The assessors are great communicators!.
The assessors are great communicators!. My only negative review is, the 10 day turn around for feedback was frustrating. Particularly while waiting for feedback on my final assessments.
Open Colleges is an educational institution that provides distance learning and online training programs. The organization typically offers vocational courses, professional development programs, and skills-based training across various industries and fields of study. Students can generally access coursework and educational materials remotely through digital platforms and correspondence methods.
Open Colleges receives a mix of feedback from its users, with 62% of reviewers expressing positive sentiments about their experiences. Many customers highlight the friendly and knowledgeable staff, particularly praising individuals like Ada and Sean for their helpfulness and clear communication during the enrollment process.
Reviewers appreciate the ease of navigating the course materials and the supportive guidance provided throughout their studies. However, there are notable complaints regarding difficulties in scheduling appointments with advisers and issues related to course fees, including instances of being overcharged. Some users express frustration over feeling misled or having a negative experience with the overall service. Despite these criticisms, the majority of feedback remains favorable, reflecting a generally positive sentiment towards Open Colleges.
Summary generated with AI from recent reviews
Each source counts by its number of reviews. Only reviews written by people are scored.
| Source | Rating | Reviews | Weight | 6-mo | Fake risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trustpilot Imported Trustpilot reviews | 3.5 | 1,039 | 100% | -0.4 | ● Low |
Monthly average rating from reviews written by people · latest review Nov 2025.
| Month | Average | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 24 | 1.0 | 2 |
| Jan 25 | 5.0 | 3 |
| Feb 25 | 1.0 | 1 |
| Mar 25 | 1.0 | 2 |
| Apr 25 | 3.0 | 3 |
| May 25 | 2.0 | 1 |
| Jun 25 | 4.3 | 4 |
| Jul 25 | 4.0 | 2 |
| Aug 25 | 4.7 | 7 |
| Sep 25 | 1.0 | 3 |
| Oct 25 | 4.3 | 11 |
| Nov 25 | 4.4 | 17 |
Share of positive (4–5★) and negative (1–2★) reviews mentioning each topic · based on the 500 most recent reviews.
“Very helpful and accommodating to my time schedule for calls and responses to email”
“Their sales tactics are manipulative, and their customer service actively works against your rights”
Same method for every company: overall rating, legitimacy checks, the average rating of reviews mentioning each area and the 6-month trend · Education & Training.
| Company | Overall | Legit | Service | Website & app | Value | Trend | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 out of 5 (fair) | 100 out of 100 | 3.7 out of 5 (good) | 3.4 out of 5 (fair) | 1.7 out of 5 (poor) | +61% | 1,039 | |
| 4.8 out of 5 (good) | 100 out of 100 | 4.8 out of 5 (good) | 4.2 out of 5 (good) | — | — | 85 | |
| 5.0 out of 5 (good) | 100 out of 100 | 5.0 out of 5 (good) | — | 5.0 out of 5 (good) | — | 57 | |
| 5.0 out of 5 (good) | 100 out of 100 | 5.0 out of 5 (good) | — | — | — | 37 | |
| 4.5 out of 5 (good) | 100 out of 100 | 4.9 out of 5 (good) | — | — | — | 25 |
Bottom line: Open Colleges is #5 of 5 on overall rating in this group. On value, Truka scores higher (5.0 vs 1.7).
500 reviews of Open Colleges. Filter by what matters to you.
The assessors are great communicators!. My only negative review is, the 10 day turn around for feedback was frustrating. Particularly while waiting for feedback on my final assessments.
I studied cert iv health & lifestyles. It was great at the beginning, good context, support and my exams were marked within the 10 working days. But half way through it want rapidly down hill. Months to mark assignments. Terribly written, I just had to guess what the questions were asking me. Extremely repetitive, I was actually copying and pasting my answers, very draining. NO support, I was msging my trainer and just had no reply, I then found out through a stream of chats that the trainer had just left, so no one had contact me about this. We finally got a new trainer who I felt very sorry for because God knows how many assignments she had to mark and when I was finally able to get in contact with her for some help with a question, she didn't even know what the question was asking. I can't stress enough on how badly written the assignments were.
Positives: I enjoyed learning about marketing and enjoyed the no pressure approach to get assessments done. It worked around my lifestyle and my job. Student support - great! I have also recently got a job in digital marketing. Negatives: sometimes assessors took a long time to mark my work so I couldn’t move on to next module and also some of the material in the course was really out of date. I’ve learnt more from doing some digital marketing crash courses outside of open colleges.
