What is Subscription Learning And How Can It Help You?

Experts predict that subscription learning will be an increasingly popular way for students to access education. But what exactly is subscription learning, and how does it work in the real world?

In this article, we’ll go through the core elements of what subscription learning is and how it can help you move forward in your career.

Subscription learning is an “on-demand” approach to learning. Instead of paying for and completing individual courses, you can pay a monthly or yearly fee in order to access a library of courses that can be completed at any time, whenever it suits you best. 

One example of this is the education provider Learn Signal, which offers courses in finance. Students can pay a monthly, quarterly, or yearly fee in order to access a wide variety of course content, plus additional resources such as mock exams. 

Suppose course providers offer different levels of certification. A subscription could be preferable to buying each course individually, as students know they’ll be likely to take on each level over time. This innovative approach to learning is ideal for students who know that they’ll be taking on lots of courses over a certain time period.

Meanwhile, course providers who have a wide range of courses in their library could offer a subscription model so students can access lots of different courses over the course of a year or longer. This is ideal for learners who value flexibility and are keen to take on as many courses as possible in a streamlined way.

Subscription learning isn’t exactly education’s answer to Netflix, but a lot of the principles are the same. Much like the benefits of on-demand over terrestrial TV, subscription learning gives you the option to learn what you like, when you like. 

Accessing lots of different courses at your own pace and schedule gives you the benefit of getting the most relevant learning content at any time. In true Netflix style, you can binge lots of courses back to back, try something new or work your way through some gripping course content at home on the sofa on a Friday night.

We’ve already gone over some of the key benefits of subscription learning, but what other benefits might learners experience from this approach to education? 

Keeping track of which courses and skills can be difficult when you’re looking through lots of different providers. Subscription-based learning allows you to set up your courses in a way that will equip you with the latest knowledge when you need it. 

For example, if you’re reading about skills and upcoming qualifications that will be the most useful for this year, you can plan ahead of time to ensure that your learning will be aligned with that.

Subscription learning ensures that you will always have education and courses at the front of your mind. Instead of spending time finding courses as and when you need them, you’ll be able to plot out a constant learning journey that will mean you’ll always have the best knowledge and skill set possible.

If you’ve ever felt like your career has become stagnant, learning new skills to change or advance your career can help massively.

Using subscription learning can give you a greater sense of flexibility when it comes to learning, allowing you to pivot and change your courses as needed. Signing up for individual courses from different providers means that you might end up with a course that is no longer aligned with what you want to achieve in your career. 

By accessing a wide range of courses through a subscription, you can find courses that are based on your current situation and career goals with a trusted provider.

Subscription learning encourages you to always be on the lookout for a new learning opportunity. The process of searching through different courses from different providers can be time-consuming, and creating a budget to pay for all of these courses from scratch can be difficult. 

If you know ahead of time that you’ll have access to the learning opportunities at all times, you’ll be more inclined to do them. Also, if you become determined to take on as many courses as possible, you’ll be able to do so in a way that can be factored into your monthly or yearly budget. 

No course will ever be out of reach, and you won’t hit a brick wall when it comes to running out of funds to take on a new course. You won’t ever have to put your professional development on pause, as you’ll have a more sustainable approach to budgeting for the courses you need.

One of the best aspects of subscription learning is that it encourages you to branch out and learn new skills.

Once you’ve got a good idea of what your strengths are in your career, you can build on them using different courses accessible through subscription learning. Courses allow you to turn strengths into real, measurable skills and abilities, and they allow you to build on them in a way that can make a significant impact on your career.  

Having access to lots of different courses in a subscription model encourages you to have a lifelong approach to learning. Instead of picking courses when you need them, you’ll always be learning throughout your career and building a strong and diverse skill set. 

Taking this approach to learning helps you to build up the areas you’re already confident in, as well as tackle areas you’re less confident in. Furthermore, having an “always on” attitude to learning will open you up to new areas of education and encourages you to try new things and acquire new abilities.