Top Online and Distance Learning Scholarships and Free Courses for Students Worldwide

Top Online and Distance Learning Scholarships and Free Courses

Quality education benefits, not only those who qualify, but much more the communities benefiting from their expertise. Getting such education anywhere - whether in your home country or not - removes the expenses and hurdles of traveling (i.e. visas, lodging, etc).

With distance learning, you remain in your country while enjoying the benefits of an international education. Many organizations / schools have initiated FREE online courses for interested students, mostly accessible from anywhere worldwide.

Below is a list of top Scholarships for Distance/Online Education and Schools/Organizations offering FREE online education (see more Scholarship Lists or Subscribe to Updates).

[A] Online and Distance-learning Scholarships

1. Distance Learner Online MPH Scholarships
   OnlineMPHDegree.net announces the first ever MPH Scholarship for Online and Hybrid (online + campus) program candidates available to new and continuing education public health students who plan to study 100% online or in a hybrid program anywhere in the world. Ideal for Nurses, Physicians, Social Workers, Community Leaders and more! $1000.00 merit-based scholarships are offered to deserving online MPH candidates each calendar year...read more.
   
   
2. Microsoft 4Afrika Scholarship Program for Africans
   Microsoft introduced the 4Afrika Scholarship program to provide mentorship, leadership and technical training, certification, university-level education and employment opportunities for promising young African students. The Microsoft 4Afrika Scholarship program is designed to help develop Africa’s future leaders by ensuring they have access to the education and skills they need to succeed at no cost...read more.
   
   
3. Distance Learning Scholarships for Developing Commonwealth Countries
   The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, CSC, offer Distance Learning Scholarships as part of its commitment and that of Department for International Development (DFID) to explore new methods of scholarship delivery. Rather than offering these scholarships directly to students, the CSC works with UK universities to offer the opportunity to study for a UK Master’s degree while living and working in your home country. Awards are targeted at citizens of developing commonwealth countries, and cover the overseas tuition fees at the Masters degree level...read more.
   
   
4. Tuition Free Scholarships for Online Courses at UoPeople
   University of the People (UoPeople) is the world’s tuition-free, non-profit, online academic institution dedicated to opening access to higher education globally. Based on the principles of e-learning and peer-to-peer learning, coupled with open-source technology and Open Educational Resources, UoPeople is designed to provide access to undergraduate degree programs for qualified individuals, despite financial, geographic or societal constraints...read more.
   
   
5. Global Distance Learning Scholarships at Edinburgh University
   The University of Edinburgh offer Master’s scholarships for eligible distance learning Master’s programmes currently offered by the University. The scholarships are targeted to citizens of selected developing countries. About 20+ awards in courses related to social sciences, health and medicine are given out. Each scholarship will have a total value of £5,000 which will be deducted from the tuition fee for the entire part-time programme of study...read more.
   
   
6. Full Distance Learning Scholarships for Africans at London South Bank University
   The internationally recognised EFS programme at LSBU has over 15 years of experience working with practitioners to build capacity in education for sustainability. Fully funded distance learning African Commonwealth Scholarships are available for students from East and Southern African Commonwealth countries to study the MSc in Education for Sustainability at London South Bank University...read more.
   
   
7. Canon Collins Distance Learning MBA Scholarships
   The Canon Collins Trust selects disadvantaged individuals who have the motivation and capacity to undertake the Distance Learning MBA, but who face funding difficulties. The Scholarship Programme aims to support life long learning amongst communities where it will make a positive contribution towards their development, and give individuals valuable post-graduate education which will enhance their day to day work...read more.
   
   
8. Gc21 E-Academy Online Training Scholarships in Development
   The Global Campus 21 E-Academy enables professional expertise, managerial skills and leadership experience to be gained, extended and passed on in developing countries by means of new learning media. Participants from all over the world use the online courses and learning space to learn together, share their experiences and collaborate on projects...read more.
   
   
9. Global Health Academy Distance Learning Master's Scholarship for International Students
   Each year, the University of Edinburgh offers the Edinburgh Global Health Academy Distance Learning Master’s Scholarship for International students from Developing Countries...read more.
   
   
10. University of Liverpool Laureate Online Tuition Fee Reduction Scholarships
    You may be eligible for a tuition fee reduction on any of the university's online masters or doctoral programmes with the following opportunities: Alumni Savings, British Armed Forces Funding OR Referral Programme (iRefer). The tuition fee reduction applies for the whole duration of your course. The value of the reduction awards will depend on the Online Masters or Doctoral Tuition Savings Opportunities you qualify for..read more.
    
    
11. University of Liverpool Laureate Online Financial Assistance for Online Masters
    University of Liverpool Online is committed to helping you achieve your educational goals. The school understands that you may need additional funding to earn your degree. Many of the resources provided by University of Liverpool Online can help pay for tuition while you are enrolled in your program or assist you with loan repayment after graduation. You will be able to take that your dream course at the world-renowned University of Liverpool Laureate Online programme...read more.
    
    
12. Fully-Funded Distance Learning Scholarships at Bangor University
    This is a fully-funded distance learning course primarily intended for students with interest in forestry who wish to learn more about the environmental and societal benefits that forests provide. Individuals working in forestry/forest-related industries/ natural resource management, particularly in the fields of planning, regulation, policy, monitoring and environmental protection can apply. The course is also suited to individuals working in forestry education who wish to further their knowledge and expertise in order to improve their teaching...read more.
    

