After a short, unsuccessful stint at university straight after year 12, I decided - 5 years later - to give it another shot. Except this time I had a young baby who I didn't want to put in childcare, so I figured distance education was my only option. I chose OUA for 2 reasons - I wanted to fast-track my degree (and OUA allowed me to do this), and I didn't want to have to wait until the following year to start studying (yes, I was a little impatient!).

I enrolled in 2 units (both through UniSA) and began. It was really, really hard at first (especially with a teething baby that didn't sleep much), but I made it through the study period, and enrolled in 3 units the following study period. I gradually increased my study load to 4 units, then 5, then back to 2 following the birth of my second child. It was really tough studying without a break – the OUA study periods run back-to-back, all year round – but I think it was worth it in the long run as I was able to finish my degree early. I found a lot of good things about studying with OUA – it was easy to enrol, I could complete my degree without having to physically attend a university campus, and I didn't have to wait until the following year to begin studying.

It wasn't all smooth though. I ended up completing units through 6 different provider universities and found that the quality of the tutor feedback and course content was really inconsistent. Some tutors were brilliant and organized online tutorials once a week, whereas others didn't post a greeting until week 4...and then went missing for the rest of the study period. The online set-up also varied a lot between each unit, and the slow release of grades was...well, slow...and frustrating.

A lot of people try a few units and then decide that it's not for them. It is tough studying by distance, and often it's hard to stay motivated, especially if the tutor has the attitude, 'Out of sight, out of mind'. But if you work well independently and/or want to fast-track your degree, persevere! It's worth it at the end.

Some tips for people thinking about completing a degree through OUA:

• Try 1 or 2 units first to see if it's for you. You may love it or you may hate it.

• Register your degree early. Every year there seems to be changes to the structure and requirements of each degree offered by OUA. If you register as soon as possible and get your study plan approved, the impact of any changes should be minimal. 

• Use a book comparison website (eg. www.booko.com.au) to find the cheapest place to buy your textbooks. OUA strongly suggests Unibooks, but they are often more expensive.

• The unit descriptions are fairly brief, so if you need more info, contact the OUA representative at the provider university. They'll be able to advise you of the assessment requirements, whether any exams require an invigilator, etc.