I would like to start online or distance learning PhD on Business or Management or Health Services. I prefer to start with any University in the UK. Your suggestion is highly appreciated in this matter.

Dear Academician,

I highly recommend you do not start an online/distance PhD. Usually they are crap, cost a lot of money and success rates are low, for the obvious reasons.

Kind regards

Otto

Assuming you are looking for a serious answer, and you are not trying to buy your PhD, I would like warn you about the Belford jokes we all tend to make every now and then on this forum. Universities like that one are not real universities and they sell so-called degrees.

There are many (proper/genuine) Universities in the UK that would allow you to undertake your research in your home country and pay regular visits to your supervisor(s) a few times a year. I've met some distant students (living abroad) from Leeds Metropolitan and Sheffield Universities at conferences....

(my message was too long, i'll continue here):

I've met supervisors at different UK universities with students from abroad. I know this can be easier for part-time students, but I some of these students are full-time distant students. It's not the same situation but I am undertaking a fully funded PhD research away from my university town. Although I live in the same country, I only need to see my supervisors once every 2 months.

Also, have you checked the Open University? Good luck.

There's of course the Open University - but I think that if you register for a full-time PhD with them you still have to live within commutable distance of the lovely city they're based in (Milton Keynes) so it's not really by distance learning anymore. I don't think this applies to part-time though.

However many "traditional" universities do not require the continuous presence of PhD students on campus. This is specially true in the humanities, for example, or in non-lab based research (for obvious reasons). In most humanities, as long as you have access to a good library where you can find the resources you need for your research and attend supervisory meetings, there's really no need to be in your department every day.

However as this may vary I would suggest to contact each department and clarify how many days per month/year would you be required to be on campus (for supervisions, training or other requirements).

Yep the Open University does a lot of distance courses, but the PhDs tend not to be.

Milton Keynes is lovely by the way

IMHO, it is very important to meet the supervisor more than just a few times a year. Even if you don't have to go to the lab/department every day, the working relationsship between you and your supervisor will ultimately decide upon your PhD progress and success. And that relationsship can only develop if you meet every few weeks the least and if your supervisor is fully aware of your work and problems etc.

Therefore, I'd like to stress that I would not recommend anybody doing an online/distance learning PhD.

Dear All, Thanks for your suggestions. I am looking real online PhD , not like crap or Belford type PhD. I live in London and can travel to supervisor occasionally. I don't think Open University offers PhD. But I will check further.

Academician, I was offered a PhD place by Open University (not distant though, based in Milton Keynes) 3 years ago. I now regret not taking it up as they have better facilities than my current University. It's worth checking if they accept distant students. I live in London too. I can't see any reason why you won't find something suitable for you in UK. Are you looking for full-time or part-time?

Dear 404, I am looking for part-time PhD. I will check with the Open University also. Many thanks for the information. If they offer PhD part-time in management or business or health service; I will certainly opt them.

Dear 404, I just searched the OU sites. Yes, they offer PhD and I have read their prospectus. I will contact them and get further information on it. It is realy helpful information. Thanks for your suggestion and feedback. I thank you all for wonderful information. If there is any information, I am happy to see and read. Thanks.

Good luck

Given that you are based in London, have you tried Birkbeck College? They claim to specialize in part-time, evening courses for mature students or people who just can't attend university on a regular basis. I don't know whether they have such schemes for PhD courses though.

If we take a very realistic approach here: a Part-time PhD usually has a duration of minimum 5 but more often up to 7 or 8 years. That is an extremely long time in itself and a very difficult task.

Intending to do a Part-time PhD online or through distance learning makes it even more difficult and just sounds extremely unlikely to lead to completion. Why would anybody want to embark on that???

I seriously believe nobody is helped with unrealistic expectations.

Therefore, I strongly advise you may consider a proper Full-time or Part-time PhD, not some online/distance crap.