Online degree courses in the UK offers you the flexibility to study in the way that’s right for you. With access to learning materials at any time, anywhere in the world, you’re not restricted by fixed lecture times, library opening hours or even access to a university campus.
If you are a professional looking to enhance your career, opting for UK universities offering online degrees allows you to work and study wherever you are in the world.
In this guide, we’ll list the top distance learning courses in the Uk you can enroll in. Let’s dive in!
Can I Obtain An Online Degree From UK?
According to ukstudyonline, over 90 universities in the UK offer online degree programs. These online degrees are accredited and taught by the best teachers. An online degree is better if you want an undergraduate or postgraduate degree without leaving your home.
In distance learning, courses are broken down into bitesize modules, each worth a certain number of credits and study hours. You’re awarded credits as you complete each module until you’ve achieved the total credits for the course.
While online degrees do not offer the same ‘campus culture’, they provide a legitimate and practical route to achieving a recognised degree qualification.
To make the most of your online degree course at UK universities, you need to be committed to fully understanding and finishing the course.
To help you decide which online degree programme to pursue, keep reading to learn about the 12 best online degree programmes in the UK.
11 Best UK Universities Offering Online Degrees
But because we understand that it’s important to find the best online degrees to decide where to study, we used data from 2 prestigious international rankings, QS Rankings and Times Higher Education Global Rankings, and we checked which UK universities from these lists also offer online studies.
The listed universities may provide all types of degrees such as distance learning Bachelor’s, Masters and PhDs, or just some degree levels. Now let’s take a closer look at the best UK universities offering online courses:
1. University College London
University College London offers a wide range of online Master’s degrees and graduate diplomas. Students can choose from M.Sc., M.A., and MBA degrees in Neurology, Education, Security, Sports, and more.
UCL stands out through its progressive teaching and research. It is dedicated to pursuing excellence and having a real impact on the world.
Students worldwide come together with their peers to benefit from the IOE’s world-leading research expertise through innovative learning technologies. By enrolling for an online degree, you will join a collaborative community of fellow professionals who form international discussion groups, share and test research data and contribute to new findings.
2. The University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh offers online programmes that are academically equivalent to on-campus degrees, which means your degree will not mention that you completed the programme online.
This also means it will involve the same amount of work as a normal degree. The programmes usually take three years, but the University is flexible. As a bonus, you can access career consultants and IT support.
3. The University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is one of Britain’s most famous and forward-thinking universities. It has a rich heritage stretching 180 years and an exciting agenda for the future.
Today, research remains at the heart of the University, and the quality, breadth, and volume of research activity are unparalleled in the UK. There are also strong collaborative links with industry and public services.
The University of Manchester is named top in the UK and Europe and second in the world for meaningful contributions to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) in the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings.
4. University of Edinburgh
Ranking 6th in the UK, the University of Edinburgh has 15 years of experience in delivering online courses, including both postgraduate online degrees and short online courses. Here, you can pursue postgraduate professional development (up to 50 credits), postgraduate diploma (120 credits), postgraduate certificate (60 credits), and master’s degree (MSc or LLM) (up to 180 credits).
You can also boost your skills with a short course in various areas such as arts and culture, business, animal welfare, health, wellbeing and more. Overall, the university prides itself on offering online degree programmes with the same level of quality as its on-campus programmes.
5. King’s College London
King’s College London is famous for its world-leading research, which has led to modern groundbreaking discoveries. Get top online education from a university with 12 Nobel Prize alumni and former staff.
King’s College offers world-class teaching in various subjects, including Business Management, Food Science, History, Law, Philosophy, and more.
King’s is also distinguished in a wide range of health areas. You have six opportunities to apply to an online degree every year, allowing you to start whenever this suits your plans.
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6. University of Warwick
University of Warwick offers attractive options for online Business studies. The success of online MBAs at Warwick is guaranteed by university graduates ranking within the UK top 10 for highest earnings. Warwick is committed to expanding access to higher education globally.
