Athabasca University would not have been the first choice for my education but due to the fact that I need to work while attending school, it is my only choice. AU is not a "bad" school. The courses selection is decent and the course materials are okay, although having to view the majority of course material on a computer monitor is rather annoying, especially for the cost of each course (which is supposed to include course materials). What is the worst aspect of AU, for me, is the complete lack of assistance. Student support is a joke. I have messaged numerous times for help on assignments and it's anyone's guess if or when I receive a reply (most of the time I do not receive a reply.) This impacts my ability to do the assignments properly since many assignments are vague in nature and citation for sources is confusing at best. I wish I could complete my schooling at a traditional institution because AU is a bit of a mess. I have had one tutor that was helpful but that's it. The workload for this school is insane, especially if you have to work full-time. I am trying my best to keep up but I am getting dangerously close to dropping out and attending a traditional school for a non-degree credential because I am not sure I can do another year of courses at AU.

The TAs I’ve had are quite good, but the university tries to charge you extra fees wherever they can, are already considerably more expensive than other universities in Calgary, and don’t have standard university features. If you want to see your midterm exam, your only option is a phone call. You can’t even bring your water into a three hour examination. Not to mention tons of broken links all over their website making it a real challenge to get specific information. Some courses are well organized and others are a complete mess with total lack of necessary information. I emailed one prof and he said he had been retired for years.

I've taken several courses here. Overall, they are challenging and you have to put in the work, but definitely doable. I'd say quite comparable to any other post-secondary in Alberta (except without the lecture and social aspect). Science courses involving labs can be a bit frustrating as they send you lab materials and you have to do them at home. However, you can also do the entire lab portion in a few days at a location with all the supplies if you choose that option. I like that the timelines are flexible and that I can work while I'm completing courses. Would recommend, but self-discipline is very important.

I recommend never taking any of these courses because they are a waste of time and will literally take over all your time for other important classes

Great opportunity to pursue a degree for working adults. Must be a self-starter and well-organized to succeed.