Dundee tops the list of Scottish cities for distance learners, a new report has shown.
It also ranked eighth in the UK beating Edinburgh which currently sits at number 13.
Universities and colleges are currently using a ‘blended’ approach to learning either online or with in-person lectures.
During the pandemic there has been a surge in online courses which triggered the research by gadget insurance provider, Protect Your Bubble.
They analysed the latest available data to reveal which cities and towns across Scotland provide the best set up for distance learners.
It compared the latest data available for nine deciding categories.
These included percentage of premises with access to ultra-fast broadband, average library reviews, cafes with free Wi-Fi, number of nature and parks per capita, rental price, utility price, internet price, median weekly earnings and median overtime hours worked.
Dundee ranked as the most favourable city for distance learners, scoring 6.09 out of a possible 10.
It scored highly in four of the nine categories, including percentage of premises with access to overtime workers (8.68), ultra-fast broadband (8.07), utility affordability (7.77) and internet affordability (6.76).
Dundee scored its highest for rent affordability (9.06), making it a desirable destination to relocate to, away from the hustle and bustle of big cities. Monthly rent prices in Dundee will set residents back £826-cheaper than the Scottish average of £906.
It did fall short in categories such as availability of cafes with free WiFi (1.20), availability of green spaces (3.97) and median weekly earnings (3.76).
James Brown, Director at Protect Your Bubble, said: “Looking into factors such as internet capabilities, cost of living and work/life balance gives an idea to see which cities are best equipped for distant learners.
"Alongside these factors, it's important students ensure the equipment they use for their work is covered in the event of damage, theft, or mechanical breakdown.
“Further education can be stressful enough without the possibility of losing your devices and work unexpectedly.”
- The full report can be read here.
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