Apex Professional University in Arunachal Pradesh, India offering Ph.D by research. www.apexuniversity.edu.in
I looked at the site and could not find information about the cost of research PhDs. Obviously, the web site is geared to Western viewers since they use several public use graphics depicting Western students hanging out in a Western setting, etc. Yet, their brochure says: "Apex Professional University, Arunachal Pradesh is conducting all degree programmes as per Section 22 of UGC Act through regular mode at main Campus only. Apex Professional University (APU), Pradesh is not offering any degree programme through Distance Education or Online Education Mode." Any idea how this works then and tuition?
APU is a small university in a remote area of India. Degrees by Research are not equal to distance learning/OL. U should contact APU directly to get more info.
Their Phd admissions page states: "Candidates who have obtained their degree/s through correspondence course/s are not eligible." This automatically excludes a vast number of forum members. Secondly, Indian universities are notorious for ignoring e-mails from foreigners. I've never received a reply to any inquiry, even though I've checked countless universities. The one exception was Assam Don Bosco University. I would not recommend this route unless you want to end up in a situation simillar to the one with Azteca.
Admittedly, I don't know about India, but in the U.S. correspondence courses and distance education are not equivalent.
A PhD by research means the "big book" thesis method. This means the only thing considered for completion of the degree is the thesis. It also means there isn't a prescribed ("taught") curriculum. It does NOT mean: No residencies Study by distance learning No courses No on-campus meetings What else you do to complete your thesis is determined by your advisor. It might be nothing more than the thesis itself. Or, it could involve taking courses, teaching courses, doing symposia, writing journal articles, and who-knows-what-else. It's a really good idea to negotiate these ahead of time. A PhD by research can be compared to the "little book" dissertation approach used in the US. This is where there IS a curriculum to take (usually 2 years or so of courses) followed by a smaller dissertation. But like the big book, your dissertation is still expected to make a significant and original contribution to scholarship. When it comes to distance learning, that a PhD by research is offered has no meaning.
How will they know that it was pursued through distance or correspondence mode? Unless it is a 100% online school, I don't think they could make a distinction. Neither my Lamar nor Liberty degree states online on the diploma.
They could always ask. The school on the diploma - or the degree-holder. And maybe somebody would actually tell them. And probably, if someone said "I'm not telling," they'd take that as a "yes, by distance." I get the vibe that this school doesn't like North Americans very much - so I give this thing a hard pass. If I were intending Ph.D. study, I'd prefer a school that liked me at least somewhat. Especially if they're intent on screwing me, as can often be the case.
I guess they must have a lot of time on their hands. When I applied for my MBA at Assam Don Bosco University, I read online that the UGC (I think) do not evaluate online degrees as equivalent. Of course, I earned my B.S. in CJ at Ashworth. Anyway, ADBU never required me to get an evaluation. So, that was that.
I like DBU - and I think the distance experience of Non-Indians there would be better, on the whole, than at many other schools in India. DBU knows its market and serve it well. And there's Amity. I've heard better reports lately, as far as communication goes. I sometimes wonder, by the way they do things (or don't) - if most other Indian schools offering distance-ed., actually want North Americans, or prefer Indians distant from their campus, other South Asians and non-Western students in general.
The subject of residencies for doctoral programs has come up before, but I thought I'd say it again: I'm for them. I feel they give you a better connection to the school and its community. They provide opportunities to commune with other students and faculty. I'm a firm believer that the doctorate can be done successfully fully at a distance, but I don't recommend it. (Yes, I've been to Cincinnati and to Leicester. My recommendation for a good time in Cincy is across the river. My favorite pub in Leicester is the Walkabout--an Aussie pub, ironically. But they have good wifi.)
If they want to market to US students they will have to adjust to the market. Affordable tuition is only one component. No one will feel like they got a bargain (at a few thousand dollars) if they have the stress of being unable to contact professors and get responses. cacoleman's Azteca experience is on the worse case end. Pay your money, do the work, and nothing (email disappears into the dead zone). Hello...hello...anyone home.... Like Hotel California, you can enroll but you can never graduate.
On a dark Eastern/Mexican information super highway Cool wind in my hair Warm smell of learning Rising up through the air Up ahead in the distance learning vortex I saw shimmering light My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim I had to stop for degree There she stood in the doorway I heard the cash register bell And I was thinking to myself This could be Heaven or this could be Hell Then she lit up a candle And she showed me the way There were voices down the corridor I thought I heard them say Welcome to the Foreign Bargain School Such a lovely degree (such a lovely degree) Such a lovely price Plenty of room at the Foreign Bargain School Any time of year (any time of year) You can find it here Welcome to the Foreign Bargain School Such a lovely place (such a lovely place) Such a lovely idea They livin' it up at the Foreign Bargain School What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise) Bring your alibis Last thing I remember, I was Running for graduation I had to find the passage to my PhD To the place I was working for "Relax, " said the night man "We are programmed to receive "You can check-in any time you like "But you can never leave!"
They do have some "external programs" that can be taken "without having to attend the campus" by "taking the lectures, tutorials and assessments online". https://www.apexuniversity.edu.in/external-programs-private-students However, my gut feeling is that this is mostly geared towards those who are physically present in other parts of India. Most of their admission links for international admissions are broken, so it's hard to say.