How do I study by distance education?

When you're a distance education student with CSU, your learning experience is enhanced through our flexible and blended learning study options.

Distance education combines CSU's comprehensive online learning environment, CSU Interact, with learning resources provided in a variety of formats, including print, digital (CD/DVD) or online.

How does distance education work?

Our courses blend the benefits of online education with additional learning materials and support.

CSU's comprehensive use of technology enables you to access online forums, wikis, blogs, podcasts, library resources to search the catalogues and read or download articles, as well as online assignment submission. Interactive teaching methods allow you to communicate with your lecturers and other students at a time that suits you or in a real time, synchronous environment.

Your CSU Interact subject site is the core of your learning experience. You may also receive printed study guides, DVDs, CD-ROMs, and selected readings to support your online learning.

Online support

CSU Interact is an integrated online learning and collaboration environment for the University. It's a virtual space where students and staff meet to build community, share knowledge, and work and learn together in a Web-based learning environment.

All the essential learning content and learning tools you need for your subjects are found within Interact. Each subject you're enrolled in has its own subject site.

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Workload

Distance education students usually study two subjects per session, with each subject needing around 8 to 10 hours of study per week. Full-time and part-time study options are often available so you can vary your study load to fit in with your schedule - from one subject per session to four.

Study Materials

As a distance education student, all your study materials are conveniently delivered to your home or workplace by mail before your course begins. These include printed study notes, CD-ROMs and DVDs.

Your Subject Outline located in your CSU Interact subject site tells you when your assignments are due, when residential schools are on and what texts you will need.

Computer access

Because much of your studies will be conducted online, you will need regular access to a computer and the internet. You may also need access to a printer, a scanner, and a device for backing up your work.

Lectures and tutorials

As a distance education student, you don't have to worry about being at lectures and tutorials at times that may not fit in with your lifestyle. Some lecturers may use telephone tutorials, videoconferencing, on campus residential schools and weekend schools to ensure you receive the best learning and teaching experience while studying by distance education.

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Contacting your lecturers

We encourage direct contact with lecturers via telephone, email, fax or the online forums during Session. Office telephone numbers and addresses are supplied to all students, both on the web and in the subject outline.

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Interacting with other students

You can interact with lecturers and fellow students by email, online forums, telephone tutorials, videoconferences, on campus residential schools or weekend schools.

CSU Interact is the online scholarly environment for the University, where students and staff meet to share knowledge, working and learning together in a 'virtual' or online space.

Learning Support

As a distance education student at CSU, we provide you with access to academic learning support and skill development. Whether it's support in mathematics, English, exam techniques, essay writing or learning strategies, we can help you to acquire or enhance the skills you need to succeed in university studies.

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Assignments and exams

Results achieved in written essays, examinations, online assessments or seminars serve as a guide to a student's progress and understanding of a topic.

Assignments can be submitted electronically or by mail, and students can attend examinations at locations in most metropolitan and regional centres throughout Australia or in one of our examination centres in most major cities around the world.

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Residential Schools

Some subjects offered by distance education have residential schools, which are held on campus. Attendance at some residential schools is compulsory, but others are optional, so please ask.

Residential schools are designed to provide students with the opportunity to:

• meet with lecturers and fellow students in person
• undertake practical work or laboratory sessions
• attend lectures and discuss study topics in depth, thereby clarifying any questions.

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Library

CSU's Library website is your gateway to a huge range of online resources, providing you with library services anytime, anywhere. With access to thousands of electronic resources, audio-visual material, books, and journals you'll have all the resources you need to get the most out of your degree.

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Facilities

Distance education students have access to university facilities across the campuses of Charles Sturt University in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Canberra, Dubbo, Goulburn, Orange, Parramatta and Wagga Wagga. A library is also available at The Australian Graduate School of Policing at Manly.

To help familiarise yourself with CSU's facilities and student support services, you are welcome to:

• attend Orientation Week, with a range of activities on offer to make sure you are aware of all the benefits of studying at CSU.
• take a campus tour where you can meet lecturers and talk about what and how you will study, look at the accommodation available for residential school, and visit the library.

Where to go next:

• Study options
• Student support
• Help with costs
• Why CSU?
• Preparing for tertiary study
• Getting into uni
• Course selector
• STUDY LINK
• Single Subject Study