With the recent advent of online courses, business school online has become very popular. Why should students take time-consuming classes and waste time in travelling to the venue if they can just click the power button of their computer on and enter a virtual classroom in their own home or office.

So what are the main advantages of online studies?

Well, first of all the most obvious one - you study when you want or whenever time permits. This is an ideal situation for people who hold full time positions and their time is not really their own. This is very often the case of business managers, CEO's and in general, top administration of any company. That is why if getting to the top without a degree was hard, it is even harder to stay at the top. In such cases, a business school online is an ideal solution.

If you are not already at the top of the company and what you are looking for is a promotion or a salary raise, a business degree might be the right solution. Here once again a less time consuming online option might e the right way forward.

Another obvious advantage is the costs. If we consider the costs of an MBA at Harvard, they might be quite prohibiting for most people. For a full MBA at Harvard the costs include US$43,800, University Health Services Fee $1,426 Insurance (12 months) $1,404 Program Support Fee $4,200 Room & Utilities (9 months) $14,040 Board (9 months) $12,280. Summing up all the elements we get a grand total of US$77,150

(source: http://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/costsummary.html ).

On the other hand, taking a degree in a business school online would cost only a fraction of that. Granted, studying at Harvard adds prestige but the future apparently lies in virtual courses. Costs for an online business degree may vary depending on several factors such as the prestige of the university, duration, popularity etc. At the moment the best buy in business degrees online is offered by East Carolina University at the cost of $10,560. The next 7 include Fort Hays State Unviersity at $15,600 3, University of Wyoming at $15,840 4, Rogers State University at $17,550, Thomas Edison State College at $18,080 Governors State University at $20,520 and Charter Oak State College at $23,020. It is easy to see that the only tangible cost in online business degrees is the tuition and probably the cost of sent materials.

Yet another advantage of attending a business school online is the possibility of chosing the times for completing assignments. Online schools are usually more flexible as they cater to people who, in general, choose this type of study because of time constraints.

There is still another saving in petrol costs and this is not a consideration to be ignored with the current fuel prices! An average drive to classes would probably cost some additional US$5 per class and with two classes per week on average that's US$40 per month and US$400 per year.

Not to mention different weather conditions that might range from stifling hot to below freezing.

Another advantage is that in a business school online most course materials are downloadable or can be saved right onto the hard drive of your computer. Instead of heavy books, a student will download his course materials and use them directly from the screen. Alternatively, instead of using a PC students can use a laptop which can be carried around with ALL the course materials at the touch of a button.

Then there is no dress code to be followed given that you may take your course wherever and however you want. You may be eating your breakfast still dressed in pyjamas and slippers or at your desk in the office with your best silk tie.

The there is also personality to be considered. Sometimes, the only reasons people opt out of university studies because they do not feel comfortable in a crowded environment. They might want to take a course ina business school online because they feel better, and study better, in the comfort of their own home or office.

Apart from the advantages, online studies, both in business schools and in other fields, can have their downsides. The most obvious has been mentioned earlier on in the text. Most employers do not see online studies as as valid or important as studies completed by physical attendance to classes. This tendency seems to be slowly changing especially in the fields of communications technology and post graduate studies where there is a certain learning base already established.

Then there is the question: is online study suited to your type of personality? We have mentioned that some students choose online studies BECAUSE they do not feel suited for crowded environment. But there are others how thrive on the university environment and being locked up with just a computer for company is not for them. So attending a business school online would be the worst option for them.

Then there is the question of time management. If you are self-disciplined, if you know how to manage your time and can comply with imposed deadlines, then online study is for you. But if you don't know how to manage your time then studying for a business degree is just a waste of time and money.

Another consideration is if the university offering a business degree or online course is accredited. There are several fraudulent "universities" offering to sell you a business degree for US$5,000 while the only real cost for them is the cost of printing the degree diploma. That is why it is necessary to do some research before embarking on online study. And related to the legality of the chosen school is the transferability of credits. If you are planning to transfer your online course into another program you must make sure that it will be possible. Contact the online school before you decide that it is the course for you.

Another aspect is the proximity of your tutors. In a normal class environment you have your tutor at the reach of your hand. You can ask questions and get the answers immediately. when you take a virtual course, for example in a budiness school online, you will have to wait for an answer and this way maybe disrupt your study process until you know the reply.

All in all, choosing a business school online or a degree in journalism or a degree in arts depends on several factors. But in the end it is a very personal decision that must be taken individually by each student.