk/uelconnect/distance_learning/ and
http://www.uel.ac.uk/uelconnect/distance_learning/programmes.htm
15. University of Edinburgh: general – http://www.law.ed.ac.uk/ahrc/teaching/ and
http://www.scholarships.ed.ac.uk/postgraduate/internat/e-learning.htm (around 6 courses in
Law and 12 in Medicine); Law – http://www.law.ed.ac.uk/ahrc/teaching/llm/
16. University of Exeter: Bioinformatics –
http://www.jobs.ac.uk/jobs/ZL598/MSc_Bioinformatics_by_Distance_Learning/; Education
– http://education.exeter.ac.uk/dll/; Film Studies –
http://www.sall.ex.ac.uk/languages/content/view/1862/429/
17. University of Glasgow: Religious Education –
http://www.gla.ac.uk/departments/religiouseducation/courses/certificateinreligiouseducationb
ydistancelearningcredl/; Film Journalism6 –
http://arts.moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/category.php?id=142
18. Henley MBA – http://www.henley.reading.ac.uk/management/mba/mgmtdistancelearningmba.asp
19. Heriot-Watt University: Brewing and Distilling by Distance Learning [sic] –
http://www.postgraduate.hw.ac.uk/course/119/; Built Environment –
http://www.sbe.hw.ac.uk/distancelearning/Introduction.htm?pane=2; Construction Project
Management – http://www.postgraduate.hw.ac.uk/course/252/; Edinburgh Business School
MBA – http://www.ebsglobal.net/; Petroleum Engineering –
http://www.pet.hw.ac.uk/courses/distance/intro.htm
20. Kingston University London – http://www.kingston.ac.uk/postgraduate/choosekingston/flexible-study/distance-learning/
21. Imperial College: MBA – http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/business-school/programmes/distancelearning-mba
22. Institute of Education: MA in TESOL –
http://ioewebserver.ioe.ac.uk/ioe/cms/get.asp?cid=882&882_1=830&var2=MATESOLDL
23. King’s College London: Dentistry – http://www.kcl.ac.uk/schools/dentistry/pg/distance/
24. University of Leeds – http://www.leeds.ac.uk/students/distance_learning.htm and
http://tldynamic.leeds.ac.uk/pgprospectus/2005/get_odl.asp (17 courses); Disability Studies –
http://www.sociology.leeds.ac.uk/prospective-students/postgraduate-taught/ma-disabilitystudies-distance/; Geographic Information Systems (GIS) – http://www.geog.leeds.ac.uk/odl/
25. University of Leicester: general: http://www.le.ac.uk/distancelearning/ and
http://www.le.ac.uk/pgprospectus/courses/distance/distanceintro.html (more than 7000
students); Archaeology – http://www.le.ac.uk/archaeology/dl/dl_ma.html; Department of
Criminology – http://www.le.ac.uk/criminology/courses/pg/dl/index.html; International
Relations – http://www.le.ac.uk/politics/admissions/dl.html; Faculty of Law –
http://www.le.ac.uk/law/pg/dlprogrammes.html; Department of Media and Communication –
http://www.le.ac.uk/mc/dl/index.html; Museum Studies –
http://www.le.ac.uk/ms/study/museumstudies(dl).html
26. University of London External System – http://www.londonexternal.ac.uk/; International
Management –
6
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk
Bacsich – release 1.1
3
25 February 2009
Distance learning providers in the UK
http://www.londonexternal.ac.uk/prospective_students/postgraduate/holloway/int_manage/in
dex.shtml
27. London Metropolitan University: Polymer Centre –
http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/depts/polymers/distance-learning-options/distance-learningoptions_home.cfm
28. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine – http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/dl/
29. Loughborough University – Renewable Energy – http://crestdl.lboro.ac.uk/outside/index.php;
Water http://wedc.lboro.ac.uk/education/distance.php#programmes
30. University of Manchester: overall –
http://www.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taughtdegrees/courses/distancelearning/;
Bioinformatics –
http://www.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taughtdegrees/courses/bysubject/course/?code=00
847; Computer Science – http://intranet.cs.man.ac.uk/peve/msc/distance/programmesdl.html
