A Central Queensland University student is reaping the benefits of a life on the water while studying for a career in public relations.

Colleen Burns and her family has spent most of their time cruising along Queensland’s coast and berthing at various points like the Gold Coast, Gladstone, Rockhampton and The Whitsundays. However, Colleen has managed to maintain her CQU distance education study by directing study packs to post offices located near marinas and by using a variety of community Internet links.

Her study journey began while her family was berthed at Gladstone Marina, only a stone’s throw from CQU Gladstone, where she was originally enrolled as an internal on-campus student. Nowadays, Colleen has managed to become more mobile thanks to a pocket email which can be plugged into public phones. She has even been known to borrow computer time on nearby yachts with remote Internet links. The mother of three children is studying professional communication and journalism subjects and expects to complete her degree in 2006.

CQU is one of Australia’s leading providers of quality distance education with two-thirds of CQU students studying by distance.

Distance education allows you to: schedule your study to fit in with other commitments, such as family and work; choose your study environment; and remain in your job while studying, maintaining employment status and income. You can even mix your study modes between on-campus and off-campus to suit your individual needs.

Most of CQU’s undergraduate degrees are available via distance and many of the research degree programs may be taken off-campus if supervision is available and you have access to resources.

For more information about studying via distance at CQU contact 1300 360 444.