Students are increasingly turning to online degrees for one primary reason: unparalleled flexibility. For working professionals or those eager to launch their careers, online education offers the unique ability to gain qualifications while balancing a job, all while eliminating the financial burdens of relocation, housing, or commuting.
However, this flexibility requires a trade-off. Pursuing a degree at your own pace demands a level of self-discipline and sustained motivation that many students often underestimate.
Valerie Berger is one student who mastered that balance. In 2025, she successfully completed a Computer Science Master’s at the University of Bath Online while concurrently advancing her career. Based in Austria, she plays a vital role within the Bregenz Festival team, where she focuses on optimizing inter-departmental collaboration, a position that requires a seamless blend of creative problem-solving and structured systems thinking.
Building upon her strong foundation in Business, her Master’s was a strategic career move. It functioned as a conversion degree—a specialized program designed to help students from non-technical backgrounds integrate new, high-demand technical skills into their existing professional repertoire.
In this interview with Online Result, Valerie discusses how she navigated the selection process to find a program that delivered genuine value. She reveals what kept her on track and shares expert tips on identifying the ideal degree, as well as the potential red flags to watch out for.
If you are contemplating an online Master’s, Valerie’s perspective provides a transparent, realistic guide to what truly matters before you commit to your education.
Online Result: With a BA in Business Administration and an initial MA in International Management, what drove your decision to pursue an online Master’s in Computer Science, and how has it benefited your career?
Valerie Berger: The Computer Science Master’s I pursued was high-level. My goal wasn’t to become a professional developer, but rather to master technical systems and human-computer interaction. This degree provided deep insights into technical frameworks, allowing me to better design and optimize internal workflows. This is critical for my work at the festival, where I support a core team of 100 people—which swells to 1,000 in the summer—to manage operations for over 240,000 seasonal visitors.
With a massive operation like ours, efficient systems are non-negotiable. This degree helped me bridge the gap between people and technology. I learned how back-end processes work, which enables me to speak the same language as our internal and external developers. Now, I can effectively vet solutions, assess technical feasibility, and plan projects with a clear understanding of potential challenges.
Online Result: How did you select this particular Master’s program in the UK?
Valerie Berger: I completed my first Master’s during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. Throughout that time, I realized I had a passion for data and programming, which I had only touched upon during a statistics module in my previous degree. I felt a strong urge to keep expanding my skill set.
Finding a reputable conversion Master’s was essential. I didn’t want to repeat Bachelor-level work; I wanted a rigorous, advanced program that allowed me to pivot into a new field effectively.
After five years of continuous, full-time study, I also prioritized entering the workforce to establish my career and achieve financial independence.
I spent a significant amount of time researching my options, weighing the benefits of short-term courses like Udemy against the commitment of a full-fledged academic degree.
Finding a reputable conversion Master’s was essential. I didn’t want to repeat Bachelor-level work; I wanted a rigorous, advanced program that allowed me to pivot into a new field effectively.
The flexibility of an online format was the other non-negotiable factor. After comparing several programs, I decided on a UK university because, as a European, I felt it would offer the best degree recognition across the EU.
I eventually chose the University of Bath over other shortlisted UK options. I relied heavily on online forums and student reviews, which consistently pointed to higher student satisfaction levels at Bath. Looking back, I am confident it was the right choice.
What students should know before choosing an online degree
Online Result: What advice would you offer to prospective students? What are the common red flags they should look for when choosing an online program?
Valerie Berger: If you are considering an online Bachelor’s but have never studied before, proceed with caution. You may not yet have developed the self-study systems required to succeed. While some individuals thrive in this environment, online degrees demand significantly more self-discipline than traditional, in-person courses.
This is a substantial financial and time-based investment; it’s critical to understand your own learning habits before committing to avoid the risk of dropping out early.
Personally, the ability to manage my own time was a massive benefit. I cherished the freedom to structure my learning around my professional schedule.
Our program avoided rigid, real-time evening webinars to accommodate students across various time zones. This asynchronous design allowed me to work effectively without feeling tied to a set daily lecture time.
I could adapt my study habits based on my workload—studying in the evenings on busy work weeks, or putting in hours on Saturday mornings when I was feeling more refreshed.
The only structured element was our shared deadlines, which kept everyone in the cohort on track.
Online Result: What was the deciding factor that ultimately convinced you to enroll?
Valerie Berger: For me, the deciding factor was the feedback on student forums. There is no substitute for authentic, peer-to-peer accounts of the actual study experience.
While I didn’t have access to them at the time, I highly recommend attending open online student events if the university offers them. These sessions allow you to hear directly from faculty and counselors regarding the expectations, challenges, and real-world opportunities associated with the degree.
Above all, I believe hearing from fellow students is crucial. While university staff are committed to promoting their programs, students provide an unfiltered look at what it’s really like to study there.
The university was excellent at fostering an initial connection among students, which provided a strong foundation for us to build our own community. When evaluating programs, prioritize those that facilitate or encourage active student networking.
Another important factor is lecturer accessibility. Since you can’t just visit an office, having professors who are responsive to emails and active in forums makes a massive difference in your learning journey.
I was fortunate at Bath; my professors were consistently available, engaged in online discussions, and actively helped us connect, even attending our graduation ceremonies.
I truly believe this level of human interaction is necessary to successfully complete an online degree.
Why online degrees still matter today
Online Result:Online degrees surged in popularity during the pandemic. Why do you feel they remain relevant and valuable today?
