However, it has become increasingly clear that technological resources on their own are not sufficient to provide
positive online education experiences. More attention should be given to induction processes for online students to
allow their effective integration and adjustment to the university environment. Nevertheless, a systematic
programme of interactive sessions that supports the induction of DL students is not always a formal university-wide
practice. Introducing students to their virtual learning environment during the first week of teaching may result in
increased dropout rates, difficulty in addressing the educational objectives of the programme and in a high volume
of technical questions that overwhelm students and staff in the first weeks. DL Postgraduate (PG) students, in
particular, may be quite a vulnerable learner group when it comes to online education, as it can be easily assumed
that they are already confident and independent learners and their transition from an undergraduate campus-based
education to postgraduate online study would be a straightforward experience. However, DL PG students are often
mature students who have taken a longer break in education and this may make them feel less confident in relation
to their academic and IT skills. Additionally, they often juggle studies with complex family and work commitments,
which means that their adaptation period may be more complicated and take longer. Although these challenges merit
a unique focus, limited studies have been conducted into the induction experiences of PG DL students (Harrison
2010). Studies that examine the perspectives of students beyond a simple analysis of the provision of programmes
and their content are also scarce and this presents a limited understanding of challenges and opportunities. The aims
and objectives of this research project were therefore as follows: a) to identify existing gaps in the provision of
support in students’ transition to postgraduate online DL education and identify needs and expectations via an
examination of DL students’ experiences (content, process and methods) and b) to offer recommendations for the
effective design of an online induction programme for postgraduate online DL students.