More than 11,000 students from 140 countries have studied an online short course at the University of Aberdeen since the launch of its dedicated On-demand learning website five years ago - a milestone the University is celebrating this week.
Today (March 11) marks the five-year anniversary of the launch of on.abdn.ac.uk, which offers more than 140 online short courses and over 30 online degrees in a variety of subject areas including nutrition and health, business, energy and engineering.
The University has delivered online learning for decades, but the dedicated website has made university study more accessible and flexible for students.
The On-demand learning platform offers a wide range of short courses for upskilling and reskilling. Students can also earn National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher equivalent qualifications in subject areas such as Maths, English, Biology and Physics, giving them the opportunity to achieve the grades they need to go on and complete further study.
The courses are designed to fit around full-time work, so students can choose when and where to study. Online students have access to the same level of support as those studying on campus, with course leaders and staff from the wider University available to offer knowledge, guidance and advice.
The University also offers a Short Course route to Masters study, meaning those completing an online short course can use it as a flexible entry route into a number of online Masters degrees.
Eunice Kudom began her Master of Public Health in 2020 while working part-time as a nurse. The flexibility of the course enabled her to complete it at her own pace and Eunice, who is British-Ghanaian, graduated with her degree in 2023.
Eunice said: “I chose online learning for my Master of Public Health at the University of Aberdeen due to the flexibility it offered, aligning with my busy schedule as a nurse with family and church commitments. The online format allowed me to pursue a postgraduate degree without the constraints of fixed class schedules, making it more feasible to balance my various responsibilities and I was able to take breaks from study when I needed to.
“The unwavering support from my programme coordinator and the entire team of lecturers was instrumental. Despite the steep learning curve, their accessibility through email, Teams and online platforms provided crucial assistance. Their dedication even extended to offering in-person support when needed, showcasing a commitment to my success.
“I would highly recommend studying online with the University of Aberdeen. My experience was incredibly positive, and I believe others can benefit from the flexibility, support and academic excellence offered by the University.”
Head of Online Education at the University of Aberdeen, Robin Cummins, said: “The five-year anniversary of our online site is a great milestone for the University and one I’m very proud to be a part of. Although the University of Aberdeen has offered online study for decades, having a dedicated online site has been an important evolution of our processes.
“Today we have over 1,000 students from more than 100 different countries joining us every year. But more than the statistics, I think I feel most proud of the success stories that come back to us from students such as Eunice.
“Not only have they had a positive online learning experience with the University, but they’ve gone on to achieve their personal and professional goals as a result. I know this is something that myself and the rest of the online team are particularly happy to be a part of, both now and in the future as the University of Aberdeen’s online offerings continue to grow.”
To browse the courses available and learn more about your options, please visit on.abdn.ac.uk