Affordable University of London online degrees (starts from 6k GBP)

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by nomaduser, Dec 11, 2020.

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  1. GregWatts

    GregWatts Active Member

    Just to clarify, as noted in the link you provided:

    "In fact, the only 'major' benefit offered by an independent accreditation from the British Computing Society, is a free 1-year membership in the BCS for new graduates. You can simply apply for a membership in the BCS independently."

    There are certain cultural differences between, for example, the US and UK. As a general statement, accreditation separate from regional accreditation is more salient than accreditation separate from a Royal Charter.

    Most won't give a flying **** that the program doesn't have this accreditation.

    B.Th., MBA (Heriot-Watt), MA (Leeds)
     
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  2. smartdegree

    smartdegree Active Member


    There's another post on Reddit by a current student in the program. I think this summarizes it well:

    "Keep in mind though, that you'll only get access to the more limited University of London facilities - and not the actual Goldsmiths College campus. The programme is a part of the University of London umbrella, which Goldsmiths college is a part of - and Goldsmiths provides the actual instructors and content. However, you're not technically enrolled at Goldsmiths College itself - only the University of London."

    https://www.reddit.com/r/coursera/comments/g72xac/university_of_london_goldsmiths_bachelors_in_cs/
     
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  3. nomaduser

    nomaduser Active Member

    Yes, but you can transfer to real Goldsmiths, University of London after you complete level 4 or 5.

    "Option to transfer to campus: Goldsmiths, University of London welcomes applications from students who wish to transfer to an on-campus degree.

    To complete your degree in two years of full-time study at Goldsmiths, finish eight Level 4 modules successfully. To complete your degree in one year of full-time study at Goldsmiths, you must also have completed eight modules at Level 5.

    If you are interested in transferring to Goldsmiths and have successfully completed the required modules (or expect to do so in your intended year of transfer), please contact the Computing Team."

    https://www.coursera.org/degrees/bachelor-of-science-computer-science-london/academics

    So once you transfer to their real campus, you become a real Goldsmiths alumni.
    I'm planning to finish level 4, 5 modules and then transfer to real Goldsmith campus so that I will get their alumni status and real degree.
    However, this isn't going to be cheap. It costs over $16k to study full-time for a year at Goldsmiths campus.
    You'll need at least $25k - $30k USD including living expenses in London.
     
    Last edited: Dec 15, 2020
  4. innen_oda

    innen_oda Active Member

    It's also not going to be assured. Notice all the hedging language they use when they refer to transferring.

    I wouldn't go into this assuming a transfer will happen.
     
  5. nomaduser

    nomaduser Active Member

    Yeah... a very weird degree indeed. I think they should offer all of UoL degrees at 50% of current prices lol
    If they really want to help students, they should offer those degrees for $4k. Because these are 'virtual' degrees that are offered by an institution that doesn't have its own lecturers, classrooms, etc.
     
  6. Stanislav

    Stanislav Well-Known Member

    I would agree. I was a PhD student at an ABET-accredited department and now am teaching at another one. Departments take the accreditation process seriously; we just been through one, and I even had a chat with a reviewer (not sure how much it contributed, since I am very new here). Outside the universities themselves, I can't imagine anyone caring that much - at least in CS. If you (1) have a degree that checks out and (2) can code, you're fine.

    I think my Master's, being a joint program with ACCA, is "accredited" by ACCA in the British sense. I ended up not using it for anything, but can't imagine the additional accreditation mattering in any real way.
     
  7. Stanislav

    Stanislav Well-Known Member

    Not to make too fine a point, but, again, they are doing these degrees in this way since 1858. They invented the concept. I think they have a handle on the price point.
     
  8. smartdegree

    smartdegree Active Member

    Yes, the University of London has a long history awarding external degrees, which helped develop many teaching institutions around the world to full-scale universities awarding their own degrees.

    20 years ago, I had great respect for the university as my ex-boss was an LSE alum and she would proudly display her University of London degree in her office .

    It is a bit sad, in my mind, that the University of London is now just a shell of its former self, relegated to an administrative body with little clout / influence. With Imperial leaving, it was left no choice but to acquiesce to its member institutions' desire for greater autonomy or see the breakup of the federation. With LSE, UCL, etc. offering their own degrees, the University of London degree is now viewed (I would argue) as a second-class degree within its own system.
     
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  9. nomaduser

    nomaduser Active Member

    UoL isn't really a ranked school but I will try to get the BSc in Computer Science from UoL.
     
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  10. smartdegree

    smartdegree Active Member

    I don't think ranking matters much unless you're in a job that requires that prestige (e.g. banking, consulting). In CS, no one cares as long as you know your stuff. As long as the school is legit, recognized, priced right and gives you what you need, you should be proud of that degree.

    Where I live (Canada), I don't even think anyone knows the difference between University of London or Goldsmith. Heck, University of London would sound a lot better on a resume here than Goldsmiths. Any school named University of XXX (enter city or state or country here) always sounds legit wherever you go. :)
     
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  11. nomaduser

    nomaduser Active Member

    I agree. And I hope UoL will become a ranked school some day.

