How To Successfully Study Online

So you have chosen to study online and are basking in all the flexibility that it brings, but then suddenly you are left at that really long reading list and have no idea where to start.

You no longer have a lecture room of a hundred fellow sufferers, or a weekly seminar – you are on your lonesome staring a computer screen.  Well fear not – we are here to help you on your way with our tips on how to successfully study online.

Make a schedule

Think back to your school timetables, or even your university lecture schedule – studying from home doesn’t change the need for organisation.

Firstly, book in all your other commitments – work, family, gym classes. Then try to fit in some hours for pure study. You can always give the course leader a quick email to ask for guidance on how long you should give – but aim for around 8 hours a week per module.

Don’t forget to give yourself some time off from hobbies and studying to sit back and relax.

Make a study space

Now you may be lucky enough to have a study which you can dedicate full time, or may you can find a few box files and a patch of table which you can call your own.

Setting up an area just for you to study  will help keep boundaries and not let the degree infiltrate all areas of your life.

It will also keep all your papers in one place – time for a stationary shop!

Don’t be afraid to visit the uni

Unless you are doing an Open University degree, the chance is that the university you are studying with has some physical buildings.

If they aren’t too far away why not go and look at the facilities they have available, or some guest seminars they have occurring?

You are still a student, even if you are not attending every day, so going up once a month and attending a guest lecture may make the experience more familiar.

Find a community

You have chosen to do a degree and therefore hopefully you have a subject which you are passionate about. So why not look into joining a group or society which has similar interests?

This could be a relaxed group chat of other online students, a local society, or volunteering opportunity?

Being around those who are passionate about your subject will make the experience more whole, and you might pick up some extra knowledge along the way.

Some useful resources are your university’s SU and meetup.com, a site where you can find groups to join based around an interest.

Learn to love Skype

You are not alone, as in you are not the only person doing your degree.

People over the world will be doing the same (or similar) degree and have access to the internet. Why not consider setting up a Skype group chat and having a catch up – whether this is a subject matter or a virtual coffee date.

It will allow you to feel a sense of belonging and have a support network for when the work starts getting tough.

Forums such as the Student Room are a good resource for find others on your course.

There are many great things about studying a course online – flexibility and not having to commute into university everyday. However, it comes with it’s own challenges. By following the aforementioned tips, you can make the most out of studying online.

Happy studying!

Eleanor Booth writes for Inspiring Interns, which specialises in finding candidates their perfect internship. To browse our graduate jobs London listings, visit our website.