| Distance education or distance learning is a field of | | | | student counseling services available. Distance |
| education that focuses on the teaching methods | | | | programs are designed for all age groups. There is no |
| delivered using technology and instructional design | | | | age criteria for admission to any program. In most |
| systems. Distance education degrees are also | | | | cases, anyone who has a high school diploma can |
| referred to as correspondence courses. These | | | | enroll. Renowned universities are usually accredited |
| programs make use of computer-based training to | | | | with a license to carry distance education programs. |
| educate students. The University of South Africa has | | | | Typically, the programs have a flexible degree |
| been offering distance education courses since 1946. | | | | programs, and have examination centers all over the |
| The Open University in the United Kingdom founded | | | | country. The Internet is used as a medium for |
| in 1969, is the largest distance education university. | | | | conducting on-line tests in many cases. |
| There are many private and public, non-profit and | | | | Accredited colleges and universities offer these |
| for-profit institutions offering courses and degree | | | | distance learning degree programs in accounting, |
| programs through distance education. | | | | paralegal, healthcare, business management, |
| The programs designed are concise and well | | | | engineering, electronics, computer science, marketing |
| structured, so as to make the subject matter easily | | | | and hospitality management. Programs in associate |
| understandable. All forms of technology like radio, | | | | and diploma studies in subjects as varied as criminal |
| television, audio-video conferencing, computer-aided | | | | justice, industrial engineering technology, computer |
| instruction and on-line learning are used. Some | | | | Repair, computer specialist, veterinary technician, |
| institutes may also provide the study-material in hard | | | | floral design, medical coding and billing are also offered |
| copy or soft-copy as per systems. There are also | | | | in the distance education system. |