Image of laptop computer near window overlooking trees Centre for Distance Education
Untitled Document Ramona Materi

You can do [AU studies] in your own time, when it's convenient for you. … I travel a lot, so it's really convenient for me that I can just log onto my course from wherever I'm at. ~Ramona Materi, MDE

Welcome to the Centre for Distance Education

The Centre for Distance Education (CDE) offers graduate-level credentials:

 

 

AU Scholarships

 

CDE is comprised of 12 core faculty members and one Canada Research Chair. Our students have opportunities to work with a variety of experienced researchers, practitioners, and professors from all over the world.

Athabasca University (AU), Canada's Open University, is the nation's leading distance-education and online university. We are proud to take education to the people, serving more than 37,000 students in 87 countries world-wide.

Why is AU a great university? Video: Student & employee views on Athabasca University.

Why Study Distance Education?

Distance education and training are rapidly expanding fields and indicators point to their continued and steady growth well into the future.

Today, distance education and training students of all ages are provided with the opportunity to learn in a wide variety of subject areas, formats, and organizations. If distance educators are to adapt to the increasingly sophisticated field of distance education and to maintain their professional competence, continuous upgrading is essential. Professional growth is also required by people from a variety of educational and occupational backgrounds who seek entry into this burgeoning field.

Accreditation

AU is a publicly funded institution of the Province of Alberta and reports to the government through the Minister of Advanced Education. Through the Post-secondary Learning Act, the government authorizes Athabasca University Governing Council to grant degrees and govern our own affairs. Members of Athabasca University Governing Council are appointed under orders in council of the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta.

Athabasca University is the first Canadian university to be awarded accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). More details about accreditation in the U.S.A. are available.

More information about Accreditation may be found on the main AU website.