Distance Learning - Anyone Done This?

[The Funktopus]

Hi guys,

In essence, I find myself contemplating undertaking a HNC in Electrical Engineering, with the aim of hopefully opening up a few more career routes further down the line, so thought I'd ask whether anyone here has any experience of undertaking distance learning, or perhaps works in the sector, whether there were any particular providers people could recommend, and hopefully, clear up a query I have.

Ideally, I'd like to do a course with a provider who supplies the study material electronically, and that I can study offline, as I'd like to take it away with me and study while I'm at work, which involves being at sea for three months at a time, at the end of a rather underwhelming internet connection.

Furthermore, I do already have a HNC in Marine Engineering from the SQA, and I've noticed that there are some similarities in the titles of some of the modules I've already done as part of my Marine Engineering HNC, thus I was wondering, would these count towards a HNC in Electrical Engineering if I found a provider who used the SQA?

Thanks for reading.

 

[FatRakoon]

I have done this very thing.
After some time I realised just how awful it was, and what was worse, is that the course was costing me £2K and it was clearly put together by a bunch of bloody idiots.

I managed to stop the copurtse but they were still demanding that I pay them the full price, and I went through CAB to see what I could do about it...

We had a fairly huge case and in the end, what we managed to do, was avoid paying the loan people purely because they had changed their name, and so I signed for some thing from Unity star finance, and the people who were trying to get the money off me, were something like Star unity finance, or some other thing like that - the words were just swapped over and it all looked well suspicious, and I was able to stop paying them on that, but then I decided to try to get my money back that I had already paid out and this was £900 by now, and I was told to simply let it go in case it backfired, but I went for it and they then took me to court and that really got me worried, and by now, I was of course into solicitor teritory and I did the paperwork for help in paying for it and my solicitor was amazing, and in the endI not only got my £900 back, but I also got a further £750 for stress and inconveinience and they had to pay out court costs etc.

Anyway, what I am, saying is simply that distance learning is not worth wiping your bum on the so-called qualifications that you will get from them.

I cannot say who these people are because they may very well sue me and Im not willing to risk anything this time. LOL

Bloody scammers if you ask me.

 

[lemonkettaz]

Im starting HNC Electrical and Electronic Engineering through Teesside Uni via open learning. Looks legit to me

 

[helpimcrap]

I had to retake some GCSE's last year - went through ICS.

They might do the course you're after? They were very good because I'd do the practice exams etc, send them off and in a week or 2 they'd be returned with advice. They also hold weekly sessions online but these were for more common subjects so you might struggle?

Try them and ask...

 

[Ceryndrion]

I would say, if you are interested, also have a look at edx.org lots of courses from top universities, and you can experience the whole course for free, you only pay if you want certification at the end.

 

[ivrytwr3]

I did my degree with Staffs Uni.

http://www.staffs.ac.uk/

The uni offers exactly what you are after for HM Forces - months away with minimal to zero connectivity. But with Blackboard and other software, won't many Uni's offer something similar?

http://www.staffs.ac.uk/partnerships/hmforces/

Wherever you are in the world you can study one of our military degrees.

Our programmes are designed to enable serving and former members of the Armed Forces to attain academic recognition for their extensive training and work experience and utilize this to achieve internationally recognised degree qualifications that can be transferred back into your role within the military or help prepare you for a second career.

It might be worth giving them a call/email as they were very accommodating with me and some other students when issues arose.

There's even a good looking guy in one of their promotional videos

 

[The Funktopus]

Thanks for the advice chaps, I'll have a look into going through an actual Uni, rather than one of these dodgy online only training providers.

There's even a good looking guy in one of their promotional videos

What are you insinuating? I'm Merchant Navy, not the Royal Navy!