Is part-time learning right for you?

If you have thought about returning to learning, you may be wondering if part-time education is a good fit for you. Here are eight common questions we get about Part-Time Studies at Fanshawe College and the answers to help you determine if you’re ready to take the next step.

Part-Time Learning: Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to study part-time?

Part-time learning means studying with a smaller course load per college term, typically one to three courses per semester. If you have a busy lifestyle but still want to work toward academic goals, studying part-time is an excellent way to achieve them.

There are multiple programs and options available part-time, including Ontario College Credentials like a diploma or a degree, Continuing Education courses and programs that allow you to expand on your knowledge and skills to further your career, and micro-credentials, which are focused, bite-sized learning opportunities.

What is the time commitment for part-time students? How many hours per week should I dedicate to my studies?

The time commitment for part-time learning depends on the type of studies you partake in. For a single continuing education and part-time post-secondary course in a typical college term, the average time you can expect to dedicate to your studies is three to six hours per week including instruction (course content, readings, videos, etc.) and the time to complete assignments. For micro-credentials, the average time it takes to complete is 10 to 12 hours total over a typical period of four weeks; however, this widely varies depending on the specific skills training being covered.

How long will it take me to earn a credential part-time?

The total time it takes to complete a program depends on the type of program, how many courses you choose to take per term and if you choose to take any terms off from school. Here are some samples of average completion times for different programs:

• Ontario College Diploma: Four years, taking two courses per college semester and studying the whole year (fall, winter and spring terms).
• Ontario College Graduate Certificate: Two years, taking three courses per college semester and studying the whole year (fall, winter and spring terms).
• Ontario College Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree completion pathway (for advanced diploma graduates who meet eligibility requirements): two years, taking three courses per college semester and studying the whole year (fall, winter and spring terms).
• Continuing Education Certificate: Two years, taking two courses per college semester and studying the whole year (fall, winter and summer)
• Continuing Education Declaration of Academic Achievement: Two semesters, taking two courses per term.
• Micro-credential Series: One or two college semesters, taking three to four micro-credential badges per term.

What if my schedule doesn’t allow me to take courses in a certain term? Do I have to start over?

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Not at all! The flexibility and freedom to choose your own learning path are one of the many benefits of pursuing your education on a part-time basis. If you are going through a busy time, there is no obligation to take your course – take a term off or take just one course. You decide when to take courses and when you don’t. You have a seven-year period of time to complete any college credential from the time that you start it.

Is class or instruction time scheduled? Or, do I decide when I complete the learning requirements of a part-time course or micro-credential?

When you select your program, course, or micro-credential, you will be able to see how the course is being delivered. Part-time studies can be any of the following:

• Fully Online, Asynchronous: Many of our part-time course offerings are designed to be extremely flexible to your schedule and are offered as fully online asynchronous courses, meaning you will study online in an unscheduled format and you decide how you allocate your weekly course time allotment to work with your schedule. You must be active in the course each week.
• Fully Online, Synchronous: Classes are scheduled but attended online.
• In-class: All classes are scheduled and you are expected to attend in-person to meet the learning requirements.
• Blended: Classes are in-person and online, where the online portion will be asynchronous/unscheduled, but the in-class, face-to-face portion will be scheduled, typically in the evenings.

How much does it cost to study part-time?

The cost is dependent on the type of part-time course or credential you’re looking to complete. The costs typically reflect the number of hours that make up the course, which is why it can be different across the board and from institution to institution. Here’s a breakdown of tuition* based on Part-Time Studies at Fanshawe College:

• Micro-credentials - average cost is approximately $140 each
• Continuing education courses - average cost is approximately $300 each
• Part-time post-secondary courses - average cost is approximately $300 each

* Costs are based on Fanshawe College tuition only and don’t include materials or textbooks that may be required and have additional fees. Be sure to look for specific fees for the micro-credential or course you’re interested in taking on the website.

Is funding available for part-time studies?

Yes! Funding is available for many of our part-time programs. OSAP considers you eligible for part-time funding if you take 20-59% of a full course load (and you meet other eligibility requirements). At Fanshawe, this means if you take 1 to 3 courses, you might be eligible. There is also OSAP funding available for certain micro-credentials.

At Fanshawe College, we have a number of opportunities you can find on our Student Awards website.

Do I have to apply to study part-time?

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How you sign up for part-time learning depends on the type of course or credential you wish to pursue:

• Micro-credentials: Open admission, no admission requirements and no application needed. Some might specify that it’s good to have some pre-existing knowledge in the topic area, but it’s not a mandatory requirement in order to take them.
• Continuing education: In most cases, open admission, no admission requirements and no application needed. Some individual courses may have prerequisite courses in order to be successful, so be sure to make note of that when selecting courses. At Fanshawe College, we do encourage you to declare your program upon registering for your first course in a continuing education program.

• Part-time Ontario College Credentials: Because these courses go toward an Ontario College credential, like a certificate, diploma, advanced diploma, degree or graduate certificate, you will have to apply through OCAS and meet the specified requirements of the program in order to be admitted.

  What is a part-time Ontario College Credential?

How can I get more information?

College and university websites are your best resource for more information pertaining to part-time studies. At Fanshawe College, you can check out part-time learning options on our Part-Time Studies page. If you want to talk to someone at Fanshawe about Part-Time Studies, please connect with us!