University expands offering as global demand for online degrees surges
Aston University is to expand its offering in response with a new programme of online masters qualifications to meet continued global demand for online degrees.
The university is to deliver online masters courses in accounting, finance and management to expand global access to UK higher education and is targeting growth markets including Nigeria.
Aston University is partnering with the online education specialist Keypath Education which will design, market and deliver the degrees on on its behalf.
Analysis from the Higher Education Statistical Authority reveals that since 2011 the numbers of American students studying at UK universities entirely via online degrees has increased by 26%, Canadian numbers have risen 41% and Australian and South African numbers have soared 125% and 135% respectively.
The top five locations for study at UK institutions where its residents undertook online degrees in 2015/16 were Singapore, Hong Kong, Nigeria, Malaysia and the US.
Professor Alec Cameron, vice chancellor of Aston University, said: “We live in an increasingly global and technology-driven world, where online degrees are quickly becoming a natural option for students and universities alike. Our partnership with Keypath has been hugely important in ensuring that we deliver high-quality course materials and an exceptional student experience to our online students.
“We have also been able to attract a diverse and impressive student body to our online programmes; students who would otherwise not have been able to benefit from Aston’s world-class teaching and learning.
“Over the years to come we are looking forward to attracting an expanding and diverse population of students onto these programmes and enabling students in every corner of the globe to have access to the very best of UK higher education without having to travel to the UK.”
Aston University was recently ranked the 33rd Most International University in the world in THE’s 2016 Most International Universities table, as well as 11th in the UK for Student Experience, according to the Sunday Times Good University Guide.
