If you’ve only studied internally before (i.e. on a campus), you'll find both similarities and differences when it comes to external study. Tasks like completing weekly readings and researching & writing assignments are the same whether you're studying internally or externally. However, there are some differences you should be aware of.

No lectures or tutorials on campus

As an external student, you’re not required to attend lectures or tutorials on campus. Some courses may have online tutorials (virtual classrooms), while others may require you to participate in online discussions. There might also be lecture recordings to listen to each week. Read your Course Outlines carefully to check what your courses require.

While on-campus attendance is not required, some courses in your program have on-campus workshops at City East campus, e.g. Abdominal Sonography, Obstetric and Gynaecological Sonography, Superficial Parts Sonography, and Vascular Sonography. Attendance is recommended but not compulsory. In addition, the courses Mammography and Clinical Mammography both include a five day face-to-face workshop series, and the course Clinical Sonography Portfolio has an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OCSE), a practical exam that must be completed on campus. See your Course Outlines for further information.

Less face-to-face contact with staff

Since you won't be interacting with teaching staff face-to-face on a weekly basis, email and telephone are your main methods of communicating with staff. If you have an important question, are having difficulty with an assignment or need an extension, contact the relevant staff member as soon as possible. Check your Course Outlines for staff contact details. If the staff member does not respond, you can leave a message with the School office. Some courses also regularly answer student questions via their discussion forums.

More independence

Because you’re not required to attend lectures and tutorials on campus, this gives you greater independence as a student. However, this also means that lecturers won't always remind you about due dates or check you're up to date with readings. There are study-planning resources available to help you stay up to date. If you encounter or anticipate difficulties managing your study for personal or health-related reasons, contact Counselling or Disability services.