Richmond - The American International University in London - a real one, or phony?

Hello all,

A friend of mine mentioned that she was planning to go to London (UK) to study at "Richmond - The American International University in London". I called a friend of mine that is already there (in London) to help her, just in case... He got his PhD from Imperial College, London, so I asked him to see about a college that she mentioned. He replied that he hasn't heared of any such college.

Name: Richmond - The American International University in London

Web address: http://www.richmond.ac.uk/

"About Uiversity": http://www.richmond.ac.uk/about_uni/richmond.asp

There was a thread on this, but it wasn't brought to conclusion, I think. It can be found here: http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1793&highlight=richmond+AND+london

Links given here are:
http://www.msache.org/
http://www.open.ac.uk/validate


UK Department for Education and Skills (http://www.dfes.gov.uk/), explains about degrees in uk here: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/recognisedukdegrees/.

Page Who Can Offer UK Degrees? ,
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/recognisedukdegrees/wcoukd.shtml , gives axplanation on the theme.

Finally, there are two links at that page:
Recognised Bodies , http://www.dfes.gov.uk/recognisedukdegrees/annex4.shtml
and
Listed Bodies , http://www.dfes.gov.uk/recognisedukdegrees/annex5.shtml

(Full text about Recognised Bodies and Listed Bodies follows at the end of this post.)

Since they say:

...and they are NOT LISTED as university that can/may give diplomas, what would be your oppinion on this matter? (Richmond is mentioned as "listed body" - see text and links below.)

 

They're legit in the USA

Here is their reference on mid-state's web site:

Richmond, The American International University In London [Accredited]
Queens Road
Richmond, Surrey T W 10 6 J P
Richmond, Surrey TW10 6JP
England

Phone: +44 (208) 332-8290
Fax: +44 (208) 332-1297
Website: www.richmond.ac.uk

Institution Type: Master's II

First Accredited in: 1981
Reaccredited in: 2001

 

I used to live in Gloucester Road in London, only meters away from the Imperial College Campus and also very close to an American University in London, a small building in a fancy neighbourhood of the city. It was a legimate institution.

 

I don't understand your question.

You already know that this school is regionally accredited by the Middle States Association.

You already know that the British government recognizes it.

You already know that it's a validated collaborative provider of the UK Open University.

So what more do you want to know?

I can't tell you much about its academic reputation, but it's certainly legitimate. (But you know that.) Earning a bachelors degree that's both RA and recognized by Britain as a domestic degree might have some kind of advantage for somebody who lives and works in both countries, I don't know.

 

Well, I don't know about US accreditation since I was not interested in that; I thought that there is a Royal Charter in UK, and that there is no Open University or organization whatsoever that can give "authorization".

Isn't it true that only Government or Ministry, or someone who makes law, can give papers to universities?

Finally, British Government lists this University under "Colleges and other institutions offering courses leading to a degree of a recognized body" (http://www.dfes.gov.uk/recognisedukdegrees/annex5.shtml).

Since I am not expert in this area, I simply ask: is this University OK (in terms: legal, recognized, for real), or not?

(In my country we have only one type of universities: legally operating ones, with license, known professors,
address, buildings... And they operate under one law. So there is no "mistake"...)

Bottom line: is American Richmond in London legal, or not?

 

Legal or not is a bogus test for legitimacy of a higher education institution in both the USA and the UK. That is because there are legal institutions in the USA and the UK that are not legitimate. Fully legitimate is what I think you really want to know and the answer to both questions is yes.

 

The practice done by the Open University is better described as degree validation (rather than accreditation). The institution doing the validating is allowing the institution awarding the degre to award it in the validating institutions name.

It is a common practice within the UK - some links Open University, Univresity of Wales, City University.

 

Profile of Richmond from the Guardian: Richmond, the American International University

 

Lets not scrutinize a person who came here for help and had a valid question.

If you are not from USA then is USA the most recognized world wide form of recognition is when university is Regionally Accredited by one of the 6 Regional Accreditation Agencies and in your friends case
the school is accredited by legitimate and recognized Regional Accreditor in USA.

There are some times bogus accreditors that try to pass them selves as regionall body in USA such as Central States Consorum of Schools and Colleges that accredits breyer state university.

Now as far as Open University in UK, that’s been described earlier and its legit, you may here the privy council term as well.
It's legit

And to get dual accreditation is smart specially if the person is working and residing in this countries.