Valerie Berger: I didn’t choose an online degree because of the pandemic; my career ambitions would have led me down this path regardless.
Gaining professional experience while studying was vital to me, rather than remaining in a strictly theoretical academic bubble. Online learning offered the perfect balance to combine both worlds effectively.
One of the greatest strengths of this format is the diversity of the student body. Because participants often work in various industries, the cross-pollination of real-world experiences is immense.
I wanted to start working. It was super important to me to get some work experience and not just stay in a theoretical bubble. The online degree was the easiest way for me to combine the two.
In my cohort, we had doctors, teachers, and IT professionals, all sharing insights into how they apply principles in their own fields. Those perspectives were invaluable.
This was the most diverse academic group I have ever worked with. I have studied in many international settings, but the variety of professional backgrounds in this cohort truly enhanced my learning.
This is quite distinct from traditional degree programs, where students are often all from the same age group, demographic, or geographic location, which can naturally limit the diversity of thought.
I was particularly impressed by how students used Discord and WhatsApp to stay connected, which enriched our interaction beyond the official university platforms.
We even engaged in pair programming, where we shared screens to provide feedback and troubleshooting tips in real time, which was incredibly useful.
The University of Bath created an environment where this type of peer-led collaboration wasn’t just possible, but encouraged, which I found to be a unique and special aspect of distance learning.
We would do what is called pair programming. I would program, and my classmate would look at my screen and give comments and tips. Then we would switch roles. That was so useful.
Online Result: What was the greatest takeaway from collaborating with such a diverse group of people?
Valerie Berger: My favorite area in Computer Science has become human-computer interaction, which centers on building inclusive products for diverse user profiles.
For example, you might design a feature and someone will ask, “How would someone with hearing loss interact with this?” In my own bubble, I might have overlooked that, but the diverse perspectives in my cohort constantly challenged my assumptions.
It is a simple example, but it highlights why having a variety of viewpoints is so essential when you are responsible for design and accessibility.
I have never been to India, nor am I a doctor or a mother. Because my experiences are limited to my own life, having colleagues with different backgrounds ensures that the systems I design can actually serve a broader audience. That diversity is a competitive advantage.
My previous experience in International Management was diverse in terms of nationality, but we all shared similar social and academic backgrounds. We were effectively homogenous. This Master’s program felt truly different because it exposed me to perspectives I had never considered before.
This was invaluable. During my studies, I didn’t just rely on my own narrow perspective; I was immediately presented with a variety of viewpoints on every task.
The university structured every assignment with forums where we shared solutions and, more importantly, provided feedback on others’ work. This forced us to engage with the thought processes of our peers, rather than working in isolation.
Participating in those discussions undeniably broadened my worldview and my approach to problem-solving.
How to choose between countries, universities, and programmes
Online Result:Did you ever get the chance to visit Bath? It is a truly stunning city.
Valerie Berger: It is indeed. I visited Bath three times. I traveled there for my graduation in January, which was my only official university trip. While it wasn’t a requirement, I felt it was a personal milestone that I owed to myself after all that hard work.
I visited twice beforehand just to meet classmates I had befriended during the program.
One of them became a close friend; we see each other at least once a year now, and we spent time exploring Bath together without any official university schedule.
Online Result: How did it feel to meet your professors and colleagues in person at your graduation?
Valerie Berger: It was lovely, but surreal to finally meet the people behind the screens. I didn’t actually graduate with my original cohort due to a study break, so I hadn’t met many of the others in person, but it was still great to connect with fellow graduates who had shared the experience.
Meeting a couple of my teachers in person and realizing there were many others who had successfully navigated the same degree was a highlight.
Sharing that moment with a colleague I had met previously was wonderful; it validated all the hard work we had done together over distance.
Online Result:Could you share some advice for students about to start their international journey on how to choose between countries, universities, or programs?
Valerie Berger: First and foremost, be pragmatic about your finances. For instance, EU citizens may find more cost-effective options within the EU compared to the UK. It’s a simple, albeit unfortunate, reality of the current landscape.
I waited to pursue my second degree until I was financially ready to afford the UK program. Assess your situation carefully.
If you are planning to relocate, research how easy it is for international students to integrate. Check for student unions and support networks, as finding connections and building friendships is vital for your success and well-being when living abroad.
Studying is much easier when you fit the system, and much harder when you don’t. So choosing something that aligns with your style will make your experience much more enjoyable.
Consider the location, not just the country. There is a vast difference in atmosphere between cities like London and Bath, and finding a setting that suits your personal lifestyle is key to a positive experience.
Once you have narrowed down your list of universities, look at their teaching and grading systems. These can differ significantly from country to country, so finding a program that aligns with your preferred way of working is crucial.
Choosing a system that fits your work style makes your studies far more intuitive and manageable. The better the match, the more you will enjoy the process.
Don’t underestimate your intuition. I often browse university websites to get a feel for the institution; it sounds subjective, but it has served me well.
I look for a sense of organization, polish, and ease of navigation. If a university website has broken links or feels chaotic, I tend to worry about their administrative efficiency. For a distance student, organized communication is non-negotiable.
Click through their pages, explore their materials, and see if you can get a gut feeling for whether the environment is one you want to be a part of.
First impressions matter. While it’s not the standard academic rubric, it is a 100% valid and highly relevant way to make your final decision.