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 your 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.

Online learning has many benefits to support your marketing strategy.

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 or pre-training checks? Online learning students may have different needs than those in a face-to-face environment.

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

Review and update your marketing strategy and marketing materials when there are changes to your delivery mode.

You need to update students and third-party providers when things change.

Use your marketing strategy to show how and when you will update students and third-party providers.

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. 

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

Keep a record of all marketing updates. This record will show how you meet requirements.

Review the Standards Clause 4.1, Provide accurate and accessible information to prospective and current students 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 skills, resources, and information before they enrol.

Skills

• numeracy, literacy and digital
• learning management system (LMS) 

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 Chapter 2 - Enrolment to check you comply.

Advice from providers

Provider advice on marketing and enrolment for online learning.