Choosing an online course can feel like a major decision. Whether you are looking for a change in career or to develop advanced skills in your current industry, there are some key factors you should consider before signing up. So, how do you make a final decision on what to study? How can you know the course is perfect for you?
We have put our top tips together to help you decide. Let’s get started by differentiating between the two most common course types.
Diploma vs Bachelor’s Degree: What is the difference?
Firstly, let’s analyse the key difference between studying for a diploma or a bachelor’s degree.
A diploma qualification is shorter in duration and sits underneath a bachelor’s degree. This is a better option for individuals wanting to upskill quickly and fill a gap in their resume or portfolio. The curriculum usually includes a general understanding of the industry, giving you an essential foundation to work from, while the course subjects will equip you with the skills you need to thrive within the industry. Course assessments are usually a combination of theoretical learning with some practical experience tasks.
A bachelor’s degree is a higher-level qualification that sits above a diploma. You will often find many companies require employees to hold a bachelor’s degree as an entry requirement – this may even include some of their junior roles. Access into a bachelor’s degree can be competitive depending on the field of study. You will usually pick a major and then specialise in one area of that field. For example, if you chose to study a Bachelor of Business, your major might then end up being in Human Resources or Marketing. One of the main reasons for professionals completing a bachelor’s degree is to move in a new career direction, or to assist in securing a role they have always dreamed of working.
A diploma will usually take anywhere from one to two years to complete, whereas a bachelor’s degree is completed within three to four years. For individuals weighing up the differences, a diploma could be a good start and introduction into their desired industry of choice, while a bachelor’s provides an expert knowledge of your chosen area.
In a corporate setting, a bachelor’s degree may be favoured over a diploma – especially in competitive roles. However, any further education is still valuable, as it provides evidence of your commitment and initiative, giving you as the employee, a competitive advantage.
Now we have assessed the key differences between a diploma and bachelor’s degree. What then are the primary factors to consider for choosing an online degree to study?
Try a generalist course
Generalist courses are a good choice to evaluate your options, especially if you have several areas of interest within a field. These broad curriculums allow you to try out what you enjoy before making a commitment to a specific specialisation.
For example, you might choose to study for a Bachelor of Business. Within this course, you will be able to experience areas such as marketing, finance, human resource, entrepreneurship, and public relations. Once you have an understanding of each category, you can decide on a specialisation for the remaining two to three years of your degree.
Check the curriculum
A critical step is to review the course learning curriculum when researching which provider to choose. This determines the quality of the course, whether the teaching is relevant to your interests, and what skills you will ultimately graduate with. For example, if you are a few years into your professional career, you may already have the skills learned in a diploma, so a higher-level course would be much more beneficial.
Additionally, make sure you review in detail the methods of assessment and learning outcomes of each subject in the course. Features such as practical assessments, compulsory quizzes, and exams offer accountability that is essential to the learning process. This approach makes learning more effective. By reviewing the course structure, you will be sure of whether the course can propel your career development.
Cost of education
A big factor for online education is ensuring you are receiving value for money. Making any large financial and time commitment can be daunting, so do you want to feel confident that your course offers enough upskill opportunities to be worth it.
Research your dream role and assess whether you will be able to reach this goal with the help of your chosen course. This will help you decide if the course will give you a return on investment. Registered courses can be costly, but further education will usually pay for itself in the long term.
Ask for recommendations
Conduct online research and find past students who have completed your desired course. In most instances, individuals will be happy to talk about their experiences with online study and the chosen course.
You can also talk with course advisors at different registered training organisations. Make a list of all questions you would like to ask, including your career prospects after completion. This way you can determine if the course is well structured, suited to your learning style and if the curriculum is up to date.
Accreditation
Ensure you are looking at accredited courses so that they are recognised in a professional setting. Unaccredited courses lack quality control and could be a poor investment, as governing bodies do not assess these courses. As a result, there is no guarantee that the courses are correct or up to a nationally credited standard. An accredited course means that you know you are getting a quality education and a professional qualification, one that will be recognised by future employers and clients.
In Australia, you can check the Australian VET website for a full list of course providers. The TEQSA National website is available to see higher education providers that are registered.
Graduate opportunities and average salary
Before making the further investment to study, consider researching the industry you are interested in and the graduate opportunities available. This will give you a good indication of the average salary available and if the industry is in demand.
According to Grad Australia, the highest graduate careers in Australia are Dentistry, Medicine, Engineering, Teaching Education, Social Work, Health Services and Support, and Law and Paralegal studies.
An article by Monash shows the AAGE Employer Survey, which found the average full-time salary for bachelor degree graduates was $65,691 in 2019. Median starting salaries also reported a steady increase.
Of course, choosing the right career is important, but also being informed on what pay you will earn as a new graduate, as well as the progression opportunities available, should be a priority for many new students.
The bottom line
As workforces continue to change in today’s climate, online degrees are highly beneficial for professionals looking to change career direction or upskill.
Although there is no one-size-fits-all approach, these key factors can certainly help with your decisions and find the right online course for you.In Australia, many course providers are offering high quality online courses. Find out more about how you can reach your professional goals with one of Australia’s registered training providers.
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