Marketing and enrolment for online learning

Students need to make an informed decision to study online.

You need to provide clear and accurate information to prospective students before enrolment.

This helps them to decide if the provider, the proposed delivery mode, and VET course are right for them.

Marketing online learning

Use your marketing to connect with prospective online students early in the enrolment process.

You need to provide clear and accurate information to students before enrolment. This allows students to make informed choices.

Things to consider when marketing online learning

• Is all the training or assessment delivered online?
• Do students need to take part in face-to-face work placement or assessment?
• Do students need to provide any resources or services themselves? What do they need to provide?
• Where can students go if they need help?
• How will you support individual student needs through pre-enrolment? Online learning students may have different needs than those in a face-to-face environment.
• What are the fees? Is there government funding available for eligible students?

Use your marketing strategy and materials to help students understand all training requirements.

Our series Spotlight On - Marketing and advertising providers further guidance on compliant marketing and advertising practices.

Use your marketing to update students

Keep your marketing up to date for students

If you change how you deliver your training (like moving from face-to-face to online), make sure you update your marketing materials and strategy. Let students and any third-party providers know about these changes.

Your marketing strategy should clearly explain how and when you’ll tell students and third-party providers about any updates. 

Students need to know:

• their rights and responsibilities
• the eligibility and process for a refund if you will stop delivering any part of a training product
• how and where to get help

Third-party providers may communicate with students on your behalf. Students need to be aware if a third-party is recruiting students or delivering training on your behalf.

They need to provide current and accurate information that aligns with and supports your marketing strategy.

Keep a record of all marketing updates. This record will show how you meet requirements. Review Standard 2.1, VET Students have access to clear and accurate information to check you comply.

Enrolment for online learning

Is your prospective student ready and able to learn online?

What students need to know before enrolling in online learning

Students need to have clear and accurate information about online course requirements prior to enrolling.

Use your marketing strategy to highlight how and when you will communicate course requirements to prospective students.

This will support your record keeping and show how you comply.

Always check students have the required foundation skills, resources, and information before they enrol.

Skills

• numeracy, literacy and digital

Resources

• suitable computer
• compatible operating system
• specific software
• adequate internet access

Information

• delivery modes
• work placement or assessment process
• response times for answering queries
• how and when the trainer and assessor will contact them
• assessment turnaround times
• how to track progression
• how to access help channels and student support 

Review the Standards 2.1 and 2.2 Information to check you comply.