The enhancements in technology and internet capabilities have impacted all aspects of life, increasing communication and providing people with the opportunity to access a wealth of knowledge online. This has opened up the world of education with many quality fashion schools providing distance learning for fashion degrees. However, online studying is not for everyone. Here are some of the benefits and setbacks of both online and offline fashion degrees.
Fashion Degree: Online vs Classroom
- The study environment
While the traditional lecture hall or classroom environment has its advantages, studying fashion online does not mean you will be isolated from the typical college experience. Most online fashion courses will provide discussion forums which encourage debates and provide students with any answers they are seeking. There might even be organised face-to-face meetings for those who can attend. Many online institutions will also send students the relevant course material and study equipment, so it’s not solely internet-based. However, if you crave human contact and prefer the structured lecture hall environment, then a traditional college setup will probably be more to your liking.
- Flexibility
If you enrol to study a fashion degree at a traditional institution, you will be bound by timetables outlining lectures, tutor groups and practical assignments with various attendance requirements. This is not to say that an online institution won’t have assignments and tests with cut-off times, there is just more flexibility with regards to study times. This is the preferred study option if you have a full-time job or other commitments that require more of your time. If you have poor time management, this will have to be addressed before enrolling for any online fashion course.
- Finding like-minded people
With both online and offline fashion degrees, you are destined to find people with similar interests which is always rewarding. There is no doubt much more personal interaction and chances for social interaction during the in-class setting, however, online degrees are not completed in isolation. The course is what you make of it and there should be chances to engage with fellow students and lecturers.
Read More: Fashion Degree v Fashion Diploma
- Travel costs
A major benefit of studying an online fashion degree or higher certificate in fashion is the decreased transport costs. With escalating petrol prices, this results in a lot of saving which could go toward tuition costs. If you want to study at a traditional institution, you can always cut travel costs by carpooling with fellow students.
- Tactile experience
Fashion is an immersive, sensory subject which requires the touching of various materials and comparison of textures and colours. Students will be exposed to this in a fashion school or college setting, however online users will have to visit designers and retail outlets to appreciate this aspect of the degree.
- Qualification
Whether you study a fashion degree at a brick-and-mortar institution or go for the online option, you will have a degree in fashion on successful completion of your studies. While the reality is that certain institutions are considered in higher regard than others, the fact of the matter is that a degree is a degree and it’s your talent that will set you apart in the industry.
Read More: Fashion Degree in South Africa | Top Fashion Schools Worldwide
Villioti Fashion Institute is an accredited tertiary institution that takes pride in making the ordinary extraordinary. Led by Spero Villioti, who has run a successful fashion brand for more than 30 years, Villioti Fashion Institute prides itself on being “extraordinary in the details”, which is what sets their students apart from others and secures them a future in fashion.
