How it works
Interested in studying online, but unsure what it means?
First and foremost, as an online student you gain the same qualification and degree certificate as an on-campus student. The academic standard is exactly the same and all students undertake the same (or equivalent) coursework and assessments. Similarly, online students enjoy many of the same support services as on-campus students. However, there are some fundamental differences between studying online and on-campus.
Read on to discover how it works and what resources are available to support online students.
How studying online at Heriot-Watt works
How is studying online different to on-campus?
Online delivery
Course materials for online students are made available online through the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). The VLE links you with our expert academics and course materials through videos, webinars, articles, journals, assessments and discussion boards.
Assessments
Most online courses are assessed by examination, but some may also combine coursework. Please refer to the course content tab on the specific degree programme webpage for more information.
Exam location
Online students usually sit exams in their country of residence through the British Council or other partners. Please note that this is not possible for all students, but Heriot-Watt has over 450 exam centres across the world so students don’t normally have to travel far.
Pay-as-you-go format
Most online programmes consist of eight taught courses and a dissertation or research projects. You pay for each course, dissertation or research project as you enrol, making payments more manageable.
What resources are available for online students?
Academic Support
Studying via online (distance learning) doesn’t mean you will be left on your own. Tutors will provide you, by phone or email, with academic support similar to that received by our on-campus students.
Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
Comprehensive course materials are made available through our recently upgraded VLE. Course materials and assignments are delivered using various methods including video lectures, webinars, articles, journals entries, quizzes and discussion boards.
Online library services
You will have 24-hour access to our online library, from which you can access further materials to help you with your studies.
Discussion boards
You will have access to discussion boards which allow you to contact your tutors and collaborate with other students.
Administrative assistance
As well as academic support, Heriot-Watt Online offers dedicated administrative support for all online students. The Online Student Support Team can help you with any non-academic questions you may have.
Career support
Online students have access to careers advice from the Heriot-Watt careers service.
How long does it take to complete?
Our online learning programmes are structured in such a way that they can be completed in a two-and-a-half year period. However, one of the main benefits of our modular programme system is that it can be completed over a longer time to accommodate personal or work commitments of up to eight years. For example:
- A postgraduate diploma is completed in two to three years on average.
- An MSc is completed in three to four years on average.
Each taught course (module) takes approximately 150 study hours to complete. A dissertation takes approximately 300 study hours. Based on the time you have available, the following guide may help you make a realistic judgement of the timeframe in which you can expect to complete your MSc programme:
Hours per week | Equivalent study blocks per week | Time taken to complete your programme |
---|---|---|
25 | Four evenings and one weekend day a week | Two-and-a-half years |
17 | Two evenings and one weekend day a week | Three years |
13 | Three evenings aweek or one weekend day and one evening aweek | Four years |
What are the technical requirements?
In order to complete a programme online, you must have a computer and access to the internet so that you can access your study materials through Heriot-Watt University's Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).
Frequently asked questions
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