Quick answers to the questions people ask most.
Open Colleges offers a wide range of vocational education and training courses across various fields including business, healthcare, beauty, fitness, counselling, and creative arts. All courses are nationally recognized and designed to provide practical skills for career advancement. Course formats include online study, blended learning, and some face-to-face components.
Course duration varies depending on the qualification level and study mode. Certificate courses typically take 6-12 months, while diploma programs usually require 12-18 months to complete. Students can often study at their own pace within reasonable timeframes.
Yes, Open Colleges is a Registered Training Organization (RTO) and all qualifications are nationally recognized under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). Graduates receive certificates and diplomas that are accepted by employers and other educational institutions across Australia.
Open Colleges provides comprehensive student support including dedicated student advisors, online learning resources, and technical support. Students also have access to career services, academic assistance, and peer networking opportunities through online forums and communities.
Course fees vary depending on the qualification and field of study. Open Colleges offers flexible payment plans including upfront payment discounts, monthly payment options, and government funding schemes like VET Student Loans where eligible. Fee information is provided during the enrollment process.
Entry requirements vary by course, but many programs have flexible admission criteria. Most courses require completion of Year 10 or equivalent, while some may require specific prerequisites or work experience. Open Colleges also offers foundation courses for students who need to meet entry requirements.
You can contact Open Colleges through their website's live chat feature, by calling their student services team, or by submitting an online inquiry form. Course information is also available through their online course catalog and prospectus downloads.
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Polarized pattern: few middle ratings. 62% of recent reviews are 4–5★ and 32% are 1–2★.
I decided to move careers to the digital world and I wanted an entry point. This course was the perfect jumping platform. It is intense, it's sometimes easy and other times complex. Each module enriches you and thoroughly involves you. I don't think it's for the faint-hearted but for those who are really willing to learn and get their hands dirty to get it done and come out shining at the other end. I had no programming experience whatsoever and I got to make a website and even make an App from scratch! I never thought it possible in my wildest dreams! Open Colleges set up me for success. I got the help I needed any time I asked for it, from the teachers to the admin staff. Their touch of humanity is there every step of the journey and it's greatly appreciated. I fully recommend it and I'm grateful for the opportunity. Thank you everyone at Open Colleges, without you I wouldn't have been able to realize my study dreams, hold a full-time job and take care of the family at the same time!
I started my Diploma in community service last year and during my first conference meeting I was so confused as i have never studied online before. I didn't have a study buddy but with the assessment walkthrough it was so easy for me to get along my studies. My finall Assessor Rosan was so patient with me, made the entire process enjoyable. I am happy I choose open college.
I completed a Diploma of Community Services through Open Colleges and was very impressed by how accomodating, professional and enjoyable the whole experience was. I had to get several extensions due to changing States, work commitments, getting married and COVID. They did this for free, and then fast-tracked my final assessment grading so I was completed on time. I was worried by some of the negative reviews at the start, and by the ‘sales person’ like approach to getting my business, however this is no reflection on the actual course material, trainers or function of the online learning platform ‘Open Space’. The whole organisation is exceptionally professional and pleasant to work with. Rosan was my supervisor and he was brilliant. I could not recommend Open Colleges enough, thank you!
I thoroughly enjoyed completing this online course at my own pace. The support and guidance from the trainee, Sarah, was exceptional. Her feedback was professional and really helped with developing my knowledge, skills and confidence. The course content was thorough, interesting and covered many areas of photography. It was great! Thank you Open Colleges!
The course materials were perfectly presented, easy to digest and well run. I also can't praise the staff enough, any issue I had they dealt with extremely fast and achieved a perfect outcome. I would definitely recommend Open colleges.
Was great to get the qualifications for the jobs I’ve done.
There have been times when I would have appreciated more communication, things weren't always explained clearly regarding processes. I have had to ask why I haven't finished the course when I thought I had. This is because there isn’t a list that tells you what you still need to submit when it comes to assessments. I had missed a couple of things without realising. I am now at 96% complete and have submitted all of my assignments, I had to ask why. The 4% that remains is admin stuff from the colleges side. When you're really excited that you've submitted the very last assignment and it sits at 96% with no explanation of why? It takes a little bit of the joy of finishing away.