31. Middlesex University:7 Professional Practice –
http://www.middlesex.ac.uk/PIPupload/PG/PGArt%20and%20Design/MA%20Professional%20Practice/MA%20Professional%20Practice.h
tml; and many more programmes
32. Napier University –
http://www.napier.ac.uk/nubs/WhatCanIStudy/Pages/ProspectiveParttime,.aspx
33. Newcastle University: Marine Biology –
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/marine/learning/delvedeeper/index.htm
34. University of Northampton –
http://www2.northampton.ac.uk/portal/page/portal/business/nbs-courses/distance-learning (12
programmes in Accounting & Finance, Business, Business Computing & IT. Human
Resource Management, Management, and Marketing )
35. Northumbria University – http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/brochure/courses/enq/distlearn/ and
http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/studentaz/survival/distancelearning/
36. University of Nottingham: Applied Ergonomics – http://www.virart.nott.ac.uk/apperg/;
Applied Linguistics – http://pgstudy.nottingham.ac.uk/postgraduate-courses/appliedlinguistics-by-web-based-distance-learning-ma_146.aspx; English Studies –
http://communications.nottingham.ac.uk/News/Article/Learning-online-Nottinghamlaunches-new-distance-learning-MA.html and http://pgstudy.nottingham.ac.uk/postgraduatecourses/world-englishes-by-web-based-distance-learning-ma_237.aspx; Health
Communication – http://pgstudy.nottingham.ac.uk/postgraduate-courses/healthcommunication-by-web-based-distance-learning-ma_176.aspx
37. Nottingham Trent University: general –
http://www.ntu.ac.uk/prospective_students/courses/study_types/distance_learning/index.html
; Law – http://www.ntu.ac.uk/apps/pss/courses/cf/605671/3/GDL_Law_(Distance_Learning).aspx
38. Open University – http://www.open.ac.uk/new/distance-learning.shtml
39. University of Oxford8 – http://onlinecourses.conted.ox.ac.uk/
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk.
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk.. However, it is first in the hits for “online learning” in
site:ac.uk
7
8
Bacsich – release 1.1
4
25 February 2009
Distance learning providers in the UK
40. Oxford Brookes University (over 10% of students): general –
http://www.brookes.ac.uk/studying/learning/flexible/distance; MBA –
http://www.business.brookes.ac.uk/mba/dl/
41. University of Portsmouth: general –
http://www.port.ac.uk/courses/distanceonlinelearning/learningonlineanddistancelearning/;
Criminal Justice – http://www.port.ac.uk/departments/academic/icjs/distancelearningugprogs/
42. Queen Mary University of London: Electronic Engineering –
http://www.elec.qmul.ac.uk/study/msc/dl/; School of Law –
http://www.law.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/diplomas/distancelearning/
43. Queen’s University Belfast:9 Pharmacy –
http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofPharmacy/dl/
44. Robert Gordon University – http://www.study2u.com/distance-online-learning-uk/robertgordon-university/ (28 courses)
45. Roehampton University London – http://www.roehampton.ac.uk/postgraduatecourses/childrens-literature-distance-learning/
46. Rose Bruford College: general – http://www.bruford.ac.uk/Students/DistanceFees.aspx and
http://www.bruford.ac.uk/Students/DistanceLearningCourses.aspx; Opera Studies –
http://www.bruford.ac.uk/Students/CourseDetails.aspx?CourseID=11; Theatre Studies –
http://www.bruford.ac.uk/Students/CourseDetails.aspx?CourseID=12 (“there is no
comparable programme by distance learning elsewhere in the world”)
47. Royal Veterinary College – http://www.rvc.ac.uk/Postgraduate/Distance/Index.cfm
48. Sabhal Mòr Ostaig (UHI): Access to Gaelic –
http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/en/cursaichean/inntrigidh/index.php
49. School of Oriental and African Studies – http://www.soas.ac.uk/cedep/provide/index.html
50. University of Sheffield: Department of East Asian Studies – http://www.shef.ac.uk/seas/dlc;
Department of Music – http://www.shef.ac.uk/music/prospective_pg/distance; Department of
