Grants To Loans: How You Can Earn An Affordable Degree ?

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Are you concerned about the chancellor George Osborne’s 2015 budget for higher education? Numerous students and experts across the UK have criticised the decision that grants are to be discarded and replaced with loans for poorer students from September 2016 as aspiring learners are now having doubts whether they will be able to accomplish their academic goals.

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 The Osborne budget

Osborne remained firm on his decision and claimed that the move will fetch enhanced “fairness” to the funding system in higher education. He also said that this decision will result in saving £2.5bn even before the commencement of the next general election. However, if you want to know how you can deal with the new budget plans and still pursue higher education, then we have exactly what you are looking for.

Here are a few tips from the editor-in-chief of money.co.uk and renowned personal finance expert, Hannah Maundrell, on how you can pursue a university degree from the UK after September 2016 without running into excessive student debts....

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What does the budget mean for students?

The most important thing we need to realise that the onus is primarily on the universities to help learners from impoverished backgrounds. If you are a student from a low income family and searching for better options, then you must consider financial support as an highly important factor.

Do not let this transition from grant to loan discourage you and avoid higher education. You will only feel the financial burden when you start earning sufficiently and when you will be unable to repay your loan before the 30 year limit is over.

So much doublespeak in Osborne's budget. Slashing student maintenance grants increasing access to education?! #budget2015

— Stephen Gaskell (@stvgskll) July 9, 2015

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What should students do?

It is not mandatory that you will need to pursue a university degree. There are various other options available for you that can offer you world-class learning experience without feeling any financial burden. I believe one of the most feasible and beneficial options is to pursue an online degree.

there is a great demand for online learning courses from both students and employers worldwide. You will not only receive quality education, but you will have excellent networking opportunities and become eligible for high paying jobs in leading companies. Moreover, by studying an affordable UK university degree, you will be able to avoid the the financial burden created by Osborne's budget plans and earn a recognised degree without taking out student loans. You can also do an internship or apprenticeship while pursuing an online course and gain relevant work experience to boost your employability.

Here are few reaction of the young students

Degrees 'will cost £6,000 more' after George Osborne freezes the threshold for student loan repayment in #Budget2015 http://t.co/wQom02oB2A

— Unite the union (@unitetheunion) July 21, 2015

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How will the budget affect the future of education?

It is simply make higher education more expensive. It seems that tuition fees are set to increase further and in future, government can instruct graduates to repay their student loans faster, with more interest and in full amount. The UK government has hinted plans to pressurize new graduates even more by making the repayment threshold freeze for 5 years at £21,000.

In this scenario, online learning programmes simply seem better and more feasible for most students now, especially for poorer students.

What do you think? Feel free to share your thoughts and views with us by commenting below.

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Why learning English online is the new trend?

Are you studying online yet? If not, it is about time you start pursuing your degree online and achieve your career goals without investing excessive time or money. 

With the advancement of technology, online learning has become one of the most popular modes of earning an accredited qualification for many students and professionals across the globe. Why? Simply because it allows you to advance your education without making any drastic changes to your personal and professional life. As online courses offer a lot of convenience and flexibility, its demand has been increasing quickly worldwide.

Learning English The Online Way

Recently, over 100,000 individuals have enrolled for a single web-based course that offers English language tuition to the students. The introductory programme from the British Council, is their first attempt at MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) which provides lessons free of charge. Among the people who have already signed up for the 6 week course, students from Russia, Burma and Spain are highest in numbers.

According to the British Council, this online course is among the largest English language classes worldwide. More than 33 per cent of these English language students are pursuing the education programme through their smartphones.

Tapping Into The Global Demand

Sara Pierson, head of English partnerships at the British Council, claims that the web-based programme has “tapped into the global demand.” She said “English is spoken at a useful level by one in four people worldwide - and we know that even more people all over the world want to learn English.”

MOOCs were initially adopted by some of the leading universities in the world which offered numerous programmes online to students anywhere in the world. In fact some of the online university courses have acquired excessively high students’ base, with some institutes having over 200,000 students.

A Global Virtual Classroom

However, several educational establishments have also started to develop online courses for students. In fact, the British Council has partnered with prominent UK-based online education provider, FutureLearn, to create and deliver the English course.

Kathryn Skelton of FutureLearn commented “Learners are taking the course from countries like Burma and Algeria, where internet penetration is relatively low, yet the appetite for learning English is clearly thriving.”

