Master Online . I need some infos

Hello there,

I'm a European guy that needs to earn a master. Choosing something from my coyntry (GReece) seems like the logical step since 1.) the universities are good, 2.) they are not extremely expensive. But... I would like to see my other online options. That's why I decided to ask for your help.

A little about me. I have a university or so called bachelor degree in Business Managment. So, the subject of the master must be similar. anything about ed, economics would be ok and interesting to check it.

Then, there is a problem. Althought I speak english, i feel that if the online program is extremely demanding in Engish...I will have problems for sure.
A small note, I took some Coursera. EDx Moocs and had no problems...if that says anything.
Be brutal honest please.

Do I have to pass exams? How is it possible via the online way? Anyone with experience?
I have no clue.

As I said, I'm from Europe ...which means...the US-way cost is a huge NO. Noone in Europe pays 20-30.000$ for a master. So..Im interested for a MAX cost >= 3000 .

The accreditation matters. For example, Im not interested in something like this :
https://www.newlaneuniversity.com/

Im not interested in masters from colleges with strange names and based in Asia, Africa, Middle East. No offense but most of jobs will not take my cv seriously. The general mentality says that the master must be from Europe/US.

From my research, I found these :

https://eiu.ac/mba-programmes/
https://www.nexford.org/
http://www.unimarconi.gr/
https://humanum.pl/en/zarzadzanie/hr-and-talent-management-ii/#o_specjalnosci
https://www.ashworthcollege.edu/admissions/tuition/savings/
https://www.smcuniversity.com/programs-and-services/higher-education-programs/bachelors/bachelor-in-corporate-security/
https://cmls-global.com/courses/mba-top-up/
http://en.reingex.com/
https://romebusinessschool.com/master-in-political-marketing/#f

any thoughts about them?

Im looking forward for your answers

Thanks in advance

PS - Your threads are amazing and very informative.

 

Considering the restrictions you've placed on potential programs, I suggest that you stick with your local Greek universities.

 

im amazed at how you speak of accreditation yet your research comes up with so many questionable programs.

 

SuperDuper,

You might want to test your English in order to see whether you reach C1 level, if that is the required threshold. Ultimately, it really depends on the content of the actual program (does it have a thesis, etc.) and your familiarity with Business English. This isn't a humanities or social science degree, so the language requirements might be less stringent.

It is evident that you're looking for an accredited program. That should narrow your options. But you have not revealed the purpose of pursuing such online studies. Evidently, you'd prefer that the school would not bring you embarrassment, as you apply for different jobs. This is where it gets a bit more tricky. Outside of the pool of a few internationally highly rates business schools, it is kind of hard to predict this reaction ahead of time, as it can range from positive to dismissive based on a whole range of factors. None of the mentioned schools have this "star factor". Do you only want to show the degree to employers in the business world, or are you exploring an academic post down the road?

European International University (EIU) offers an affordable online MBA program, which appears to be licensed by the French Ministry. However, the license does not equal to accreditation on par with public French institutions. Nevertheless, the status takes care of the legality aspect. Their programmatic accreditation (ASIC) is kind of controversial, although it is not entirely fake.

Nexford is likewise licensed and accredited through ASIC. However, the status does not really amount to very solid accreditation.

Guglielmo Marconi might be the best option, as they appear to cater to Greek students based on the provided link. The university is truly accredited in Italy. Their accreditation does not raise eyebrows. I might just go with that one, of you're looking for a respectable European degree. Make sure that you see whether it is an official Master's though!

Collegium Humanum offers online programs in Polish through a partner company here in Poland. It also offers programs in German through some it's slightly more controversial partnerships. I am not sure about English. Regardless, I would stay away from it in your situation. The school has a good accreditation. However, it is fairly new (2018). Many of these new higher schools are closing down within a few years. It would better to see how it builds it's reputation from this moment.

Ashworth, mostly known among American employers. Fine accreditation and school. Despite the achievement, the reputation is so-so, as it is mostly seen as a place where you get your career diploma.