B] Universities and Schools that offer online courses

All these courses offered by some of the reputed educational institutions in the world provides international students with amazing opportunity to enhance their professional skills further that too without having to attend classes in person.

1. Free Online Courses at Premier Universities via edX
   edX is a learning platform that gives students from any country the opportunity to take free online courses offered by three premier Universities in the US – Harvard, MIT, and UC Berkeley plus 8 other premier universities. Online learners can earn a certificate of completion after completing the course. There are currently 32 courses offered but their goal is to offer a wide variety of courses across disciplines. The course are available to anyone in the world – from any demographic area – who has access to a computer with internet access. For the courses in Fall 2012, those certificates were free. There is a plan to charge a modest fee for certificates in the future...read more.
   
   
2. Free Quality Online Education at Coursera
   Coursera, a startup launched by two Stanford professors in 2011, is an education company that describes itself as a social entrepreneurship company. It partners with the top universities and organizations in the world to offer courses online for anyone to take, for free. The online company envisions a future where the top universities are educating not only thousands of students, but millions.
   Coursera technology enables the best professors to teach tens or hundreds of thousands of students. Currently, it offers courses in a wide range of topics, spanning the Humanities, Medicine, Biology, Social Sciences, Mathematics, Business, Computer Science, and many others.
   Millions of people around the world are expected to enroll for the free online courses...read more.
   
   
3. Khan Academy – A free world-class education for anyone anywhere
   Khan Academy is a not-for-profit educational organization with the goal of changing education for the better by providing a free world-class education for anyone anywhere.
   With a library of over 4,500 videos on everything from arithmetic to physics, finance, and history and hundreds of skills to practice, Khan Academy will help you learn what you want, when you want, at your own pace.
   It doesn't matter if you are a student, teacher, home-schooler, principal, adult returning to the classroom after 20 years, or a friendly alien just trying to get a leg up in earthly biology. The Khan Academy's materials and resources are available to you completely free of charge...read more.
   
   
4. Academic Earth - free online sourses from the best universities
   Academic Earth believes everyone deserves access to a world-class education, which is why it continues to offer a comprehensive collection of free online courses from the world's top universities. It takes learning outside the classroom with their original series of thought-provoking videos, designed to spark your intellectual curiosity and start a conversation. Watch, learn, share, debate. After all, only through questioning the world around us, can we come to better understand it...read more.
   
   
5. University of Oxford
   One of the most prestigious universities in the world, Oxford University offers international students an opportunity to purse various short and long term and professional courses online.
   More than 60 study (short term, long term and professional) courses are offered to students desirous of studying online at Oxford University. Courses offered include creative writing, ecology, archaeology, architectural history, computing, Spanish, teaching skills, law, literature, Italian, human rights, history of arts, local history etc.
   For more information on courses and dates of online application visit the official Oxford University website and click the “view all online & distant learning classes” to find the course you are interested in.
   
   
6. Brighton School of Business and Management
   Brighton School of Business and Management offers professionals across the globe opportunity to further sharpen their skills by offering various online distant learning courses.
   From short term management courses to professional development to management and postgraduate courses are available in educational, professional and career development fields for those interested.
   For more on courses that can be studied and the one you would like to purse, visit the official Brighton School of Business and Management website.
   
   
7. Atlantic International University
   Various online distant learning courses are offered by the Atlantic International University for those who are interested in pursuing studies at bachelor, masters and doctoral level.
   At Bachelor Level, one can pursue courses such as Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science. At Masters Level, Master of Art, Master of Business Administration and Master of Science are offered. And at Doctorate Level Doctor of Arts, Doctor of Business Administration, Doctor of Science and Phd Doctor of Philosophy are offered.
   For more information on courses and how to get started, visit the official Atlantic International University website.
   
   
8. University of Exeter
   University of Exeter offers numerous courses for those who cannot attend classes in person at the university. For such students and to widen its reach in the educational sphere, the university has started online distance learning plan. At the University of Exeter courses such as Art, History, Creative Writing, Egyptology, Film, Literature, Interdisciplinary, Environmental Studies, Archeology and many others are offered to international students online.
   For in depth information on courses and last date for applying, visit the official University of Exeter website.
   
   
9. Harvard University Extension School
   Numerous online courses are being offered by Harvard University Extension School to help students and professionals across the globe to widen their educational horizons. Courses are divided in two formats, fall and spring semesters, giving students’ choice to enroll when they can spare time for studying.
   By browsing through the Harvard University Extension School's online course offerings, you can get more information about the courses offered in fall and spring semesters.
   
   
10. The Chifley Business School
    The School offers business and management training courses across Australia and internationally. The group offers short courses to nationally accredited certificate to diploma program to postgraduate programs etc., giving professionals’ the world over freedom to pursue management studies (MBA) via distant learning program.
    For more, please visit the official website of Chifley Business School.
    
    
11. Walden University
    In the U.S.A is another accredited university that provides students the chance to purse higher studies online. Walden is well-known for offering online courses at the level of Masters, PhD & Doctorate degrees in Public Administration, Nursing training, Business and many others.
    o learn more, please visit the official Walden University website.
    
    
12. International Career Institute
    This institute offers courses at diploma, certificate and advanced diploma level in subjects such as marketing, business management, human resources, fashion design, journalism, hospitality management, photography etc.
    For more, please visit the school's official website: http://www.ici.net.au/.

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