Text 4. Distance teaching at University level

Distance education is not a recent phenomenon. Programmes using distance teaching methods have existed at further education level (technical and vocationally-oriented courses) for 130 years and at higher level (university and university oriented college courses) for 100 years.

In many ways the story begins with the foundation of the University of London in 1836. At first the University's functions were limited to the conduct of examinations and the conferring of degrees. Responsibility for teaching was vested in approved colleges or institutions and students who wished to sit an examination had to follow a course of instruction in one of these. In 1858, however, this restriction was removed and anyone could be admitted for degree studies provided they had passed the Matriculation Examination and paid the entrance fee.

This change paved the way for the growth of private correspondence colleges which prepared students for University of London examinations, and enabled them to study independently for the degree, without any formal tuition.

In 1898 the University of London was reconstituted as a teaching university. Institutions were able to apply to become schools of the University with a continuing responsibility for the examination of "external students" who presented themselves for a degree.

In 1970 about one third of the external students were either preparing themselves for the examinations by independent study or were tutored by private correspondence colleges.

In 1970, with the foundation of the British OU, the University of London began to review its policies. It decided that external students attending full-time courses in tertiary level non-university institutions should be provided for under the aegis of the Council for National Academic Awards, whilst overseas students should be the responsibility of their own government. The University of London also decided that from September 1977 its external degrees would be open only to private study students resident in the United Kingdom.