Five self study tips for Distance MBA

Distance or Correspondence MBA is very different from the traditional classroom teaching. Chiefly meant for people with limited time and resources (such as working professionals or students), one can finish the programme at their own pace.

“Distance education is like knowledge delivered at your door step, which however you need to grasp using your own abilities as there is no regular class room sessions involved for injecting the knowledge by the teachers into the pupils. The main aim of distance education is to impart education to those people who do not have time to attend to the regular mode of education. The benefit is that they get the study material at their door steps, are able to interact with the teachers / guides either through the net or whenever they have time. Distance education facilitates studies at variable time and one is not bound by a time schedule. This, infact, is the biggest benefit,” says Shiksha expert Nikhlesh Mathur.

This biggest advantage of distance education often ends up being the biggest bane. Candidates complain about not being able to finish studying or submitting assignments on time. Here are a few tips to maintain the study tempo throughout the year.

1. The Balancing Act

After a gruelling nine-hour (make it 11 hours with travelling back and forth) work shift, it is natural to feel tired. For many of us, the day doesn’t end there. One heads back home to more responsibilities such as making dinner or spending quality time with family.

The ideal thing to do here is segregate your hourly activities. List out the things you need to do after you head home. Make a daily timetable – allot time/hour to all these activities. Then carve out at least an hour or two for daily studies in this timetable. For instance, you can fix two hours for studies before or after dinnertime. Follow this strictly to maintain the tempo.

2. Sharing Responsibilities

As discussed in the above point, many of us have duties and responsibilities. After creating a daily timetable, we suggest you sit down with your family for a talk. Tell them how the degree may benefit all of you in the long run or simply explain why it is important for you. Most parents are positive towards B-school education. For married people, delegate more work to your spouse and children. Request them to support you for the sake of long term goals.

3. Weekends & Holidays

Make the most of your weekly offs and other holidays. Weekends are meant for relaxation and catching up on other activities. Here again, a timetable can help you out. Devote four to six hours (or more) on your subjects in the morning. Alternatively, you can choose to devote time at night before going to bed.

4. Study plan

Draw a monthly, weekly and daily plan according to the test, assignments and online/weekend class schedule. Decide which subjects you want to concentrate on first. It is advisable to study subjects in which you need more practice.

5. Flexibility

The flexibility to study at your own pace can be quite relaxing. With 24X7 access to study materials (text books or online lessons), studying has never been easier. So be proactive, and finish all your assignments on time.

Remember, correspondence MBA requires self-motivation and dedication. At the end of the day, this degree will benefit your long term career goals.