The number of people undertaking home study courses is set to rise, with growing numbers looking to distance learning as an effective way of improving their knowledge and skill set.

Home study is becoming the most effective way of learning for many people, due to the adaptability of the courses to fit around the needs and personal timetables of students.

And its rise can be linked to the spiralling costs associated with gaining a university education - particularly important during these recession hit times.

Of all the learning options available - full and part-time university degrees, night classes and college courses - home study is amongst the most flexible, as the student sets the timetable not the lecturers or teachers who run the course.

That makes it easy for students to start learning on their terms by fitting their study around the demands of family life and working hours.

Home study courses are available for all manner of subjects, from the common GCSEs and A Levels through to more specialist training covering aspects of management, accountancy and bookkeeping, communication skills, childcare, health and fitness, education, health and fitness plus much more.

Undertaking these courses can bring a number of benefits. As well as improving knowledge and increasing skills within a chosen discipline, home study can lead to a more important role in the workplace.

Likewise, updated CVs featuring new courses and degrees put applicants in a positive light and can make them a more attractive proposition to potential employees.

This is particularly important at a time when unemployment figures are rising. Anything that that can be done to make a CV stand out is essential, due to the fierce competition for each and every vacancy.

Home study courses may have been available for many years but they are currently coming to the fore - not only due to their adaptability to personal circumstances but also through learning institutes understanding how to utilise the benefits of the Internet.

Now distance learning can be delivered through an Internet connection, with dedicated learning websites offering lectures and resources and some even delivering podcasted discussions. Email has also revolutionised communications, making it easy to get in touch with lecturers and tutors for advice.

In fact, so successful has the impact on the web been on distance learning that it has been mooted that in the near future that all university learning could be delivered in this format - certainly the Internet is set to continue having a major effect on the way in which learning is delivered.