Distance Education
So you’re thinking about university study? Welcome to UNE.
Welcome to the University of New England – a University with a difference. You’ll experience a personal and flexible approach to learning that will really set you apart.
While UNE has a long history and strong traditions, our outlook is dynamic and fresh. Our focus is on the future, ensuring that your education and qualifications are relevant. More than 80,000 people now have UNE qualifications with many hold senior positions in Australia and overseas. At UNE you will experience a personal education that will set you apart.
Distance education (sometimes also referred to as off-campus education, or external study) provides an opportunity for you to study without having to physically attend a campus.
Don’t let the name fool you, distance education with UNE will make you feel anything but distant. It’s really about a flexible education that fits in with your lifestyle but still gives you a world class qualification.
We have been in the distance education business for over 60 years, so we know what the challenges are, and have a wide range of support services in place to help students overcome them. Our online teaching is designed to be inclusive, and to create a learning community for all students to engage with each other as well as academic staff.
UNE has also changed to a trimester system in 2012, giving students greater choice about when, and how much they study each year. It also means we have three intakes a year, giving you the opportunity to start studying sooner rather than later.
How does distance education work?
Instead of turning up to a lecture on-campus at a designated time, the course content is provided online for you to access when it suits you each week. It might be a podcast (recorded lecture), a set of readings, questions posed in a discussion board, an online quiz or a video. Students access this content through myUNE, which is UNE’s online learning portal, on a platform called Moodle. Your lecturer will guide you through the unit with a weekly plan of study, as well as checking in on the discussion boards or forums. You can also communicate with teaching staff via email, online chat or the phone. All UNE units are presented online, but some also provide supplementary material in hard copy where necessary.
To make sure your learning can take place when it suits you, UNE provides online facilities which allow you to send questions, submit assignments, order library books, check your grades and access other resources, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
We also believe that a vital part of distance education is your engagement with the learning community. Communication with your classmates, teaching staff and university support staff will enhance your study experience and ensure that your skills extend beyond just the subject matter.
Intensive Schools
Some distance education units have intensive schools (traditionally known as residential schools or weekend schools), which are usually held in the term breaks. They enable students to engage in practical exercises and class style teaching that are designed to achieve specific learning outcomes.
The Course and Unit Catalogue listing for each unit will tell you if there is an intensive school for that unit and the intended dates for the school. Please note that if your intensive school is mandatory, you must attend to complete the unit.
What’s the next step?
Check out our Course and Unit Catalogue, to see all the degrees UNE has to offer. The catlaogue also allow you to search for specific subjects, so if you find yourself thinking ‘that might be good’, then have a look at which degree program is linked to those subjects.
Next, if you know what you want to do then you can start the application process. Click here to get started.
Or, if you want to talk about your options or anything to do with university study, contact us. We have a number of channels available to you so that you can get the answers you need. Use the form below to email us, or click on the links to initiate a chat or find a phone number. You can also find ‘UNE Future Students’ on Facebook to ask a question or request a chat session.