For most people, excitement about starting a distance learning course is mixed with understandable anxieties. You've chosen to undertake something that may well disrupt the familiar pattern of your life. Add to this that your only previous experience of learning may have been in the classroom, and it's hardly surprising that you could be wondering how well you'll be able to cope.

You may be feeling a bit like that right now!

But if you think about it for a moment you'll recognise that you're already a highly effective and successful learner. You've been learning all your life! In fact, from the day you were born you haven't stopped learning. Over the years you'll have learned to deal with a wide variety of problems - both at home and at work.... and this ability to learn will stand you in good stead on any distance learning programme.

It's also important to keep in mind why you are studying. Never lose sight of your goals and how studying by distance learning will help you achieve them.

OK... so why Distance Learning as a way of studying?

Well... first of all distance learning is a good way to learn because it is flexible and will give you, as a learner, choice and control. In other words you can decide:

• when to learn
• where to learn
• the pace of your learning

Let's have a look at these in more detail.

When to learn

Since you have control over when you learn, you don't have to be tied to any particular times or days of the week. You can choose a time that best fits in with your commitments, and your own 'peak time' for learning. Some people prefer to study in the morning; others may be 'night owls'. The choice of when you study is yours.

Where to study

You can choose to study anywhere you like. Distance learning is just as effective whether you choose to study at home, at work - or even in jail as Nelson Mandela one of Wolsey Hall's former students demonstrated. Many service personnel choose distance learning when they are posted overseas as they can study from anywhere in the world. The choice of place depends on your needs, your commitments and your preferences.

The pace of learning

The decision as to how fast you learn is also entirely yours. A lot will depend on your own learning style and personal preference. You're not racing against the clock. And you're not aiming to compete against other people.

Some learning courses are so intensive that at the end you feel enthusiastic and brimming with new ideas. But how much of what you learn is forgotten, because there's no opportunity to practice what you learn as you learn it. This isn't the case with distance learning. You control the pace, so there's plenty of opportunity to practise the skills you are learning as you go along. This is particularly important with our business and management courses, which have all been designed to encourage you to apply your learning in your day to day work.

So...since distance learning is controlled by you, the learner, the chances of success are greater. With conventional education and training it's far too easy to sit back and let the teacher, or trainer, do all the work. Good teachers may be so helpful that you become dependent on them. But because the emphasis in distance learning has moved from the teacher to you as the learner - you have to take an active role. There's no opportunity to doze at the back when you're the one in control! This helps break down boredom, frustration and failure and so will improve your motivation. It will also give you many of the skills of self organisation and time management so important in today's world!