If you want to progress in your career but can't afford to give up work then perhaps an online distance learning course may be what you are looking for. The University of Derby is a UK university offering students the flexible way to study through its online distance learning courses. On completion of your degree you will receive a UK University award - exactly the same as if you were studying full-time on campus. The University's Sri Lankan representative VIEC is available to help students with queries and through the enrolment process.

One of the most popular online courses offered is the BSc (Hons) Psychology which is an online course accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). The online courses offer flexibility and allow the student to study when and where they want - all that is required is a computer and internet access. Students also have support from dedicated online tutors, an online support team and can make use of library services, even if located on the other side of the world. You can also take advantage of flexible payment options which help to spread the costs and make this a cost effective course for those currently in employment or those wishing to change career direction. Spaces are currently available to start this course in January 2011.

"Being an online student allowed me to effectively achieve my goals in a way which fitted in with my family and personal commitments" Mary Cronin, BSc (Hons) Psychology.

If you want to study on campus in Derby, there is also a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses available. The MSc Health Psychology can be studied as a full-time option for 1 year. The cost of the course is £5,400. All members of staff on this course are research active and are members of the Health Psychology Research Group (chaired by Dr. Rebecca Knibb). This research group is part of the Centre for Psychology Research.

For more information or to enrol on a course today, contact your local representative in Sri Lanka, VIEC (www.vieceducation.com) on 011 2581 428 or 011 2585 583.

Dr Rebecca Knibb is the University Reader in Health Psychology, the Programme Leader for MSc Health Psychology, Chair of the Psychology Ethics Committee and a member of the University Ethics Committee and the Faculty Research and Research Degrees Committee at the University of Derby in the UK.

Teaching responsibilities: I teach mainly on the MSc in Health Psychology. However, I also teach on undergraduate psychology modules such as quantitative methods, contemporary issues in psychology and parapsychology.

Research interests: My primary research focuses on the psychosocial impact of allergic conditions including asthma, food allergy and intolerance on the lives of children, adults and family carers. In particular I am interested in the impact on quality of life and affect such as anxiety and depression in those with clinically-diagnosed and self-diagnosed allergy and intolerance. I use both quantitative and qualitative research methods depending on the nature of the research. I also have an interest in combining my knowledge of criminology with the field of health psychology and have conducted research in occupational stress, specifically in the police force and prison service.