"If you can click a mouse, you can study online"

Online study has become the choice of thousands of Australians when it comes to education, especially among those who don't have easy access to a university.

More than 60,000 people choose to study online through Open Universities Australia (OUA), the national market leader in this sector.

This proves there is a demand for a more flexible approach to studying at a tertiary level and that online study isn't a foreign concept any more.

If you can click a mouse and set up a password, then you can study online.

So for anyone who's thinking of navigating the world of online study, OUA's CEO Paul Wappett has some tips that are great to keep in mind to help you get the most out of your experience:

STICK TO A ROUTINE: Allocate set hours to do your work each week.

SEEK SUPPORT: Join discussion forums with other students, interact with instructors using live chat or speak to people such as student advisers to design a study path that suits you. Your biggest supporters are often under your nose. Friends and family can give you that vital boost and motivation to keep you on track.

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF: Whether you're new to study, a mum, working professional or a retiree, you can benefit from online study to help get a job, up-skill, re-enter the workforce or indulge your interests.

DON’T TAKE ON TOO MUCH: Be realistic about how much time you can commit to study. For some, that means taking on one subject at a time, for others it might mean four. OUA makes this possible because you don't have to sign up to an entire degree up front. You can enrol one unit at a time.

DON'T PROCRASTINATE: Be a self-starter and push yourself to achieve your study goals on time. The temptation to leave things to the last minute will crop up, whether you study online or on campus.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY: You don't have to be a technology whiz to study online, but if you are intimidated, explore your options and try enrolling in preparatory subjects. 

*This article was written by a Fairfax Media journalist as part of a commercial agreement with Open Universities Australia.