There are many reasons why a student may choose to
study externally. These include the location of the education provider (campus),
family and
employment responsibilities, health and/or disability reasons. External study is
a course subject or program that is offered through a series
of learning packages that are undertaken 'externally from campus'. This form of study is flexible as students are not
required to attend tutorials and lectures on campus and can study at home at
their own pace.
The
qualification achieved by a student who studies externally is identical to
the qualification achieved by a student that studies through other modes
as the student studies the same content and is required to reach the same
standard. External study learning packages consist of the following materials:
- specifically written study guides
- collections of readings which are central to the
subject
- audio and video tapes
- experiment kits (if applicable)
- online content
Libraries at tertiary institutions also provide a
range of special services to assist external students or students that live
outside of the metropolitan area. These services include: ordering books
by telephone, facsimile and e-mail and the postal delivery of loan items. To find out more these services you will need to
contact the library at your tertiary institution.
Not all courses offer external modes of study so you
need to contact the course coordinator prior to applying to see if this is
option is available.
Refer to Worksheet 2 - Finding a course that is right for you
(worksheet 2 as text
27KB or
worksheet 2 as PDF 85 KB) to identify
questions to ask a course coordinator.
Internal study refers to 'face to face' or on campus teaching where
students attend campus to undertake lectures, tutorials and or
practicals related to their course
subjects/units. There are many benefits
to studying internally such as meeting students, talking directly with
lecturers and accessing the facilities available for students on campus.
This includes cafes, bookshops, medical services, counselling services,
computer suites, library books, photocopying, student concerts etc.
Though the content and standards of external and
internal study is the same the experience can be different. On campus
teaching relies mainly on group based activities where students are taught
in groups in lectures, tutorials, practicals and workshops. This group based
approach to teaching is an important factor to consider when deciding on the
mode of study to chose.
Refer to Worksheet 4 - Understanding your study requirements
(worksheet 4 as text
63KB or worksheet 4
as PDF 94KB) to assess the impact of your disability on your course of
study.
Deferment is when a student chooses to take a
temporary break from their study and does not undertake any course
subjects or units for a period of time. There are many reasons why a student may chose
to defer
their studies. One example is if they become sick and are unable to
continue their studies for a short period of time. Tertiary institutions have specific rules about
deferment so it is important to be aware that some courses may not
be deferred.