Probability and Statistics – http://www.shef.ac.uk/pas/prospectivepg/masters/distance
51. University of St Andrews: general – http://www.standrews.ac.uk/admissions/pg/Choosingyourdegree/DistanceLearning/ (5 courses); Divinity –
http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/divinity/admissions/pg/distance/; Psychology – http://psy.standrews.ac.uk/teaching/open_learning.shtml
52. St Mary’s University College Twickenham London:10 general info –
http://portal.smuc.ac.uk/offcampus_students.html?&no_cache=1
53. Staffordshire University: general –
http://www.staffs.ac.uk/study_here/courses/distance_learning/; Advice Studies –
http://www.staffs.ac.uk/study_here/courses/advice-studies-distance-learning-tcm429979.jsp;
Law – http://www.staffs.ac.uk/study_here/courses/llm-distance-learning-tcm4213466.jsp;
Sciences – http://www.staffs.ac.uk/schools/sciences/distlearn/index.php
54. University of Stirling – http://www.external.stir.ac.uk/postgrad/flexible-learning/onlinelearning/index.php (9 courses)
55. University of Sunderland – http://www.sunderland.ac.uk/study/distancelearning/
56. University of Ulster Campus One11 – http://campusone.ulster.ac.uk/
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk
11
Bizarrely, not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk
9
10
Bacsich – release 1.1
5
25 February 2009
Distance learning providers in the UK
57. University College London:12 Speech Therapy –
http://www.langsci.ucl.ac.uk/courses/class/returntopractice.php
58. University of Warwick MBA – http://www.wbs.ac.uk/students/mba/learn/dl.cfm
59. University of the West of Scotland: Health, Nursing & Midwifery –
http://www.paisley.ac.uk/schoolsdepts/hnm/dl/index.asp.
60. University of Worcester – http://www.worc.ac.uk/ils/942.htm (general information only)
61. University of York: general – http://www.york.ac.uk/graduatestudy/distance/ and
http://www.york.ac.uk/graduatestudy/distance/distance_learning_courses.htm (11 courses);
Mathematical Finance – http://maths.york.ac.uk/www/OnlineMSCMathFin
Companies acting for universities, consortia, professional bodies etc
1. Astronomy by Distance Learning (LJMU, UCLAN and MU) – http://www.astronomy.ac.uk/
2. ICMA Centre –
http://www.icmacentre.ac.uk/executive_education/msc_distance_learning_programmes
3. ISLI – http://www.sli-institute.ac.uk/education/distance-learning/index.php
4. Kaplan Open Learning, an affiliate college of University of Essex –
http://www.kaplanopenlearning.org.uk/distance-learning.html and
http://www.study2u.com/distance-online-learning-uk/kaplan-online-learning/ (7 courses)
5. Laureate for University of Liverpool – http://www.study2u.com/distance-online-learninguk/university-of-liverpool/ (14 courses)
6. RDI with 10 HEI partners – http://www.rdi.co.uk/
7. Royal College of General Practitioners –
http://www.rcgp.org.uk/practising_as_a_gp/distance_learning.aspx
8. UNIGIS International – http://unigis.hud.ac.uk/
Colleges
This list has been produced by searching for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk (first 200 hits) and then
for “distance learning” AND “college” in site:ac.uk (first 100 hits).
Currently 36 institutions.
1. Barony College13 – http://www.barony.ac.uk/Courses/Default.aspx?pid=103
2. Barry College14 (LearnDirect centre only) –
http://www.barry.ac.uk/courseareadetails.asp?area=28
3. Blackburn College15 (East Lancashire Institute of Higher Education): press release –
http://www.blackburn.ac.uk/DistanceLearningDegree.html
4. Bishop Burton College:16 Foundation Degree in Animal Assisted Therapyhttp://www.bishopbcollege.ac.uk/index.php?module=courses&navId=153&courseId=615&mode=
5. Bournemouth and Poole College – http://www.bpc.ac.uk/employers/grow_distance.php and
http://www.bournemouthandpooleNot in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk
14
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk
15
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk
16
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk.
