Types of Online Study

You may know what you'd like to study online, but you may not have decided on the award you'd like to obtain. The variety of awards available are an indicator of the amount of study required on the course.

Online Certificates

These courses are not formal qualifications, but may be a good introduction to a subject area you'd like to study indepth in the future. Or perhaps the course will offer valuable insight into an area you only need to learn a little about.

Online Diploma

Somewhat confusingly, the word 'Diploma' in the US refers to the actual certificate received at the end of a course of study. Study2U uses the word in the British and Australian sense where a Diploma is an actual level of study in itself which is below a Bachelors degree in terms of academic value. There is also a Postgraduate Diploma level which is a course taken between a Bachelors and Masters Degree, We have categorised the Postgraduate Diploma separately on Study2U (see below).

Online Foundation and Associate Degrees

These are degrees that are of less value than a Bachelors Degree and are vocational in nature. The UK calls this award a Foundation Degree, whereas in the United States and Canada it is called an Associates Degree. Foundation Degrees are on the same academic level as a Diploma.

As their title suggests, the Foundation Degree is intended to give a foundation of knowledge in a subject. The student might take this to advance to a Bachelors Degree or may want to apply it in industry.

The Associates Degree in the US and Canada can be awarded by various institutions including community colleges, junior colleges and universities. The Associates Degree can be awarded after two years of study. The student could continue study to obtain a more valuable Bachelors Degree. The Associates Degree is the lowest postsecondary academic award offered in the US and Canada.

Online Bachelor Degree

The Bachelors Degree is a popular post-secondary academic award. It involves three to four years of study in fulltime capacity. The Bachelors Degree is an undergraduate degree that can be taken immediately after secondary education.

Online Postgraduate Certificates

A Postgraduate Certificate is taken after a Bachelors Degree or relevant work experience. It is lower than a Postgraduate Diploma in terms of academic value. PGCerts are more common in the UK than other countries.

Online Postgraduate Diploma

Postgraduate Diplomas are taken after a Bachelors Degree or a set amount of work experience and are below a Masters Degree in terms of academic merit. The award is offered in only a handful of countries including the UK, Ireland, Australia and Canada.

Online Masters Degrees

A Masters Degree is taken after a Bachelors Degree or after attaining a given amount of relevant work experience. They are more advanced than a Bachelors Degree in that they require a combination of course-work and research. 

Online MBA

The MBA is a type of Masters Degree but is engineered specifically for business management. The MBA is seen as a pathway to senior management and is held in high regard by the business community.

Online DBA

The DBA is similar to the MBA but is taken up to doctorate level.