Thompson Rivers University

Thompson Rivers University

So you’re thinking about taking a distance course. Since beginning a post-secondary course or program is a big investment in time and money, read through the following information before you register. It will help you determine if distance learning is right for you.

How Distance Education Works

Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning (TRU-OL) offers over 55 programs and 590 courses in a variety of flexible formats, including print-based, web-based, online, and in-person. Courses and programs delivered by TRU-OL are fully accredited and recognized by other post-secondary institutions, so you can take a single course with us and transfer the credits to another institution or complete an entire program.

Open Education Explained

Distance education means that you can study wherever you live and wherever you are: in a public library, at home, at work, or overseas. But open education also means that you may begin your course or program whenever you like; there is no need to wait for a particular semester to begin.

It also means that people who would find it difficult to complete a course or program on a physical campus can still access post-secondary education. This includes people living in a small town without access to on-campus education, people with disabilities, working students, and those with family commitments. TRU-OL also has few barriers to entry, so your ability to enroll won’t be affected by your past academic records, and you won’t be required to submit transcripts from secondary school to register for courses.

In addition, we offer students the opportunity to receive credits towards a program through PLAR, or Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition. This program is in place to recognize the experience and skills you have gathered from previous education or life and work experience.

Deciding if Distance Learning is Right for You

To help you decide if distance learning is a good fit for you, try this self-test. Having clear goals will also help you stay motivated when distractions arise, so we have provided links to assist you with career planning.

How to Register

While you do have to register with us if you wish to complete an entire program, you don’t have to be a registered TRU-OL student to take a distance course. Some of our students are registered at other post-secondary institutions but find they can’t fit another on-campus course into their schedule. They are able to take an Open Learning course and transfer the credits to their own institution.

This flexibility is thanks to the University Consortium agreement, which was established by the provincial government in 1984. It allows Open Learning students to take distance courses delivered by Simon Fraser University, the University of Victoria, and the University of British Columbia without having to be admitted to a program at the institution delivering the course. This means TRU-OL students have access to hundreds of additional courses to complement those offered by our Open Learning division. If you intend to transfer courses you have completed to a BC institution, be sure to check out BCTransferGuide.ca. Also, be aware that each educational institution has specific policies on admission and enrolment.

Student Support

Just because you are studying at a distance doesn’t mean you are studying alone. You will have the full support of your course Open Learning Faculty Member. In online courses, you may also collaborate with other students in your course.

We recommend that students taking full-time distance education courses for the first time take no more than three courses at a time. Students who are working full-time are encouraged to start with only one or two courses at a time. We also recommend beginning with introductory (generally 100-level) and prerequisite courses.

Email: [email protected]

Phone Student Services
1.800.663.9711 (toll-free in Canada) or 250.852.7000 (Kamloops and International)
(see below for a list of individual departments)

Regular Mail
Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning
Student Services
BC Centre for Open Learning, 4th Floor
900 McGill Road
Kamloops, BC V2C 0C8

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