Study online, anywhere in the world, with a top 30 UK university. Courses with funding and scholarships available now for 2024-25

Why choose the University of Leicester?

We’re a leading research and teaching university*, with more than 30 years' experience offering high quality online courses by distance learning. Over 25,000 students across the world have graduated from our distance learning courses. Distance learning is a core part of what we do and unlike some providers, our distance learning courses are taught by the same academic staff who teach on campus. 

* Top 30 in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) according to analysis by Times Higher Education
    26th in the UK in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings

How does our distance learning work?

Almost all our course materials are available online, accessed through Blackboard, our virtual learning environment (VLE). Blackboard offers online discussion between students and tutors, as well as access to recorded presentations and tutorials. You’ll also be able to submit essays and coursework. If a course requires an exam, this can be taken at an approved location. Your tutor will provide detailed feedback on all assessments.

We’ll be supporting you all the way

A dedicated team of academic tutors and administrative staff will support you throughout your distance learning study. You will also benefit from working alongside a diverse network of fellow students – all around the world – debating and discussing course topics on our Virtual Learning Environment. 

You have full access to the same services as our on-campus students; this includes our student support services, the library, the Students’ Union (with a dedicated Distance Learning Officer who will make sure that your views and needs are considered in Union affairs), and our Careers and Employability Service which will offer you guidance and support throughout your studies – and beyond. 

Fees, funding and scholarships 

We offer some excellent funding options for students taking distance learning courses. These include the Merit scholarship, Full fee instalment incentive, Distance learning sanctuary award and the Alumni scholarship. Details of fees can be found on individual course pages.

Explore our courses

Our extensive subjects and courses are divided into three colleges: College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities (CSSAH), College of Life Sciences (CLS) and the College of Science and Engineering (CSE). CSSAH is the largest college and is home to nine different Schools covering 20 subject areas. Our CSSAH graduates have successfully become head teachers, economists, archaeologists, historians, museum directors, criminologists, politicians, lawyers, acclaimed writers, TV producers to name just a few amazing professions.

Our full selection of distance learning courses, across all colleges, can be found on our website however, below we have picked out a few of our popular CSSAH courses to give you a small sample of the many courses we have available:

Museum Studies

• Museum Studies MA, MSc
• Socially Engaged Practise in Museums and Galleries MA, MSc 
  

School of Business 

• Human Resource Management and Training MSc
• Risk Crisis and Disaster Management MSc

Politics and International Relations

• Human Rights and Global Ethics MA
• International Relations and World Order MA
• Security, Conflict and International Development MA
• Intelligence and Security MA
• The Politics of Conflict and Violence MA