Three families of qualification
Distance-learning catalogues generally sort their offer into three groups.
Degrees are the longest and most formal. They run from associate through bachelor’s and master’s to doctorate, and each level normally builds on the one before it.
Diplomas sit between degrees and certificates. They are shorter, focused on a single professional area, and often available at undergraduate and graduate level.
Certificates are the briefest. They may be a single course or a short bundle of courses, and they suit people who want to add one skill rather than a full qualification.
Why people choose online delivery
The archived profile of Branton University stressed that its programmes could be followed from anywhere through a web platform, with the student setting the pace. That is a fair description of the main advantage of distance learning: study can fit around a job and family. The trade-off is that you carry more of the responsibility for staying on schedule.
Standards behind the label
Programme names alone do not guarantee quality. The archive claimed that its degree, diploma and certificate programmes met standards set by international accrediting agencies. When you meet a statement like this, take it as a prompt to verify, not as proof. Look up the accrediting body, find out whether the relevant government or national authority recognises it, and ask how the qualification is treated by employers and other universities.
How to compare programmes
- Credit hours and number of courses
- Entry requirements for your level
- Expected completion time, and whether a self-paced model suits you
- Assessment method: exams, assignments, projects
- Recognition by employers, professional bodies and universities
- Total cost, including any fees outside tuition
For a closer look at the first degree level, read about associate-level study, and for subject choices see schools and majors.