Free online courses with Vision 2 Learn

The goverment would like qualified up to a certain level and therefore, certain schemes pop up now and again.

Vision 2 Learn provides free online courses in IT skills, employment skills and life skills. They are taken at your own pace.

They are pretty basic, but give you a certificate and qualification for your CV to prove that you have certain skills. Employers and schools did go through a phase a while ago of being very enthused about 'key skills'.

A free course that's going to benefit you and your CV... it's got to be worth checking out hasn't it?

See: Vision 2 Learn

Oxford College ODL - giving you options with online course and distance learning

This time of year is full of decisions and changes for many... some people got into uni, some didn't, some decided not to, for some it's their maiden voyage of leaving home and life as a skint student...

It dosen't have to be that way thanks to the many online learning providers out there. Oxford College let's you study at your own pace (fast or chilled) without the conventional deadlines of physical college anduni.

They offer a cracking range of course that will fit your interests and career prospects, at many different levels.

Their level 5 diplomas count as 120 credit points at higher education, so if you didn't get your place at uni this year, you could take on of those and work part time whilst you figure out your options.

I'd love to see Oxford College becoming a provder of degree level courses, or letting you bolt together 3 of the level 5 diplomas to earn a degree!

Top Ten Real Online Degree and Distance Learning Providers

1. University of London International Programs - giving everyone the opportunity to gain a degree, at below £3000 in a great range of subjects
2. Oxford College ODL - a great range of accredted courses at many levels, monthly payments allow you to gain qualifications online
3. The Open University - their Open Degree allows you to choose the courses that make your tailor made degree, and they have their own funding/ monthly payment department
4. i-to-i - provide TEFL courses and then help you to find work/volunteering opportunities to use it whilst you take your adventure gap year travelling
5. CTJT - provide practical courses for writing, journalism, proof reading and web building/SEO that WILL see you improve and find opportunities following their courses
6. Open Study College - great choice of courses that lead to solid career prospects like their Mortgage Advisor course.
7. ICS - provide a huge range of courses including degrees, a long running and trusted learning provider working with most of the big universities
8. BSY Group - with their huge range of fully accreditted normal, weird and wacky courses, makes studying fun for anyone
9. UK Open Learning - large range of practical courses perfect for anyone looking to get qualified as an authority and set up as a freelance
10. UK Virtual College - provides lots of courses that will give you skills to progress in your current job and get promoted.

Oxford College ODL Diploma in Journalism course review

Last year, one the courses I took was with Oxford College, of whom I'm a big fan anyway. Here's the review of their Diploma in Journalism.

College: Oxford College
Qualification/level: Diploma - equiv to A-Level
Subject: Journalism
Cost: £365 - paid in installments over 6 months option

The skinny:

• there are ten modules to be completed. You go through the learning material for each and complete a written assessment
• It is quite information and fact based, covering the history and theory side of journalism, as opposed to the writing side of things.
• The course material was really in depth and interesting. The written assessment did stretch me, requiring further research using the internet for some.
• Written assessments are emailed in for marking, with feedback usually received within 24-48 hours
• The cybermedia unit was very interesting and relevant to my line of work.
• I enjoyed this course and got it finished within a couple of months because I really went for it.
• That's why I like Oxford College, because they're so flexible and you can whip through the courses if you're capable.

Real deal or cowboy college: Real deal for sure. All their courses are accredited, and with recent expansions to Level 5 diplomas Oxford College is one to watch... or study with.