12
13
Bacsich – release 1.1
6
25 February 2009
Distance learning providers in the UK
cfe.ac.uk/faculties/accesscommunityeducation/distancelearning/ (“We are currently able to
offer distance learning packages to employers where there are 6 or more candidates
enrolling.”)
6. Bridgwater College:17 general –
http://www.bridgwater.ac.uk/sec3.php?sec3ID=200&secID=3; Computing:
http://www.bridgwater.ac.uk/sec4.php?sec4ID=577&secID=4 and
http://www.bridgwater.ac.uk/sec4.php?sec4ID=579&secID=4 (HNC and HND top-up)
7. Chelmsford College18 – http://www.chelmsfordcollege.ac.uk/pages/thecollege/distancelearning.asp (Dementia Care, Safe Handling of
Medicines, Control of Infection & Contamination, and Cleaning & Support Services)
8. City of Bath College: Highways Open Tech – http://www.citybathcoll.ac.uk/adultlearners/courses1/highways-open-tech.html
9. City College Norwich19 – http://www.ccn.ac.uk/ccn3/ptime/flexible.htm
10. City of Sunderland College20 –
http://www.citysun.ac.uk/website/adult/fe/distancelearning.aspx
11. Coleg Sir Gâr Virtual College21 – http://www.virtualcollege.ac.uk/ and
http://www.virtualcollege.ac.uk/?m=2 (“Over 3500 students have been involved in on-line
learning with us in the last six years”, many courses available)
12. Craven College22 – http://www.craven-college.ac.uk/courses/distance-learning/ (A Levels,
GCSEs, Horticulture, Languages, Business and Management, and Travel and Tourism)
13. The Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education –
http://www.grimsby.ac.uk/category/305.html and
http://www.grimsby.ac.uk/category/208.html
14. James Watt College:23 general entries – http://www.jameswatt.ac.uk/courses/modes.asp and
http://www.jameswatt.ac.uk/section/default.asp?p=136&s=3; list of courses –
http://www.jameswatt.ac.uk/courses/openlearning-atoz.asp (15 courses)
15. Kendal College – http://www.kendal.ac.uk/business/distancelearning.php (“variety of costeffective distance learning packages” – Customer Relations, Food Hygiene and Safety,
Occupational Health and Safety, Safe Handling of Medicines, Infection Control, NCFE
Certificate in Dementia Awareness, and NCFE Certificate in Equality and Diversity)
16. Leeds Thomas Danby College – http://www.leedsthomasdanby.ac.uk/courses/online.cfm
(appears to be LearnDirect centre only)
17. Lincoln College: general entry – http://www.lincolncollege.ac.uk/main/1999-distance
18. Moray College – http://www.moray.ac.uk/moray-college/about/distance-learning.php; CMI
Diploma & Executive Diploma in Management – http://www.moray.ac.uk/moraycollege/what/course-detail.php?course=21; Whisky Course – http://www.moray.ac.uk/moraycollege/what/course-detail.php?course=303
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk.
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk.
19
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk.
20
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk.
21
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk.
22
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk.
23
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk.
