Students can see work corrected in real time

Helen Forder is one of 600 learners who have logged on to Lampeter's Welsh language course.

"The reason I like working this way is that I can work at my own pace," she said.

"There is no pressure to get work in on time."

Ms Forder lives 100 miles away in Llantwit Major but others are really learning long distance.

Students have signed up from as far away as Australia and even Welsh learners in Papua New Guinea have found the course is ideal.

Among the first students to sign up for the course were a Paris doctor and a Dumfries researcher.

Real-time revision

Lampeter College has seen new student numbers fall dramatically this year and internet learning could be a high-tech lifeline.

The course is part of the university's Open Learning Scheme and is completed at an individual's own pace in the workplace or at a designated centre.

The scheme's success means more courses are now going online.

A new electronic 'whiteboard' will allow real-time revision sessions in Lampeter with students all over the world.

Last month, the college warned it could be forced to cut back financially because of a shortfall in first-year admissions.