    Yeah, 'University of London' sounds very legit.
    and it has a nice Wiki page:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_London

    I've asked UoL admins and they told me to not use 'Goldsmiths, University of London' on my resume but instead 'University of London' with 'Academic direction from Goldsmiths, University of London'.
    I will become a University of London alumni, not Goldsmiths alumni.
     
  12. GregWatts

    GregWatts Active Member

    I find this discussion hilarious. We are talking about the University of London like it is the "The University of Pheonix".
     
  13. GregWatts

    GregWatts Active Member


    PS: They don't care. If you care, they don't necessarily want you... and if you know, you don't care.
     
  14. nomaduser

    nomaduser Active Member

  15. nyvrem

    nyvrem Active Member

    just some food for thought

    the passing grade (a C i think, or was it a D) for UoL exams is 40%, to get an A, u need 70% or was it 75%. most ppl will end up mid/low 60s and graduate with a 2.2, or if good, a 2.1
    How are u graded? via ONE.. maybe two, 3 hr written exam. So you better pray on that day you don't screw up or fall sick or w/e. and the bell curve gods are in ur favour.
    Oh, and course models are almost fixed / limited. You can't really 'pick' from a range of courses to try to manipulate ur overall GPA scores.

    all the top unis in UK want a high 2.1 (like 60%+ average i think), or FCH (70%+ avg) for entry into their graduate program. in other words, it's really easy to get a pass degree from UOL (avg 40~50% score), but really hard to hit that 2.1/FCH area thats needed for entry into a graduate program.
    Here's another rando fact - Oxford looks at people with a US degree with a GPA of 3.5 ~ 3.7 and above for admissions into their program.

    So plan ur future accordingly because if u end up with a pass degree from UoL with no honors, u are basically screwed if u want to do graduate studies.

    source - my country has 1 of the biggest UoL study centers around, and every year, from a cohort of 2k+ students, about 10% get FCH.

    https://www.simge.edu.sg/news/highest-number-of-first-class-honours-to-date-for-sim-uol-graduates/

    Ask urself which ones better for u, doing bits and pieces of assignments to get a 3.0 GPA in a US college so u can enter graduate school, or work that bit harder to earn a 3.5 gpa+ and try for a better grad sch in the US, or doing all this via UoL style.
     
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  16. smartdegree

    smartdegree Active Member

    I think that applies to most universities outside the US. In the UK, Canada and Australia, the grading system is much harsher than the US. I hear it is much worse in Germany and Singapore.
    I agree -- if the goal is to get a high GPA, hard to beat an American university.
     
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  17. smartdegree

    smartdegree Active Member

    That's a good analogy. They are both primarily online/distance learning universities. We are talking about the current University of London, which awards primarily distance learning degrees. This institution used to be called "University of London External".

    The old University of London (which had oversight of curriculum and conferred degrees of LSE, UCL grads, etc) was a historically great institution. That university ended post-Imperial College and the only remnant of that system that survived is the University of London External System, which they now just call University of London.
     
  18. GregWatts

    GregWatts Active Member

    Three thoughts:
    • First, agreed. If one applies themselves, a 2.2. should be achievable.. 2.1 is hard... and a first is pretty rarified air.
    • Second, it seems like the grade classification in the UK is more significant than GPA in Canada or the US. In the US, GPA means something in applying to grad school or fresh out of college but one does not typically post their college GPA years after graduation. This is different than UK degree classification. If you got a first in your degree, that is something you continue to advertise... almost like a different category of degree... which I guess it is.
    • Third, there "may" be another option. I know at Leeds there is an option for some to "re-take" exams. In other words, you pass the exam but apply for a re-take in order to boost your grade.
    I think my MBA may have been a 2.2... guess I am a better philosopher. :)
     
  19. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    The internet is full of articles about how "bad" a 2.2 is (or consoling words that it's really NOT as bad as you think) for your prospects - and what to do about it. A sample: "Apply for jobs where a 2.2 is accepted. You might think this tip is about as useful as telling you to get rich by digging for gold, but schemes and positions for graduates with a 2:2 do exist ..."

    I wouldn't be very comfortable with a degree I had to DO stuff about... It seems like a "degree that requires explanations." One tip was to say "Yes, my degree is a 2.2 but I frequently got 2.1s on my assignments and projects etc." C'mon ... what hiring manager wants to hear stuff like that? "We'll keep your name on file..."

    The consensus does seem to be - once you get that first job - you'll never have to worry about the 2.2 again. Nobody will ask. Seems to be a severely prejudiced environment, first time round. Another tip: "Got a 2.2. in Biology? Don't apply for jobs in Biology." (So, what do you do if you got a 2.2 in Business?) Another tip for a 2.2 grad was "become self-employed." Yeah, that's practical, when you've got a big bill for your education and nothing coming in...
     
    Last edited: Dec 17, 2020
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  20. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Another tip was about grad school for 2.2 grads: "You'll probably get into a Master's program somewhere - but not where you want." Nothing like encouragement... to go to a school you don't want. And after that, I suppose you get married - to someone you don't like. And next, you'll have kids you both hate. All because of the 2.2. Doggone that bad-luck 2.2. And then you die...:(
     
    Last edited: Dec 17, 2020

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