Find your course
Online learning support to achieve your goals
We're committed to supporting students throughout their learning journey and have a range of academic and non-academic support services available for our distance learners.
We understand that every distance learner is unique, each with your own motivations and individual goals to achieve through your studies, and we want to make sure that we're here to support you at every step on your path to success.
Discover more about the distance learning support services below.
Getting started
We understand how important it is to start off on the right foot, in order to help make you feel comfortable and confident about embarking on your learning journey with us.
We have a team ready to get you started, making sure you have completed your registration and have access to everything you need including our online learning platform (Canvas) and your course materials.
We also have a dedicated support page in Canvas that provides useful information and links to a wide variety of support services.
Tutor & peer support
One of the advantages of distance learning is the ability to stay connected to your tutors and peers through our online learning platform, Canvas. Your tutors will be on hand to support you with any questions relating to your course including, module content, assignments, assessments and deadlines.
You'll also have the opportunity to connect with your peers and build your network. Many of our learners find these connections invaluable, helping them to stay motivated, share concerns or make new friendships.
Funding support
As a distance learner, you have several options for financial support, making it more convenient and accessible than ever to fund your online course. As with traditional campus study, if eligible, you can fund your education through a student loan.
We also offer our students to pay for their online courses in instalments, making it easier than ever for online learners to advance their education.
Our Money Advice Service is also available to offer specialised, impartial, and confidential guidance.
Counselling & Wellbeing Service
Our dedicated Counselling and Wellbeing team are here to offer you support and advice during your time at ARU, should you need it.
You can talk in confidence to a professional counsellor, a mental health adviser or a wellbeing adviser about any personal or university-related issues that are worrying you.
Student Advice Service
Our Student Advice Service offers friendly and professional help, advice and guidance on your academic life.
We help you understand our university’s academic rules and regulations and give advice on submitting late work, extensions to submission deadlines, exceptional circumstances, intermission, withdrawal, progression and your results.
Study skills support
Our study skills team are here to support you in developing your academic skills which can help boost your grades and help you approach your assessments with more confidence and less stress.
Some of the key topics covered include getting started with an assignment, finding information and referencing, planning and structure, critical writing and developing an academic writing style.
91% of our Alumni rated their tutor’s knowledge and support as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’*
Your distance learning support questions answered
If I’m studying outside of the UK, will anything be different?
Numerous distance learning students join our programs from various locations worldwide, including international students, British citizens residing, working, or travelling abroad, and armed forces personnel stationed overseas.
While they receive an equivalent high-quality education, different time zones can pose a challenge. However, our distance learning degrees have already addressed this issue. Many webinars are recorded, allowing students who cannot attend live sessions to access the content at their convenience.
All distance learning students enjoy equal access to online discussion boards, ensuring connectivity with tutors and peers regardless of their time zone variances.
How do I access the course?
All of our distance learning courses are accessed through Canvas, our online learning platform.
It's the platform through which you can explore online resources and engage in activities relevant to your studies. It includes module guides, teaching notes, supporting documents, discussion boards, and collaborative learning activities.
You'll benefit from real time feedback from your tutors and peers, along with personalised notifications and a wide range of multimedia content.
And, to provide you with increased flexibility to complete your studies from anywhere in the world and any time that suits you, Canvas is available on both mobile and desktop, allowing you to learn at your convenience.
Watch our short video to see how Canvas works.
Explore Canvas
Will I be able to contact my tutors and peers?
If you've never completed a course through distance learning before, you might assume that it will be an isolating experience, however, it doesn't need to be.
At ARU, we actively promote the formation of online learning communities that help to foster an environment where distance learners can connect both with their academic team and with their fellow students.
This collaborative engagement extends beyond conventional online discussions that emerge from the taught modules on our courses, as discussion environments often manifest organically with the creation of WhatsApp groups initiated by students themselves.
These online forums provide a valuable space for sharing insights, discussing coursework, and offering mutual support. By participating in these communities, students not only enrich their learning experience but also establish connections that transcend geographic distances.
The shared sense of camaraderie is particularly beneficial, helping learners to feel as though they are part of a collective effort. Realising that they are not navigating their academic journey alone and that others share similar concerns and challenges can serve as a powerful motivator, contributing significantly to sustained enthusiasm and active engagement among students.
In essence, the distance learning communities that are generated through online study become a source of encouragement, helping to create a supportive network that enhances the overall educational experience for our students.
*2023 alumni survey with 158 respondents