The online language course has already attracted learners from 178 nations, with Spain being the highest contributor of students. The United Kingdom is also in the top 10 list. Moreover, there are large groups of students from India, Vietnam, China and Colombia as well. A study of the programme, which utilises online tutors and video to deliver course content, reveals that male students are outnumbered by female students by less than one to two. It is probably the first time they are pursuing an online programme for nearly three quarters. It was also found that the biggest group of students were educators.

You will not be required to pay any tuition fee for pursuing the course neither there will be any examination at the end. Instead you will receive a “statement of participation.”

Are You Going To Enrol For The Programme? 

So what do you think about the new online English course from the British Council? Do you think this course can help you in honing your English skills? Let us know what you feel by sharing your views and opinions in the comments section below.

Learning and Reading- What Does Our Future Generation Want?

Can technological advancement replace traditional practices? Before you go on to answer the question, let me give you 2 examples, music and telephones. Initially music was played live, but technology allowed recording and reproducing music, which eventually resulted in replacing the gramophones and cassettes with iPods and mp3 players. Similarly the land-line phones were first replaced by portable phones which were in turn replaced by mobile phones. So is it possible with further technological advancements our traditional educational system will be replaced by online learning? Will tomorrow’s students end up reading only from e-books? Can digital books replace paper books?

The Traditional Vs. Digital Debate

Most of us are aware that there has been plenty of discussion and debate regarding online learning and classroom education. Some claim eLearning is the future while others conclude that digital learning can never replace face-to-face instruction. Similarly there is adequate discussion on whether eBooks can replace paper books. Many people claim that digital books are easy and more convenient; while others believe that eBooks can never offer the satisfaction of reading traditional paper books.

Digital Reading or Paper Reading?

The truth is that pixels are fast taking over paper with most readers now opting to read books on Kindle or other e-readers. The reading habits of today’s readers have changed a lot as they do not care about the smell of new paper or the feel of printed ink on the page; neither does progressing to the 100th page and marking their advancement with a bookmark have any significance. For them convenience, accessibility and affordability is everything.

Moreover many brick-and-mortar bookshops across the globe have shutdown as the traditional method of selling books has shattered as a result of heavy discounts from different e-commerce websites. The fact is the gradually increasing sales and download of digital books is slowing digging the grave of printed paper books, even though many would disagree.

The Online Learning Revolution

Similarly, online learning has also gained immense popularity among students across the globe in the past few years. Although traditional classroom learning is still dominating the education sector, but it cannot be denied that with rising college tuition many students are going online to earn an accredited and affordable degree.

Today’s learners do not want to spend a lot of time in the classroom and follow strict schedules which prevents them from pursuing other interests. It has been observed that growing number of high school graduates are now skipping college in order to avoid crippling student debts and pursuing online educational programmes. These online courses offer the learners the opportunity to pursue higher education and gain work experience at the same time. As the students do not need to adhere to any fixed schedules, then can work full time jobs and attend online lectures at night from their homes. As the content can be easily accessed online 24/7, learners can study as per their convenience.

However, to say that online learning will replace traditional education will be stretching it a bit too far. Studies show that even with growing tuition fees, a college degree is still worth it.

What Is The Solution?

Due to the growing demand of online education, many reputed colleges and universities have taken the “Blended Learning” approach where students can learn both online and on-campus.

As the interests and preferences of today’s students are constantly changing, it only makes sense for universities to offer programmes which provide the best of both digital learning and campus life. But it still remains to be seen whether online learning will replace traditional learning or if eBooks will replace paper books.

Students Selecting Online Classes For A Promising Future!

Observing the surging popularity of online education among the new age learners, a number of universities are coming forward to add an online module to their usual curriculum. With a record of enrolling hundreds of students every year, online classes are striving hard to cater to the learners all over the world. Moreover, countries from developing regions are also showing their eagerness to join the revolution of e-learning to remove the educational issues from their societies with the help of technological advancement.

Learning online is a special and rational way of obtaining knowledge. The three prime reasons for it being preferred over traditional education system are:

No further hassles - Online classes allow people to enhance knowledge who are unable to attend universities because of either residing miles away from a reputed institution or have a too busy schedule to attend classes. Online classes commonly allow their students to take classes at their convenience. People with professional commitments or familial obligations fail to pursue an academic career through regular classes. But today you may attend classes on weekends, during evenings and even at late night hours. An internet connection is now at your disposal to let you enjoy learning when you feel like.  

