As a postgraduate distance learner from Canada, UWTSD offered the flexibility to pursue part-time studies while allowing me to continue working full-time. The online access to module recordings when lectures could not be attended virtually, the assistance with assignment development through online discussion forums, and the unparalleled access to online journals, e-books and other resources through library services made for a seamless student experience.   

With a postgraduate background in history, I was interested in formalising my self-directed readings on the history of astronomy and pastrology, which I had developed an interest in over the past few years. I encountered Dr. Nicholas Campion's work through the course of my self-study and, by extension, the Cultural Astronomy and Astrology programme. UWTSD's programme was the only one of its kind that I could find, offering a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of astronomy and astrology, including its history and culture, and which is exclusively online, making it convenient to study from anywhere in the world and at any stage of life. 

The multi-disciplinary approach that the Cultural Astronomy and Astrology programme takes has exposed me to anthropological theories and frameworks, sociological studies, and qualitative research methods, none of which I had the opportunity to undertake as part of my previous studies in the humanities. In the areas of sociology and anthropology, I have gained invaluable insights into the development of ethically sound human-centred research projects.