17
18
Bacsich – release 1.1
7
25 February 2009
Distance learning providers in the UK
19. Motherwell College – http://www.motherwell.ac.uk/distance_learning/index.aspx; Computer
Aided Draughting and Design (CADD) –
http://www.motherwell.ac.uk/distance_learning/CADD_Distance_Learning.aspx; Computing
courses –
http://www.motherwell.ac.uk/distance_learning/Computing_Distance_Learning.aspx
20. NCC Home Learning (consortium of FE colleges) –
http://www.ncchomelearning.co.uk/About-Us
21. Newbury College24 – http://www.newbury-college.ac.uk/employers/courses/distancelearning/ (level 2 (GCSE level) and level 3 (A Level))
22. Newcastle College25 (“one of the UK’s largest and most successful providers of flexible
distance learning and e-learning programmes”): general – http://www.flexibleelearning.com/; e-NVQ – http://www.flexible-elearning.com/docs/Envq%20Brochure.pdf
23. Otley College – http://www.otleycollege.ac.uk/distance-learning/index.html and
http://www.otleycollege.ac.uk/distance-learning/distance-learning-courses.html (22 courses
24. Oxford and Cherwell Valley College – http://www.ocvc.ac.uk/distance-learning (“over 1400
learners this year”)
25. Perth College:26 general:
http://www.perth.ac.uk/learningoptions/distancelearningcourses/Pages/default.aspx; Highers
courses –
http://www.perth.ac.uk/learningoptions/distancelearningcourses/Pages/HighersCourses.aspx.
(English, History, French, Intermediate 2 Mathematics)
26. Royal Forest of Dean College – http://www.rfdc.ac.uk/choosing-subcat.asp?pg=34; GCSE
and AS level English online – http://www.rfdc.ac.uk/sitefiles/Online%20English.pdf
27. St John’s Nottingham – http://www.stjohns-nottm.ac.uk/show/18
28. The Sheffield College: Skills for Business –
http://www.sheffcol.ac.uk/index.cfm?pid=a2fa9ed7-01a3-4ed1-8413-9d622a65f01f (Care
Sector, and Administrative and Legal); LETTOL (Learning To Teach Online) 27 –
http://www.sheffcol.ac.uk/index.cfm?ParentID=dd22687d-39f7-412e-9a00-c9bb33e12b45
29. Shrewsbury College of Arts & Technology28 – http://www.shrewsbury.ac.uk/?_id=304
(GCSEs, A levels, Computing & Professional Courses)
30. Stockport College29 – http://www.stockport.ac.uk/adult_community/distance_learning.html
(Safe Handling of Medicines, Infection Control, Equality and Diversity) (“These courses are
offered in partnership with the Health and Social Care curriculum area and they link into the
CoVE – Care for the Elderly”)
31. Thanet College30 – http://www.thanet.ac.uk/courseintroductionpage.asp?pageid=48
32. Wakefield College (“online/distance learning”) –
http://www.wakcoll.ac.uk/CourseInformation/BrowseByLeafletCategory.asp?lck=13 (14
courses)
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk
26
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk
27
This is fourth in the hits for “online learning” in site:ac.uk
28
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk
29
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk
30
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk
24
25
Bacsich – release 1.1
8
25 February 2009
Distance learning providers in the UK
33. Walford and North Shropshire College31 – http://www.wnsc.ac.uk/index.php?id=1243
(NCFE and ASET for Care Sector; AAT: Foundation, Intermediate & Technician Levels)
34. Warwickshire College: Equi Study –
http://www.warkscol.ac.uk/college_centres/moreton_morrell/equine/distance_learning/index.
htm and http://www.warkscol.ac.uk/cms/content/public/website/EquiStudyProspectus.pdf;
general page32 – http://www.warkscol.ac.uk/courses/distance_learning/index.htm
35. Worcester College of Technology: general reference –
http://www.wortech.ac.uk/StudyCentres/help+for+distance+learners/
36. The College Ystrad Mynach33 – http://www.ystrad-mynach.ac.uk/distance-learning.aspx (“a
range of GCSEs and A Levels available through Distance Learning”, Law, Mathematics,
Psychology, Sociology)
Independent providers
Note that in some circumstances (not yet clear) there is Learning and Skills Council (LSC) funding
to support the provision of NVQ and other qualifications in FE colleges, work-based learning
providers and “some other independent training providers”. No warranty is given as to the
accreditation or validation status of an independent institution to the various quality, accreditation
and inspection regimes.
