February 6, 2009

Students can save thousands with RDI

At a time when Brits are being hit where it hurts – in the wallet – people can avoid running up student debt during the recession and remain in ready cash as they ‘earn and learn’.

Huge savings on graduation

A simple maths lesson from RDI shows why many 20-35 year olds are now choosing distance learning over a ‘traditional’ bricks and mortar education. The total price of a BA (Hons) in Business is £4,500 by distance learning compared to at least £15,000 if taken on campus – so students can save a massive £10,500 and beat the crunch!

A valuable investment for future earnings

And, when students graduate from RDI courses, they have a useful degree in a discipline such as business, management or psychology, which applies to the ‘real world’: not a questionable qualification that’s unlikely to result in a job afterwards. The UK has recently been slammed for its focus on “Mickey Mouse” degrees in arts and humanities and for having high drop-out rate as students shun their “pointless” qualifications*.

Dr Hallam, CEO of RDI, comments: “At a time when many people are losing their jobs and the economy is flagging, it’s important to gain the right education to impress employers and at a price you can afford. Around 80% of RDI’s new enrolments in October to December 2008** were from 20-35 year olds who have chosen distance learning. Although students may enjoy the social side of on campus education, they’re unlikely to enjoy the resulting debt, which they must repay when they find their first job.”

Even easier with 'pay as you go'

Thanks to RDI’s new ‘pay as you go’ system, higher education is painless on the wallet. The UK fee is just £99 a month for the first year of degree study, followed by £125 a month. Students can make ends meet by working and studying in their free time (the ‘earn and learn’ approach). They can study and share ideas from any location with an internet connection using RDI’s educational answer to Facebook, called ‘iLearn’, which rolls an online university, online campus and classroom into one.

“So,” says Dr Hallam, “there’s no need to decamp to a damp student flat near a far-away university and then worry about finding the rent money while surviving on baked beans on toast! With RDI, you can stay at home and keep your job while also signing up for a top quality UK university degree.”

Get ahead of the rest

RDI student Melissa Davies (19), of Southampton, is studying HNC Business (Management) while working as an accounts administrator for a construction company and living at home with her parents. She says: “After sixth form college, most of my friends decided to attend university full-time, on campus, but I thought distance learning would be better for me. The main reason was so I could work at the same time, earning money and gaining experience. After being an accounts administrator for 18 months now, I’ve already gained valuable experience of the working world, which my friends who are studying at traditional universities don't yet have. I'm getting the best of both worlds.”

She adds: “My workplace agreed to cover the cost of the course, as they know I'll be able to contribute more to the company thanks to what I'm learning.”

RDI has around 7,000 students enrolled and distance learning courses are available at MBA, MSc, BA (Hons), Diploma and Advanced Certificate level.

How to study with RDI

To find out how RDI can help you, call us on 0800 COURSES or visit www.rdi.co.uk/apply and apply for your course today. Applying is free, simple and online - with no obligation.  

Please note: This intake will be closing soon so make the most of your time by applying now!

Alternatively, to browse all courses available click here

Or read other news stories here

 Read more about gaining your UK university MBA through distance learning.

* Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/3519157/Thousands-of--teenagers-drop-out-of-university-after-being-pushed-onto-pointless-courses.html

**According to RDI survey conducted in December 2008.

 RDI partners with UK universities to offer distance learning courses.