Although this site covers education in general, it's mainly concerned with distance-learning. Most distance-learning courses and programs are provided by US colleges. These frequently accept overseas students. Those that don't are generally small colleges that lack the resources to cater for large enrollments.
There are several reasons for the popularity of US colleges. One is the variety of programs offered. Another is their flexibility in providing opportunities for credit transfer and assessment of prior learning (APL). I've therefore included several links to assist those contemplating a US education.
Other countries providing quality distance-learning degree programs in English include Australia, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, and the UK.
The meanings of the terms program and course can vary between countries. Although there are no absolute definitions of these terms, the ones commonly applied in the US and UK are:
US: A program is comprised of several courses.
UK: A course (that equates to a program in the US) comprises several modules or units.
Seeking a specific course, program, or college? Or how to gain college credit through proficiency exams? You may have heard about accreditation but do you know what this implies, and which accrediting agencies are officially recognized? This page contains links to external sites that provide this information, cutting the time you might otherwise spend searching for it. New links are added periodically and your suggestions are welcome. Happy browsing!
Where to Study
The first of the links is to an MIT site with links to over 3000 colleges, worldwide. Some notable absentees are among leading providers of distance-learning programs so I've included direct links to these and to other noted distance-learning providers. The three US colleges (Regents College, Thomas Edison State College, and Charter Oak State College) are all regionally-accredited. This is an important consideration when choosing a US college as regional accreditation is viewed by educational institutions, employers, and governments as indicative of satisfactory academic standards. The UK equivalent is recognition by the Secretary of State for Education.
Distance-learning programs, worldwide
International Centre for
Distance Learning
UK Universities and University-sector Colleges Courses, programs, and institutions
University Continuing Education
Association
Education programs for US military personnel
DoD Voluntary Education
Program
Some top distance-learning providers
Charter Oak State College (USA)
Thomas Edison State College (USA)
College Ratings
Proficiency Exams to earn you College Credit
Most people agree that knowledge is more important than how, or where, it was gained? Yet, although assessment of prior learning (APL) is commonplace in UK vocational programs, it's non-existent in academic ones. This aspect is addressed in the US by government-recognized proficiency exams. These cover the same syllabi as traditional on-campus courses and by passing them, students may gain equivalent credit. However, which proficiency exams, and the amount of proficiency-exam credit, that may be applied to degree programs varies with colleges so check its acceptance with your college before registering for an exam.
College-Level
Examination Program (CLEP)
Other Proficiency Exams
Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAT exam)
Non-collegiate Qualifications that qualify for College Credit
Many US colleges grant credit toward degrees for specific non-collegiate qualifications gained following structured courses in, for example, the corporate sector, the military, the emergency services, and civil aviation authorities. Credit is awarded on the recommendation of either of two agencies, the College Credit Recommendation Service of the American Council on Education (ACE), and the National Program on Noncollegiate Sponsored Instruction (National PONSI). Acceptance of these recommendations is the prerogative of each college. If you think you may qualify, it's worth checking with a college if they award credit on this basis, preferably before enrolling.
International Recognition of Qualifications
Evaluation of Foreign Academic Credentials
By providing internet-based distance-learning opportunities, colleges attract large numbers of international students. The students, in turn, provide a significant additional source of income. Students benefit because of the huge available choice of colleges, programs, and courses. Inevitably, variations in standards, and in the format of programs and courses, are widespread, even more so than in the pre-internet era.
Countries frequently employ some form of governmental control to ensure that appropriate standards are maintained within their borders. As standards also vary between countries, agencies (usually government or government-recognized) exist in many to evaluate foreign qualifications for equivalence to their own. However, their findings are presented as recommendations and it is left to colleges and employers to accept or reject them. Be aware, though, that if a qualification is not recognized by the government of the country of origin, it’s most unlikely to be recognized elsewhere (so forget that unaccredited degree). Furthermore, government recognition by one country doesn’t imply automatic recognition by another.
If you intend to use international qualifications outside of the country of origin, you can verify their likely acceptance with a recognized evaluation agency. In the US, colleges either evaluate overseas qualifications themselves or employ specific private agencies to do the job for them.
Here are some links to government-approved evaluation agencies:
Credit transfer within the European Community
Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials
The (UK) National Academic Recognition Information Centre
US Agencies
The US government department responsible for education
Education statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
Educational information
Education sources on the net
The agency that accredits the accreditors
Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
UK Agencies
The UK government department responsible for education
Department for Education and
Employment
The principal UK agency accrediting private colleges
British Accreditation Council
for Independent Further and Higher Education (BAC)
The principal UK agency accrediting private open and distance-learning
colleges
Open and Distance
Learning Quality Council (ODLQC)
The principal UK agency accrediting MBAs
Association of Masters in Business
Administration (AMBA)
The principal UK agency accrediting English language schools,
and a source of much information on UK education
The UK Academic and Research Network
English Agencies
Information on Further Education in England
The Further Education
Funding Council
Information on Higher Education in England
Higher Education Funding Council
for England
Irish Agencies
The Irish government department responsible for education
Department of Education and Science
The Northern Ireland government body responsible for post-compulsory education
Department of Higher & Further Education, Training & Employment
The UK government department responsible for education in Northern Ireland
Information on education in all Ireland
Scottish Agencies
The Scottish government body responsible for education
Information on Further Education in Scotland
Scottish Further
Education Funding Council
Information on Higher Education in Scotland
Scottish Higher
Education Funding Council
Welsh Agencies
The Welsh government body responsible for education
The National Assembly for Wales
Information on Further Education in Wales
Further Education Funding
Council for Wales
Information on Higher Education in Wales
Higher Education Funding
Council for Wales
General information on education in Wales
Welsh Joint Education Committee
Australian Agencies
The Australian government department responsible for education
Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs
Canadian Agencies
An excellent source of information and resources
Office of Learning Technologies
New Zealand Agencies
The New Zealand government department responsible for education
The Education Media
Information on Australian higher education
Information on UK education
The Guardian/The Observer "Education Unlimited"
Information on compulsory and further education in the UK
"The Times Educational Supplement" (TES)
Information on UK higher education
"The Times Higher Education Supplement"
Information on US higher education
"The Chronicle of Higher Education"
This page is copyright ©
2000 by Ronald M. Isaacs. The text may be copied, in whole or part, for
non-profit use, provided that the source is credited.
Introduction
Note:
The Links
Degree-awarding colleges worldwide
World Directory Index