No added costs- Monetary predicament has always been there as one of most serious issues that kept a large section away from pursuing further education. Learning via internet subtracts commuting costs, boarding charges, food spending and many additional expenses, that are unavoidable in regular courses. Apart from that, distance learning’s mission to reach out more to educate compels constant innovation. Their effort to enlighten more people results in more affordable courses for the learners from different class.

Career enhancer- Learners from different classes, sectors and countries are taking up online courses to boost their professional career as it hardly requires any compromise with job or family. Although varied courses are being offered and chosen, demand for professional and employer-based courses has elevated to a great extent. 

Demand for trained workers is on the rise and obtaining certified knowledge without career break has never been so easy; now everybody wants an impressive credential to achieve a better position in the company through a degree online. This is why a lot of students are opting for MBA courses online. Now you can hone up your managements and administrative skills through world-class institutions and that too without any career break. 

Especially since UK considered one of the most reputed places to obtain an international qualification, Online MBA courses in UK are getting response from billions of students across the world as it is giving them an opportunity to achieve a dream career and enhancing the leadership skills. Now anyone hoping to achieve a UK qualification from an online international business school can do so in an affordable way. Moreover, these online courses in business studies are giving huge confidence to the experienced workers who are deciding to start up something of their own after pursuing those degrees.

So, is it the end of campus learning?

Although the reasons are good enough to turn you away from regular learning courses, it would be really unintelligent to think that campus learning will cease. Audio-visual lessons are great tools for effective education but it cannot replace campus learning system. The importance of live or face-to-face instruction will always be there. Computers cannot replace tutors; experts think it’s funny to think that way. A section feels it would be much rational if it is considered as a supplementary system rather than treating it as an alternative medium. They think blended learning is the future and the option combining the best features of online and offline classes will be admired by the most in future.

Well, if face-to-face instruction will exist or students will be more attracted toward the blended learning remains a question; but growing popularity of online education is the present. And whether or not it will be able to remove the traditional learning form is not important now. It is getting more students eager to complete their courses and its winning strategies are gaining remarkable response is the fact. So, if traditional education system don’t mould themselves according to the situation and emerge as a more adaptable system, chances are there that the dearth in popularity will grow severe and online may appear as the principal system of acquiring knowledge very soon.          

ONLINE LEARNING TAKING OVER UK

Education has undergone the changes of time. With each decade passing by, education experiences a new change. Besides, the arrival of the new media or the internet has helped revolutionise education massively. The fact that the arrival of any new media marks a revolutionising effect on education just like the internet has helped give birth to online education is now accepted globally. Even the teaching methods have changed as compared to the preaching concepts adopted during the time of legends like Aristotle and Socrates.

Online learning in the UK

In this age of technology students are becoming more used to participating in 1-2-1 tutorials, attending webinars, personal dashboards, webcasts and much more. The change has apparently taken over the globe and people seem quite happy to accept the revolutionized approach to study. In UK the new academic discipline has been in existence since quite some time. However this current educational approach has been started to boost interest amongst most UK citizens since the year 2011.

In recent years, the UK Government has formed its Online Learning Task Force which recommends a massive £100 million investment in online learning with an aim to accomplish the following:

•  Helping the nation create its own brand
•  Developing stronger and improved resources for online education
•  Becoming the leader in the distance learning sphere

(Source: monitor.icef.com/2012/06/8-countries-leading-the-way-in-online-education/)

The funding proposal has come as a response after UK’s academic system demanded an increase in the costs of education. Surprisingly the hike has only drifted students from seeking higher education. These days the government is working out on newer academic trends that will cost much low yet be effective in imparting knowledge. Seeking a UK university qualification has become much of an ordeal for students. It has now become a widespread fact that the increase fees have led to dissatisfaction among students. As per reports that were published after a study was conducted in the year 2006, 29% pupils believed that their courses did not offer them the desired value.

A surging number of distance learning courses

With the popularity of distance learning reaching the pinnacle, universities are finding this new approach a growth area. In recent times, Higher Education Academy has shown the results of 8 flexible pathfinder projects financed by the Higher Education Funding Council of England whereby it was revealed that employers preferred distance education as a route to deliver career-oriented study.

It has been found that distance learning courses have been designed to attract  working professionals looking forward to developing skills that will help them play authoritative roles in different areas such as business, law, banking, finance and even nursing.

Today, major universities in UK like Oxford, Cambridge and more are offering a host of online courses which are designed by combining innovative teaching and learning techniques entailing interaction between tutors and students. On enrolling into highly rewarding courses students can not only achieve skills and a highly endorsable degree, they can also experience the convenience of learning from anywhere, at any point of time and of course at their own will.