Study Tips

My Journey in Online Learning as a Neurodivergent Student

Written by NEC Pastoral Officer Karyn Nash In 2021, I joined NEC as a Pastoral Officer and returned to education as an online MSc…

Unlocking the Power of AI in Education: A Student’s Guide

Amid the ever-evolving landscape of education, we find ourselves standing at the threshold of a new era, one shaped by the remarkable advancements in…

How to Create a Positive Home Learning Environment for Distance Learners

In recent years, distance learning has increased in popularity and has proven itself to be a great and successful alternative to traditional education. Whether…

Resits or retakes – what is the difference?

Examinations play a crucial role in our educational journey, and sometimes we don’t achieve the results we had hoped for. However, it’s important to…

Motivation to Study

In recent years, online learning has become increasingly popular as technology has advanced and more people have access to the internet. The National Extension…

News adding to your stress?

We understand that external factors can affect your study. Whether it’s the war in Ukraine, issues in your personal life or something you read…

How do I retake my GCSEs or A levels?

The pandemic has meant that both providers and students have had to continually adapt to ever-changing circumstances.     This year, exam results will be…

How can studying improve your teaching?

As Head of Art at an academy in South East London, Aasha understands how difficult it has been for teachers to adapt to a…

Finding the motivation to study

Anna Ellis completed A level Religious Studies with NEC this month and is currently studying with the Open University. She has qualifications in teaching…

How do you maintain your motivation to study?

How do you find and keep up your motivation to study? The value of education has never been greater; it opens doors to everything…

Other articles...

Lesley retired and moved to Italy where she took her love of art history online

Lesley took early retirement in April 2020 and moved to Italy. Prior to that she had worked as an engineer for about 30 years…

CMI qualification with NEC supports NHS career development

Rhiannon works for the NHS as a Business Manager and prior to enrolling with NEC was supporting a senior Director of Nursing who was…

Fitting in GCSEs between care shifts

Amy had been working shifts in the care sector and wanted to apply for a degree in medicine. She didn’t leave school with quite…

NEC’s top courses for classics connoisseurs

The crowdfunded return of Time Team proves support for our interest in hidden histories. Although there has always been an interest in ancient history,…

Changing keys: from jazz guitar at a conservatoire to an engineering degree at the University of Sheffield

Toby left school with a string of A*s at GCSE, but the experience of suffering a bereavement during his exams led him to abandon…

National Work Life Week 2021: finding time for professional development 

National Work Life Week, established by the not-for-profit Working Families, takes place every year between the 11th and 15th of October. It is a…

NEC moves house: bigger premises and a brighter future

The National Extension College (NEC) is delighted to announce its expansion and relocation to new premises in the village of Sawston, Cambridgeshire.  Since its…

National Poetry Day 2021: a whistle-stop tour through NEC English tutor Colin’s favourite poets and poems

Thursday, 7 October is National Poetry Day. To celebrate, we challenged NEC English tutor Colin to pick a favourite poem…  Phew! This is the…

The STEM home educator’s guide to navigating Biology Week and World Space Week

STEM educational weeks are only marginally better than buses: you wait for one and then suddenly it’s both Biology Week and World Space Week…

Rediscovering self-belief through A level History of Art

When NEC student Rosa decided to give herself a second chance at further education, it was not for lack of success the first time…