Anyone have input on the University of London's International Programmes? (Online)

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Learning101, Mar 2, 2011.

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  1. Learning101

    Learning101 New Member

  2. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    The general reputation is good. It's said that the final exams are rather difficult.
     
  3. Rain

    Rain New Member

    About a year ago I was looking into the exact same programs. Unfortunately it seems really HARD to find reviews or student experiences! I researched the net and this forum but nothing. Hope you have better luck.

    All I know is also that the reputation is very good. I don't think the exams are THAT difficult because they are only one hour and I think they give you some questions to choose from.

    They also involve computer conferencing (discussion forums I guess?) where you have to make a contribution.

    In the end I opted for Heriot-Watt's HRM MSc because it offers more flexibility, is slightly cheaper, and you can do some workshops on campus (optional).

    In hindsight more flexibility is not so great because you need a hell of a lot of discipline!! A bit more structured with deadlines is easier I think.
     
  4. Rain

    Rain New Member

    Oh and please DO share if you find out anything interesting or if you decide to study yourself!
     
  5. KLite

    KLite New Member

    Personally I feel that you will not go wrong with a programme from UoL. It is a reputable university and courses are conducted by lead colleges that specialises in the fields offered.

    Having done an undergraduate course with UoL many years back, I wouldn't remember their exams being particularly tough, but the challenge was in providing the best quality answers to get the highest possible marks/grade.
     
  6. Learning101

    Learning101 New Member

    What's the reputation of the actual university?

    I'm in the U.S, and I found the overall program to be structured to a T for my needs. Thanks to this forum I was able to include this option as I had no idea it even existed prior to joining this forum.

    Hopefully, someone will chime in, and I'll keep digging, and share any information here.
     
  7. AUTiger00

    AUTiger00 New Member

    The University of London has a phenominal reputation, or at least some of the 31 affiliates housed under the UoL blanket do. London Business School, London School of Economics (I believe they are/were making a push to be a stand alone institution though), University College London and King's College are the most recognizable of these 31, but all of them are reputable. The Programs you are considering are housed inside Birkbeck. The school primarily caters to part-time students/working adults. In September '10, Birkbeck was shortlisted for the prestigious 2010 Times Higher Education University of the Year award.
    Beyond that UofL has been in the business of distance/correspondence learing for CENTURIES. They may have created it. If the program fits your needs, I say enroll.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 2, 2011
  8. Learning101

    Learning101 New Member

    Thanks Auburn Tiger, War Eagle!
     
  9. Rain

    Rain New Member

    Now that I see you're an American, the only thing you might want to bear in mind is that you will have extremely limited support, it's basically studying by yourself with a little bit of tutor support (in the form of answer to questions). From what I understand, this is very different from the American style. But if you're cool with that and the program suits your needs, you should be just fine!
     
  10. GeeBee

    GeeBee Member

    I flunked out of a U of L International programme. It was Mathematics and Economics, not one of the programs you are considering, but the basic issues with the program are similar.

    1) Most of the successful students in the U of L programmes seem to be in the UK or in Asia. Many of them are actually attending classes at an affiliated college, and taking exams through U of L. You won't have that luxury.

    2) The programs are not really "online," although they seem to be adding more support materials. You won't have lectures, or assignments, or quizzes, or tests during the school year. You'll get a study guide and a list of textbooks at the beginning of September, and you'll take an exam in May. What happens in between is entirely up to you.

    3) You will be tested at the same level as the students who are attending classes every day in London. That's one reason the program has such a great reputation. But be forewarned, the tests are hard. A faculty member at Duke told me that he considers candidates with a BS from a British school to have the equivalent of a Masters from an American school.

    In short, this is high-level work, and you will have no support. If you can handle it, you will end up with a very impressive credential at an impressively low cost. Personally, I couldn't do it. And I wish I hadn't wasted two years studying for, and failing, their exams. (I'm no slacker, either. I have switched programs and have a 4.0 average.)
     