Brighton School of Business and Management – http://www.brightonsbm.com/
Distance Learning Centre – http://www.distance-learning-centre.co.uk/
Distance Learning Partnership – http://www.distancelearningpartnership.co.uk/index.php
ElearnUK – http://www.elearnuk.co.uk/
ICS – see http://www.icslearn.co.uk/
ILEX Tutorial College – http://www.ilex-tutorial.ac.uk/ (“over 5,000 students studying by
distance learning at any one time”, “the first private training provider to achieve recognition
by Skills for Justice under the government-sponsored Skillsmark quality scheme.”); Law
Level 3 units – http://www.ilex-tutorial.ac.uk/content.aspx?pageid=214
7. Informa Distance Learning –
http://www.informadistancelearning.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=dl/home
8. International Christian College – http://www.icc.ac.uk/content/distance-learning
9. The London College UCK – http://www.lcuck.ac.uk/distance_learning.html and
http://www.lcuck.ac.uk/fees_and_finance.html
10. Maryvale Institute – http://www.maryvale.ac.uk/index.php?id=144
11. National Extension College – http://www.nec.ac.uk/info/categorybrowse?category_id=593Open College – http://www.opencollege.info/
12. Oxford College – http://www.oxfordcollege.ac/
13. Stonebridge Associated Colleges – http://www.stonebridge.uk.com/ (around 600 courses)
14. Oxford Open Learning – http://www.ool.co.uk/
15. UK Open Learning – http://www.uk-open-learning.com/default.asp
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk
33
Not in the first 200 hits for “distance learning” in site:ac.uk
31
32
Bacsich – release 1.1
9
25 February 2009
Distance learning providers in the UK
Non-UK providers active in the UK
1. Hibernia College: general – http://www.hiberniacollege.net/; iTeach –
http://www.hiberniacollege.net/SchoolofEducation/iTeach/tabid/133/Default.aspx
Sources of advice to students
(Note that all of these indexes are very incomplete and out of date at present.)
1. HERO –
http://www.hero.ac.uk/uk/studying/deciding_where_to_go_and_what_to_study/modes_of_st
udy/distance_learning.cfm
2. ICDL – http://www-icdl.open.ac.uk/courses/
3. UCAS –
http://www.ucas.ac.uk/students/beforeyouapply/faqs/choosingcourses/distancelearning
Interesting papers and reports
1. Berg, Gary, “Early Patterns of Faculty Compensation for Developing and Teaching Distance
Learning Courses”, JALN Volume 4, Issue 1 – June 2000,
http://www.learninglab.org.uk/papers/berg.pdf
2. Broadhurst, Jake, “Update on online distance learning at the. University of Edinburgh”,
October 2007, http://www.elearn.malts.ed.ac.uk/distance/forum_oct07/JBODLforum.ppt
3. DCSF/DIUS, “Table 4: Evening & Open and Distance Learning enrolments by subject,
qualification aim, type of provision, age and gender: Adult Education – Volumes, England”,
from SFR: Adult Education Enrolments in England – November 2001 Issue No 12/2002,
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000343/tab004.shtml
4. HEFCW, Part 2: Undergraduate Enrolments on Non-degree Courses [Wales],
http://www.hefcw.ac.uk/FinanceAssurance_Docs/AV0405_Part_2.pdf
5. HMIE, Angus College inspection report, 2005,
http://www.hmie.gov.uk/documents/inspection/AngusCollegeFull.html.
6. OBHE, Higher Education by Distance: Opportunities and Challenges at National and
International Levels, by Brian Denman, February 2009 (available to OBHE subscribers or for
sale), abstract at http://www.obhe.ac.uk/documents/view_details?id=730
7. QAA, The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education Academic review: subject
review, April 2003, SR228/2002: Bradford College, Computing Engineering,
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/reviews/reports/subjectlevel/sr228_02_textonly.htm (includes
commentary on distance learning in the Metallurgy HND)
Caveat
In certain circumstances the status of an institution is not clear – we have made the best judgement
we can.
Bacsich – release 1.1
10
25 February 2009