SMC- just stay away from it. They had some partnerships with the Central University of Nicaragua in the past, but that would not bring you a fantastic reputation on the continent. I am not sure whether the partnership even exists anymore.

CMLS- the British university top-ups may be good, if you already have a level 7 British qualification. That will set you back in the financial department. Then you have to add the top-up tuition. Yeah, it is not cheap.

EENI Business School (Reingex site). It doesn't look like an official Spanish Master's, although the school may be licensed locally.

Rome Business School - the partnership with Universidad Internacional de Valencia looks kind of interesting, although it's probably not an official Spanish Master's. 60 ECTS credits amount to a single year, although you can find Master's degrees with such a small amount of credit. You would just need to see if this is equivalent to a Master's degree in your own country. I doubt it.

 

The test isn't monitored by a proctor, which makes it unsuitable as a resume qualification. However, you can check your level of English and print out the certificate award. It is quite good;

https://www.efset.org/english-certificate/plus/

 

First of all , I would like to thank you all for your anwers.

Then ,

I think I was clear in my first post. I have no idea about the foreign online masters that's why I post here. All these links are part of my research and have an accreditation. Its far more better to have an ASIC than no credit at all. That doesnt mean Im planning on joining their courses, Since Im not that familiar with the international accredation system..people with more experience like you here, are more than welcome to share their thoughts or even better suggest something.

Tadj, thanks a lot for your very informative answer.

As for this :

I will be honest.

My main goal is to earn a master that is respectable and not questionable.I like the knoweldge but Im not able to pay a lot of money for it, I just cannot. And Im prety sure not all good masters are expensive.
And, yes of course I like the idea of having an extra degree in my resume. Having more make you more competitive.
Thanks again for the commentary of my links.

If anyone has any other online college to suggest, please feel free.

 

Smartly Institute is being considered for accreditation by DEAC. There's no guarantee that they will achieve it, but I would take that option seriously. The school has a very selective admissions process, so you might need a good Bachelor's degree to even be considered by them. It's a free option at this time. But I am not sure if the level of English proficiency wouldn't pose an obstacle in terms of program completion. Right now, Smartly Institute functions as a state-licensed school in the U.S. If you're considered licensed (non-accredited) options, you might as well consider them. Just be aware that there are some significant limitations to a degree from a licensed institution!

https://smart.ly/

As for ASIC, it works better as an accreditor of specific programs. The better ASIC schools have already achieved accreditation from national governments/Ministries of Education in a given country. The less credible schools rely on their accreditation exclusively. In the latter case, the value is even more diminished, as ASIC does not provide that type of accreditation. Also, ASIC isn't always looked upon favourably due to some of it's past practices. However, it is not a fake accrediting agency.

 

WorldQuant University is also on the list of institutions to be considered for accreditation in the U.S. It's a also free, but the program is not "easy breezy", so you would need to be ambitious and display the type of skills that business/finance majors ought to display; math, etc.

https://wqu.org/

https://www.deac.org/Public-Notices/Institutions-To-Be-Considered.aspx

 

Sorry tadj, but if our op is looking for a program that is "respectable and not questionable" then recommending unaccredited programs is a little wide of the mark.

 

I made it clear that these institutions are licensed and non-accredited (only being considered for U.S. accreditation). I never once suggested that they are accredited. I also made it clear that there are some serious limitations that come with these degrees. Again, it comes to down to whether we are treating people as adults, or little children. Do I think that these schools are better than ASIC ones? Yes. if someone is going to enroll in a non-accredited school anyways, it might be better to point them to ones that have real potential to become accredited in the future. They just need to know that there is no guarantee that this will happen and that closed doors are a real possibility. I will leave it at that. I've also taken into consideration the fact that these specific programs are free, so the cost will be mostly in terms of time. if someone just wants an additional qualification, it might be a good choice.

