Distance education is a method of teaching in which the students are not required to be physically present at a specific location during the term. Most often, regular mail is used to send written material, videos, audiotapes, and CD-ROMs to the student and to turn in the exercises; nowadays e-mail and the Web are used as well. Often students are required to come to meetings at regional offices on specific weekends, for example to take exams. Distance education is offered at all levels, but is most frequently an option for university-level studies.

Full time or part-time study is possible, but most students choose part-time study. Research study is possible as well.

One of the oldest distance education universities is the University of South Africa, which has been offering DE courses since 1946. The largest distance education university in the UK is the Open University founded 1969. In Germany the FernUniversität in Hagen was founded 1974. All three are now mega universities. In 1999 the European Graduate School went online from both Switzerland and the USA.

Distance education is a newer term for correspondence courses, which arose from the need to provide schooling to students in remote, sparsely populated areas that could not support a school. Such courses are generally offered at the primary or secondary level, often with the students' parents supervising their education. While there are many "correspondence schools" that still offer a dull and lifeless form of DE, many colleges are now able to integrate dynamic learning that is interactive and engaging for the student.

In the U.S., there are many private and public, non-profit and for-profit institutions offering courses and degree programs through distance education. Students seeking degrees online from institutions of higher education are cautioned to ensure that the schools they are interested in possess proper accreditation and to be wary of fraudulent 'schools', often referred to as diploma mills.

Major institutions offering distance learning programs

Canada

• Athabasca University
• Royal Roads University
• Télé-Université
• Thompson Rivers University
• University of Waterloo

Germany

• FernUniversität in Hagen

Hong Kong

• The Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK)
• School of Professional and Continuing Education , The University of Hong Kong (HKU SPACE)

India

• Indira Gandhi National Open University

Iran

• Payame Noor University

The Netherlands

• Open University (Netherlands)

Philippines

• University of the Philippines Open University

Singapore

• Singapore Institute of Management -Open University Centre (to be accorded university status as SIM University in 2006)

South Africa

• University of South Africa

United Kingdom

• Heriot-Watt University
• Open University
• University of London

United States

• California State University, Dominguez Hills
• Charter Oak State College
• Empire State College
• Excelsior College
• Goddard College
• Saint Joseph's College of Maine
• Thomas Edison State College
• Union Institute & University
• University of Phoenix
• University of Maryland University College

International

• European Graduate School
• Universitas 21 Global , an online university affiliated to the Universitas 21 alliance

See also

• Efficient learning method

External links

• Distance Learning: The Distance Learning Network
• Educational Pathways A monthly paid subscription newsletter that covers distance learning and teaching in higher education.
• The Distance Education and Training Council "The DETC Accrediting Commission is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and by the U.S. Department of Education for postsecondary programs"
• eLearners.com Online Degrees and Other Resources
• Télé-université
• Open University (in United Kingdom)
• FernUniversität in Hagen
• Globewide Network Academy
• Islamic Education through distance learning
• Open University (Netherlands)
• Quality in Distance Education
• Distance Education and the Changing Role of the Library Media Specialist
• Effective Teaching in Distance Education
• Distance Education and Accreditation
• Delivery Systems for Distance Education
• Implications of Distance Education for CTE
• Instructional Development for Distance Education
• Universidad Nacional Abierta
• Italian Culture on the Net A consortium of Italian Universities funded by the Italian Government which grants academic degrees