Had a very good experience with Open College, would definitely join again for future certifications. Assesses are very easy to communicate and approachable specially Tanya Galey and Holly. Very friendly and understanding. Was little disappointed when I read the news about how Open college will charge extra fees after your second submission of each assessment for markings.
Every step of my training was extremely easy to follow and when I needed help there was always someone to ask—the chat support on line or student support services. My assessor Melissa Mckay was also very encouraging and supportive. I want to thank Open Colleges for helping me achieve my goal of obtaining Cert IV in Mental Health.
I really enjoyed my course. Openspace was easy to navigate and the assessors and support team were friendly and helpful. You need to have self discipline, studying online, but there are really useful tools, in Openspace, to help keep you on track
Thankyou for the opportunity to gain my qualification. I am so happy!! I found distance education challenging at some times, because I’ve always been used to a physical classroom environment. However I can honestly say the support from student services was amazing, and I’m so happy I stuck with it!! Thankyou Open Colleges.
Really enjoyed my course in Marketing & Communications. I work in Marketing and I found all the information really beneficial to not only my day job but also further enhanced my hard skills. All the assessors, were so helpful and gave tangible feedback. My favourite assessor was Catherine Tumelty, she was warm and encouraging and provided valuable feedback.
From my perspective as an experienced Nail Artist and Certificate III Nail Technology student trying to finish the course: intellectual content is ok. Dense material to learn in detail about the whole basics. Complex modules and strict with Legislations Health and Safety and legal rules. However: OUT OF DATE, old style techniques and processes of teaching. The course doesn't follow the advances of the market and the real life of the nail industry. It's cheaper than a proper school like TAFE, French Beauty Academy, etc but the stress of actually learning out of theory is exhausting! Finding your own clients to do things people don't really like? Find loads of people that are keen to receive treatment just for the extensive assessments: HELL. The work placements don't match the reality of salons with real clients. You cannot do assessment tasks on clients that are paying for treatments the way they want. It doesn't make any sense. Tiring: Find a workmate with time/patience to be your supervisor while they are busy doing their own job? Ask the workmate to analyze and fill up heaps of paperwork that should be the responsibility of the school? COME ON. Where on Earth a government-subsided school can be so corrupt and non-sense? Open Colleges is the nightmare of modern nail spas, nail bars, and fast-paced busy nail techs. Internet and small brands are on the market not only because they make money but because they teach and they sell reality for people that have a genuine interest and talent to be a nail tech already. If you're a newbe looking for a Certificate/piece of paper go for it (TAFE preferably) but OPEN COLLEGES: trash. Don't waste your money and time to ruin your patience, nights of sleep, and professional reputation among beauty colleagues.
Where is the genuine assistance? We shouldn't have to submit an assessment to receive assistance as that counts as submitting which is terrible seeing as you get 2 go's before having to re-pay for an assessment. The course I chose is good, though the trainers are not really trainers because they are not training the customers, if someone asks for assistance why send the same generic template to everyone, why not give assistance as if it was face to face. I lost motivation doing this course because of the lack of assistance when it was needed and continuously re-submitted assessments because of this.
Overall, this online building and construction diploma program is good for people who already have tremendous practical experience; such knowledge is required to understand the program contents well and tackle the assessments. You are totally by yourself; there is little support available throughout the study period. The course contents should be regularly updated, including hyperlinks with course modules. For each module, there should be live lectures to facilitate a better understanding of the course topics and that students can ask questions. The recorded lectures should then be placed online. Regular tutorials should be held so students can seek help on specific topics and learn from the discussion of other students. In many cases, the assessment questions are wordy, vague. The assessment should be revised.
Open Colleges may recognize prior learning (RPL) and credits from other registered training organizations or educational institutions. Students need to provide official transcripts and course outlines for assessment. The recognition process is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Open Colleges has a withdrawal policy that allows students to cancel within a cooling-off period for a full refund. After this period, refund eligibility depends on the timing of withdrawal and course progress. Students should review the terms and conditions and speak with student services before making withdrawal decisions.
Many Open Colleges courses include practical components such as work placements, internships, or hands-on training requirements. The college works with industry partners to provide real-world experience opportunities. Specific placement requirements and arrangements vary by course and are outlined in the course information.
Open Colleges is an educational institution that provides distance learning and online training programs. The organization typically offers vocational courses, professional development programs, and skills-based training across various industries and fields of study. Students can generally access coursework and educational materials remotely through digital platforms and correspondence methods.
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