It was for decades that only the prestigious or wealthy could attend university. Over the years, these barriers have been broken down and now virtually anyone can gain a higher education, although it may cost them. Thanks to online courses and technology, it is now possible for students to avoid paying thousands of pounds to attend a university and still achieve a qualification. Albeit, there are downsides to learning online versus a traditional method, there are plenty of advantages to make up for the downfalls.