Choosing to study as an adult is a big choice to make and it’s only natural that you want a good idea of the likely return on your investment.

That may be even more true in a time of economic uncertainty such as now. Fortunately, as an English speaker in today’s world, you have a wide range of options for international study to help you develop new skills and shape your future career path.

Many of the most exciting opportunities in 2023 and beyond lie in distance learning fit for the digital age. At its best, distance learning offers students significant advantages, such as rolling applications, flexible schedules and innovative digital resources.

The International University of Applied Sciences (IU), which offers around 60 undergraduate and Master’s programmes in English, is a leading example of this.

Based in Germany, IU has more than 100,000 students enrolled and many of them are studying online from other countries. In fact, the students come from more than 110 countries across the world.

What they have in common is that they are all attracted by a strong focus on real life skills and knowledge designed to help you shine in tomorrow’s world.

Boost your career prospects with a fully online, fully flexible and internationally recognised Bachelor's, Master's or MBA at IU

Tech literacy and flexible learning

More than 85 percent of organisations see adoption of new technology and greater digital access as the key trends for transforming their business, according to The Future of Jobs Report 2023, published by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

If you’re reflecting on how to enhance your employability, you almost certainly have thought – or need to think – about how tech know-how could help you realise your ambitions.

The WEF report also highlights how technological literacy is fast rising up its list of the most in-demand skills, as is AI and big data.

Degrees in data and various IT-related fields are popular options at IU, along with programmes in management, entrepreneurship and much more.

The pace of technological change can feel daunting. But when new technology is introduced with a clear focus on simplifying and supporting users, the potential benefits are huge. This is true in education, as well as in business.

If you want to study as an adult today, your biggest challenge may be figuring out how to fit a Bachelor's or Master’s into your already overly busy life. Flexibility is now non-negotiable, not just ‘nice to have’.

As a student at IU, you can choose your start date and complete your degree at a pace that suits you – if needed you can take a semester off or extend your study period.

During your studies, you get plenty of support to help you personalise your learning, plan ahead and stay motivated. Support tools include Syntea, a newly introduced AI assistant.

Syntea can serve up relevant course materials to help you with any questions you have about your studies, as well as helping you to assess your learning and understand which areas you should focus on.

Employability: a bridge to real-world practice

When your aim is to shape a better future for yourself, it’s wise to keep a close eye on your employment prospects throughout your studies. There are often opportunities to grab the attention of prospective employers long before finishing your studies.

For this reason, studying at a university with close links to the business world can really pay off. IU has been forming partnerships with top global companies for more than 20 years and has more than 15,000 corporate partners in total.

This means students at IU can gain crucial firsthand experience of working environments through internships and projects. The focus is on providing you with an education that bridges the gap between theory and real-world practice – so that you’ll be ready to thrive amid all the challenges facing workers in the 21st century.

The end result? An impressive 94 percent of those who study at IU find a job within three months of graduating. If you're looking to move into a more senior role, IU also offers a range of fully online MBAs.

On the topic of real-world issues, you may also be happy to know that online education greatly reduces CO2 emissions. Not only that but IU supports renewable energy in India and sustainable agricultural management in Zimbabwe to compensate for remaining CO2 emissions. It’s the first online learning institution in Germany to be TÜV-certified for its CO2 neutrality.

Accessible and affordable

Removing geographical barriers to education is easier than ever as online learning continues to evolve. IU also aims to remove financial and cultural barriers to a good education, making its programmes accessible and affordable.

While there will always be economic ups and downs, there's nothing to stop you from focusing on what you can control to enhance your future prospects – and online education offers a powerful way to do that in 2023 and beyond.