 

I would agree with Steve. I would first look for a local accredited qualification (Greece has some fantastic options in that regard, i.e. online options for Greek speakers where English would not pose an obstacle). The discussed online stuff may be good, if you just need an additional qualification and have time to spare. Your main qualifications (Bachelor, Master, Doctorate) should always come from accredited institutions. The non-accredited qualifications can only serve as a supplement. A certificate or diploma (instead of a degree) is always a safer bet with non-accredited schools.

Now a section for adults: Sometimes, you may actually benefit from enrolling in a free program that later becomes accredited.

 

Hey,

well although I respect efforts like WorldQuant, Smarty or even the University of People ..lets be realists...these options are not that great for your cv. For that reason, I would prefer not to spend my money or time on them. Employers will not take them seriously anyway. On the other hand, a degree from a European/US college or business school sounds more legit for them even if their accreditation is regional.

Anyway, as it seems my options are very limited outside Greece. Even those "mystery" accredited colleges seem to be quite expensive... (


PS -

A small note. This :
http://en.reingex.com/

seems to be from a country in Africa and not from Spain (as it claims).

 

University of the People is in a different league. It could definitely be a boost to your resume. I don't share the sentiment on U.S. national accreditation, especially if you're outside of the States. These degrees are widely accepted by European agencies in charge of evaluating foreign credentials, although I am not sure about Britain. Look, I know the feeling. I think that there are many people who are searching for these hidden online gems. Low price, some serious recognition, a degree that can boost your earning potential, or add real value. The cool thing about this board is that we're keeping an eye on such things. However, the options continue to change. In some cases, they indeed diminish. I've recently e-mailed Don Bosco University, and it turned out that they've substantially raised the price for their degrees. But we're keeping our hopes up. For the time being, try to focus on the good schools that you have in Greece. Maybe you will find something cool in your own backyard.

 

Sorry mate but if you have trouble finding in Greece master degree around 3000 euro, then your are doing something wrong.
Knowing the Greek educational system I can assure you its above the average in EU and obviously (if you exclude the top 30) in USA Just make sure you do your homework...

 

But I never mentioned that I'm not able to find a degree in Greece with those amount of money. The core of my question-posts were "what can I get with the same money ~or less~ from an online foreign college". And yeah, the conclusion was to study in a Greek master program.

 

Under other circumstances I'd suggest the University of London. I believe it meets most of your criteria except for that whole cost thing.

https://london.ac.uk/ways-study/distance-learning

Otherwise the only ones I can think of have strange names so, best of luck.

 

Indeed. Uni of London has a great name in the market, its extremely popular. But the cost is a big issue. Let me explain why I dont want to spend a huge amount of money on a master (other than I can find one more affordable in my country).

My montly salary -> 700 per month.
Cost of life (if you are single no kids) -> around at 400 euros - + . It depends where you live as everywhere in the world.

Unlike the USA, if you earn a master it doesnt mean that you will automatically earn a better salary... oh no! Unfortunately, the Greek reality is not fair.
So your motives must be a,) you want a competitive cv, b.) you aim for a public service job(extremely difficult) or c.) for your personal satisfaction/fulfillment/knoweldge.
My main aims are a.) and c.) ...

So yeah, spending 10k+ for a degree is not a great idea, at least if you are a mid-class Greek man like me ...


As for the suggestions I'm open to listen anything but as I said, they need to have some kind of accreditation. Not very expensive, no strange names.

After finishing my 1st master, it would be interesting to earn one more from a cheaper accredited program. Besides, having something extra at your cv & further your knoweldge is never a bad thing.

 

In your first post, you've indicated that you have a "so-called Bachelor's degree in Business Management". In your last post, you've talked about finishing your first Master's degree and exploring the option of doing a second degree from a cheaper accredited program. Is the first Master's related to your Bachelor's degree when it comes to the field of study? Are you working on it now? Maybe all you need is just a quality business certification in an area of specialty. I don't see how some cheap MBA is going to add much value, if you will be a recipient of two degrees from accredited institutions.