WBS has been offering online university courses and degrees for more than 35 years. With this knowledge, we designed our technology and digital delivery with you in mind. Their revolutionary online learning experience transforms the world into a global campus that you can access from anywhere.
7. University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow has played an important role in shaping the futures of international students and other universities through collaborations.
The university offers a range of online postgraduate programmes and short courses and a wide range of free MOOCs (massive open online courses). These online degree programmes offer the same high teaching and assessment standards as their campus-based equivalents.
They also lead to the same qualifications as an on-campus programme, awarded by the University of Glasgow.
8. University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield offers students a chance to advance their careers through their postgraduate distance learning courses. These courses give you access to internationally renowned academics and innovative learning materials.
At the end of the programme, international students can gain free, personalised skills training and expert career advice. You can find online degrees in disciplines like Humanities, Medicine, Information Technology, and more.
9. University of Birmingham
You can study a wide range of distance learning courses at the University of Birmingham. Their online learning provides you with the flexibility to study from wherever you are in the world, allowing you to fit your learning around your other commitments.
Postgraduate courses are available at masters level in a selection of subjects at the University of Birmingham including Energy and Environmental Law, International Business, Business Administration and Public Administration.
10. University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is one of the largest higher education institutions in the UK and is renowned globally for its quality teaching. U. Leeds leads you to many career opportunities and prepares you for impacting the world.
Their online Masters degrees offers you a world-class learning journey and provides the same academic experience as our on-campus students. Their program gives students access to a range of interactive and collaborative materials, from videos and interactive surveys to subject-specific electronic journals.
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11. University of Nottingham
As a member of the UK’s prestigious Russell Group and the Universitas 21 global network of research-intensive universities, the University of Nottingham delivers a high standard of education. Their online degree programmes is delivered by some of the brightest minds in their fields and shaped by the latest ground-breaking research.
How Long Does An Online Degree Course Last?
Each school determines how long the courses last as well as how long the degree programs last. For example, an associate’s business degree program at one school may only last 15 months, while at another, it may last 24 months. Bachelor’s programs usually last between 36 to 48 months, while master’s degree programs usually last one to two years.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Business Degree Online?
In general, a Bachelor of Science in Business degree is a 120-credit program that full-time students complete in four years. If you come from another institution and are allowed to transfer your credits, you can usually finish in two years. Transfer students often hold an associate’s degree or the required number of credits from another qualified program.
Whether you take classes online or on campus, you will graduate with the same business degree and credit hours.
The Department of Education has set forth specific enrollment status classifications that remain constant in most schools:
- Full-time: 12-semester units per term
- Three-quarter time: 9-11 credit hours per semester
- Half time: 6-8 credit hours per semester
- Less than half time: 1-5 credit hours per semester
However, not distance learning programs are alike. If you are the type of student who can handle a faster pace, many schools have accelerated degree programs that will allow you to complete your Bachelor’s degree in business in less time. You will still complete the required curriculum; you will just get it done quicker.
FAQs On Online Degree Courses In The UK
You can study online at a UK institution through distance learning programs. These programmes give you access to lectures and study materials, as well as the ability to engage online with instructors and classmates.
Transferring your credits to your online degree program will help you not only maintain your hard-earned credits, but also earn your degree faster and save money. Most schools accept credits from other authorized schools.
If you’re an international student studying online from your native country without traveling to the UK, you won’t need a UK visa. If you plan to attend in-person classes or spend a significant amount of time in the UK for your degree, you’ll need a student visa.
Conclusion
Online degrees builds skills and experience – valuable to employers without the need for in-person work experience or placements. It gives you the flexibility to choose when and where you study – supporting you to manage your learning alongside your work and other commitments.
References
- hotcoursesabroad.com – The best online courses in the UK
- postgrad.com – Top UK Universities For Online Learning