Ready for multiple courses?

Athabasca University wants your experience with online learning to be successful. As you begin your online learning journey, it is important to assess if AU is the right fit for you and if now is the right time in your busy life to engage with online learning.

You are more likely to be successful with online learning if:

  • You can see a direct link between your course(s) and your larger career and educational goal;
  • You have some previous experience with online learning; and
  • You have strong time management skills and you are able to regularly set time aside to focus on your studies.

Complete the following questions to assess your readiness to begin fulltime studies:

98 total hours remaining per week (for unexpected/unforeseen life events that require attention)

I have a clear career goal (e.g. identified occupation).

I have previous experience with online learning.

I have a minimum of 10 hours remaining per week (see calculation above).

If you answered yes to 2 or more of the questions above, please proceed with registering in courses. Completing 3 courses in 4 months is considered full-time studies to qualify for student financial aid. For self-funded students, completing 4 courses in 6 months is considered full-time studies. It is strongly recommended that you begin with the fewest number of courses possible. The fewer courses you take in the first term, the greater likelihood of success and greater probability of continuing your studies. If you find you have capacity for additional courses, you can add courses any month throughout the year.

If you answered no to more than one question above, please complete the following sections of this readiness assessment before proceeding. You may also wish to schedule an appointment with AU Counselling Services to discuss your career and education goal and further discuss if AU is the right fit for you and if now is the right time to enroll in full-time studies.

Getting ready to enrol

Complete the online self-assessments to determine if you are ready to enrol.

Distance education

If now is the right time to further your education, learn more about how distance education works at AU.

Am I ready for studies in...?

If you feel that AU is the right fit for you, then you need to identify your strengths and weaknesses in English, math, chemistry, and computing science in order to complete preparatory courses before enrolling at AU. Complete a self-assessment in these areas to identify current strengths and weaknesses.

Preparation courses

If this is your first experience completing an online distance course, it is a good idea to begin with university preparatory courses which will assist you with becoming a successful online learner. Learn more about university preparatory courses.

Applying for financial aid

If you plan to apply for financial aid, please complete the following questions before starting your application. Education is a costly investment of time and money, to ensure you make the best use of both, the following questions will help you determine if now is the right time to enroll in full-time studies at Athabasca University. Timing and personal fit are important considerations to ensure adequate and sustainable academic performance. Your academic performance is reflected in your grade point average (GPA). If you plan to continue your studies or use your transcripts to apply for employment, your academic performance is important. If your academic performance is poor at Athabasca University, you may become frustrated and the outcome may not support your career or educational goals.

Financial information

Get in touch with us

Get answers to any specific questions regarding our learning support services by contacting our team members directly.

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Updated January 02, 2024 by Digital & Web Operations (web_services@athabascau.ca)