Overview
Build strong distance-education skills, knowledge and values with Athabasca University’s online program.
As you learn how to design, implement, evaluate and manage distance education and training programs, you will gain skills in:
- institutional and organizational design
- management and administration
- budgeting and finance
- curriculum and program development
- course development
- delivery and support
- program evaluation and revision
You will work with and learn from fellow students in a broad range of distance education and training settings, such as:
- business firms
- government agencies
- voluntary and professional associations
- hospitals and other health-care organizations
- schools, colleges and universities
Why take the Master of Education in Open, Digital, and Distance Education?
Distance education is constantly evolving. Staying on top of this increasingly sophisticated field means that continuous upgrading is essential. At AU, we’re always researching and developing new ways to engage our students wherever they are – and we love to share what we know.
With more than 40 years of experience in delivering distance learning and one of the oldest graduate programs in distance education (established in 1994), AU is a strong choice for your distance education graduate degree.
The Master of Education in Open, Digital, and Distance Education is a 33-credit online graduate program. You may transfer up to 4 courses (12 credits) from another graduate program.
Application deadlines and start dates
| Application deadline | Start date |
| Jan. 15 | spring |
| May 15 | fall |
| Sep. 15 | winter |
Routes and options
You can choose to complete your MEd through either a thesis route or a course-based route.
Learn more about the MEd program structure Completion times
You can take up to 6 years to complete all requirements.
Tuition and fees
A non-refundable convenience charge will be charged when using Visa or Mastercard to pay student fees. American Express is no longer an accepted method of payment. For more information on the convenience charge, please visit the Financial Services website.
The following fees are effective for courses starting Sep. 1, 2024 to Aug. 31, 2025. All fees are quoted in Canadian dollars and are subject to change. Academic-related fees are exempt from the Federal Goods and Services Tax (G.S.T.). G.S.T. is added to all other goods and services, for example, workshops, some publications, self-help seminars, and Athabasca University promotional sales items.
program application and admission fee | Program application fee (non-refundable) required each time a person applies: | $197 |
| Program admission fee (payable upon acceptance into the program and non-refundable): | $255 |
| Non-program application fee (non-refundable) required only once and waived if previously an AU student: | $124 |
Course tuition fees (includes all required materials)
fees for students in Canada and out | Students living in Canada: | $1,9751 |
| Students living outside Canada: | $2,2201 |
1Master of Education in Open, Digital and Distance Education (MEd) Course Tuition fees now include the Course Administration and Technology fee of $167 and Course Materials fee of $37 per course, plus the Athabasca University Graduate Students Association (AUGSA) fee of $14 per credit.
Estimated program tuition cost (2024-2025)
The total tuition cost for a student living in Canada who takes all courses from Athabasca University, would be $21,725 ($1,975 x 11, three-credit course equivalents). The AUGSA fees, Course Administration and Technology fee, and Course Materials fee are included in the above calculation. Application and admission fees are not.
Other fees
other fees | Transfer credit evaluation fee (one time): | $348 |
| Transfer credit evaluation fee (international)(one time): | $348 |
| Continuation (program extension) fee. Same as course tuition fees (see above). |
| Course extension fee: | $334 |
| Letter of Permission fee: | $100 |
| Western Deans' Agreement administration fee (non-AU visiting students) | $250/course |
| Course withdrawal processing fee1: | $453 |
| AU Graduate Student Association Fee (per credit) | $14 |
1The course withdrawal processing fee is a mandatory administrative fee charged when a student withdraws from a course. For early withdrawal only, the student will be refunded the full course tuition fees (see above) less the course withdrawal processing fee. Refer to Course Withdrawal.
Continuation fees
Continuation fees are normally assessed when program students do not register in the required six credits per academic year of course or thesis work or when students have completed all required course work but have not yet completed their thesis oral exam or e-Portfolio defense. Continuation fees may be charged to students that exceed the maximum completion time limit.
Fee information effective Sep. 1, 2024 to Aug. 31, 2025.
Courses
In the Master of Education in Open, Digital, and Distance Education program, you'll embark on a comprehensive journey that includes core courses focused on the essentials of distance education and training, as well as electives that allow you to dive deeper into areas like instructional design or mobile learning. You'll also have the flexibility to choose between a thesis route, which includes research-intensive work, or a course-based route that culminates in a capstone e-portfolio project.
To complete the program you will need to fulfill all the general requirements of the Master of Education, plus those specific to your focus area.
Our program regulations plans can give you an idea of what courses you need to finish this program.
Program regulations
Focus area courses
Courses to explore
Below are some of the courses that our students take in this program.
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Career options
After completing the Master of Education in Open, Digital, and Distance Education, you could step into various roles such as instructional designer, educational technology consultant, or even an administrator in online and blended learning environments. The program also equips you for careers in academia, corporate training departments, and organizations focused on educational innovation, allowing you to apply your expertise in creating and managing educational experiences that are both effective and accessible.
Some possible career outcomes include:
- distance education coordinator
- online learning specialist
- instructional designer
- e-learning developer
- curriculum developer
- educational technology consultant
- online course developer
- distance learning facilitator
- online education manager
- learning management system (LMS) administrator
- educational content developer
- distance education researcher
- online training coordinator
- virtual learning specialist
- online course instructor
- digital learning consultant
- educational technologist
- online education program manager
- e-learning project manager
- distance education administrator