  11. sshuang

    sshuang New Member

    Hi GeeBee,

    Wow, you flunked out of a U of L and yet managed to have a 4.0 average some place else. That's a huge difference. So which school did you attend, and was it also online?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 4, 2011
  12. Learning101

    Learning101 New Member

    Thanks for sharing your experience.

    I just made the assumption that the courses were streamed online similar to the DLl programs in the states.

    The virtual classroom DL structure in most of the U.S. programs I've researched puts you in the classroom, which is an ideal situation.
     
  13. BizProf

    BizProf New Member

    If you want streaming and such from a low-cost, prestigious university with degrees at least partially online, then Harvard Extension is the route to go. Not easy, so I have heard, but they do a lot more support for their external students than London, and their degrees are comparably priced. Great choice, so long as you have the luxury of spending a couple months over a couple summers in the Boston area to take some classes live.

    Online Classes via Harvard Distance Education: Harvard Extension School
    Degree Programs: Harvard Extension School
     
  14. AUTiger00

    AUTiger00 New Member

    I'll echo this. I took three classes through HES before being admitted to my current program. Challenging and fun. my courses were in their Government track. If you go this route watch out for the proseminar, I never got around to taking it but from all accounts it is writing intensive and a brutal work load. DO NOT take another course while taking the prosem, especially if you're working full-time.
     
  15. Learning101

    Learning101 New Member

    How were those government online courses (workloads / exams) compared to the work load that you are experiencing in-house at Harvard? Just curious.
     
  16. Learning101

    Learning101 New Member

    How would you rate the online government course workload and exams compared to the in-house workload experienced today at Harvard? Are the online exams taken online, and do they exist of both standard multiple choice and essay formats, along with papers? (All complete online?) Just curious...
     
  17. ITJD

    ITJD Active Member

    At what point did you leave? I'm asking because I've looked at that particular program before and am wondering which units cause more pain than others.
     
  18. jfosj

    jfosj Member

    I have to agree with most of the earlier posts when rating the difficulty of UOL. However, for many courses they are adding more information and more forums to interact with the students. Another plus factor is that depending on the class that you're taking there's a lot of information available for free on the web that will allow you to complement the information that you get from your guides and textbooks. Some courses taught by the London School of Economics include video explanations of many chapters so you are not left to do the study on your own. There's no hand holding...

    There's a large number of students that take courses on an affiliated entity but they are mostly for undergraduate degrees. Even then, they focus on the most popular courses: economics, basic math, basic stats, and law.

    I know I'm repeating some of the earlier comments but, if you are able to study on your own and have excellent tima management skills then go for it. If you're easily distracted, you may want to reconsider. Each course is designed for at least 6 or more months or studying so going there and studying for a course for 2-3 months wont be enough to get a passing mark/grade. Also, you need to assess how much work can you handle, I register for 4 courses the first year and after reviewing everything (I have a full time job that consumes over 60 hours of my week + international travelling) I decided to only take 1.5 units (basic math being the .5).... Believe is harder than most of the graduate courses I have taken in my life, but you cannot ask for better qualifications. You get the degree, you'll know your stuff.

    Hope this helps, JFO
     
  19. ITJD

    ITJD Active Member

    Immensely. Thank you. I'll need to figure out where to sit exams in the states.
     
  20. AUTiger00

    AUTiger00 New Member

    The courses that are offered online are (almost) always available on campus, they just stream the lectures. Two of my courses were strictly papers, no exams. Multiple 5-10 page papers and a 25 page paper served as your final. The reading requirements were almost excessive. The other course was made up of shorter writing requirements, online discussions, and a final that was multiple choice and essays. You will learn how to write quality papers at HES or you will fail out, simple as that. If you're going to take more than one class a term and you work full time, do your research before registering because you do not want two writing entensive courses at the same time. It will kill absolutely all free time you have.

    It is not easy, it's not a backdoor to a Harvard degree. My HES courses were far more work than my classes at HGSE are.

    You have to do some of your classes on campus to earn a degree from HES so you need to be prepared to live here during for a couple of summer terms.
     

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