Motherhood is one of the more demanding jobs out there, if not the most demanding. It’s a wonder anyone is able to do it, let alone how well Moms show up for the task each day, even when they feel like the process is difficult. It’s amazing how many Moms do this and also attach even more responsibilities to their daily life as well. This might be an extra job, or perhaps enrolling back in education where they have free time to do so.
It’s not an easy ask. If you’re planning to go this route, the least you deserve is a fantastic institution with flexibility for your schedule. This is why online universities have exploded in popularity in recent years, as they provide a full-scale degree-level and beyond education for those who are eligible.
An online university is nothing new of course, but which are the best for busy Moms? In this post, we hope to provide six of them:
UNSW Online – Best For Full, Trimester-Based Learning
UNSW Online brings something that most Australian universities haven’t quite figured out yet, and that’s a trimester system designed for people who need to fit study around unpredictable schedules. The University of New South Wales Sydney has taken their decades of academic reputation and rebuilt it for online learners, and many busy students have talked about how this feels like a breath of fresh air..
The trimester structure also means you can finish your degree faster than the usual semester-based programs, which matters if you’re keen to get qualified and move forward with career plans sooner, but it also gives you more entry points throughout the year, so if you miss one start date you’re not waiting months to begin. Their programs in business, data science, and IT of course keep the same weight as on-campus degrees, so employers will still appreciate what you’ve earned.
What makes them especially good for Moms is how they’ve structured support around the reality that online learners need different help compared to campus students. You’ll be given access to advisors who understand that sometimes study has to pause because life is unpredictable, and the platform lets you stop and start without losing progress. They’ve also built their technology to work on mobile devices, so if you’re stuck waiting at a doctor’s appointment or have twenty minutes while dinner cooks, you can chip away at coursework from wherever you are.
Deakin University – Best For Living & Learning Balance
Deakin University has invested heavily in their online platform called CloudDeakin, and it shows in how easily everything runs. They’ve been doing online education for years now, so they’ve had time to work out the kinks and figure out what distance learners actually need.
Their course offerings are quite varied too, and span across arts, business, health, and science. They’re also known for being responsive to student feedback about how courses are structured. Deakin also runs on a trimester system, which gives you flexibility in how you pace your study throughout the year. They’ve built a strong reputation for supporting remote students with resources like online library access, career advice, and academic skills workshops that run virtually.
University of Melbourne – Best For Research Programs
University of Melbourne brings quite impressive academic prestige to online learning, and their programs are curated to showcase the research focus that’s made them one of Australia’s top universities. Their online provisions tend to be at the postgraduate level, which works well for Moms who already have undergraduate degrees and are looking to specialize or shift careers too.
Moreover, the programs they offer online are taught by the same faculty doing cutting-edge research in their fields, so you’re learning from people at the forefront of their field, you’re not assigned a limited online lecturer who only gives you a pastiche of what the in-person courses have. Melbourne’s reputation also carries quite intensive weight both in Australia and internationally, which matters if you’re thinking about career adaptability as time goes on.
Griffith University – Best For Industry-Connected Courses
Griffith University has boasted a fair amount of strong connections with industry, and that shows up in how their online programs are designed. They’ve structured courses to include practical career-oriented planning, so what you’re learning connects directly to how the process generally works in job environments, depending on your chosen course.
You’ll find that they offer online degrees across criminology, business, education, and health, and they’ve made sure their course materials work for people studying in short bursts around other plans. Griffith also operates across multiple campuses in Queensland, which means if you ever need to access facilities or attend something in person, there are options depending on where you’re located.
Swinburne University – Best For Tech Learning
Swinburne University has leaned into technology in a way that makes their online experience feel modern, and they boast that thanks to their presence as a tech-focused learning institution. An example is how they’ve invested in their learning platform to include interactive elements and digital tools to help with education..
Moreover, their programs in business, design, and technology are known to be strong, and they have onboarding measures that let you start with shorter courses and build up to full degrees if you want to test the waters first. Swinburne also has strong ties to industry, which means their curriculum stays current the latest expectations of the job market.
Charles Sturt University – Best For Accessibility
Charles Sturt University has been doing distance education longer than most Australian universities, so they’ve decades of experience in understanding a wide variety of remote learners and what they need at any moment. They’ve built their model around mostly providing education for regional and rural students as part of that, which means they’re good at support when you’re not near a campus.
Their programs also include education, health, business, and arts, and through that they’ve structured everything to work for people managing study alongside work and family. CSU is also known for being affordable compared to metro universities, and they offer various support services specifically for online students including technical help, study skills, and wellbeing.
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Each of these universities understands that Moms going back to study or starting degrees need institutions that can bend around the realities of family life. The right fit depends on what you’re interested in studying, where you’re located, and what kind of timeline makes sense for your situation, but all six have proven they can give great education to people learning from home.
