This site is designed to help people who want to study an Access to Higher Education course (an alternative to A-Levels which will enable you to qualify to apply to University)
Does the monthly repayment add up?
Whilst there are many things to look out for when searching for an online course, some of the pointers of do's and don'ts are here. For example, are any of the providers offering to Start NOW for only £9.99 - when in fact the full price is hidden in the terms and conditions and the total amount to pay is well over what you had read on their headlines.
Some headlines on provider websites advertise the price of a course by breaking it down into sections: pay a £10 deposit - First month pay £149.99 and the following 10 months pay only £103.92 and complete your course in 18 months, which simply does not add up.
It is recommend that you call the provider and ask them to clearly explain a payment plan option and you can add up the figures before you get locked-in to paying more than you expect. If it’s over complicated find an online provider that makes it really clear. Trust us, they are out there!
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Another major example is those websites that have the flashing SALE - SALE - SALE signs which expire within the next ten minutes or else you’ll miss out on the best deal of your life. Or even worse a clock ticking down the hours until the sale ends (see the example above). It is designed to make you panic buy before you can make a confident decision.
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Here's another example of hard-selling. The first question at seeing this is: What was the original price? Secondly: What will I have to pay after the 1st Jan? It's important to consider this before you part with your hard earned money.
Look at the facts, read the T&Cs so that you know what you are signing up for. Make sure there is some form of cooling off period just in case you decide that the course is not for you.
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A well established, well managed educational provider will always get back to you and will be available to speak on the telephone or via email. They will give you lots of chance to ask questions before you make that commitment. They will never be pushy, but will offer clear advice and guidance to make sure the course is appropriate for you. Reviews can be helpful when choosing a course, as well as informative. Read more reviews.
Will you have to pay interest on money that is outstanding?
Look in the terms and conditions of paying back what you have signed up to and read the small print. Compare all providers, look at the review websites such as Trustpilot, read reviews from students that have completed their course rather than students that have just started and therefore will not have the whole picture of their experience with that provider.
There are lots of online providers that are excellent and give students the learning tools they need to go university whilst offering support and an outstanding education.
FAQs - check out our frequently asked questions to answer any queries you might have about online learning. These could highlight any tips on what to look out for as well as help you make your decision of what type of online education provider is right for you.