UoL External Program Alumni

hmm....exam conflict....

if they are not making special arrangement for you, then it would be completely luck for you not to have any exam conflict. They are both in May

EMFSS (this includes Economics)
http://www.londonexternal.ac.uk/exams/advance_timetables/emfss.shtml

IC MBA
http://www.londonexternal.ac.uk/exams/advance_timetables/mba_imperial.shtml

 

Double registration

I could definitely be wrong about this, but I was once told that if you want to register for a second UoL external programme you have to withdraw from the first. They may be willing to make exceptions, I don't know.

I apologize that I am unable to off hand find a reference to this in the University literature. My suggestion would be to ask them the question.

In the LLB programme they have 2 exams, which one you write depends on where in the world you live. That way your friend in Singapore doesn't call you, or vice versa.. So the answer might be that you will write both exams on the same day but for the rescheduled exam write the paper for the other zone, if they use the Zone A / Zone B system in either of the programmes that you're considering. It would seem to be a suggestion that would allow them to maintain the integrity of the exams.

 

Good to hear Daniel - challenge is good!

However, if I were you, I'd do the Post-grad diploma from London in econ instead.

True, US employers don't know a PG-Dip from BA bull s**t - but it would be something from the grad level - not undergrad. As fine as a London degree is, I think the US business perception will count the level of the qualification more than the fact that it's a London degree.

Besides, you already have a first degree, and thus the "need" to do in several years what can be done in one, I think, is hard to justify. And to me this sequence provides a better, more sensible segue to the MBA.

Another way of putting it is that I think that the learning gained in later parts of London BSc in econ can pretty much be learned on one's own. The difference between self-study and formal study (beyond the recognition) is that the former can be finely tuned to one's needs, opportunities, and future specialization. So - I'm asking what important skills will you gain that you can't through the PG-diploma?

(Just my opinion.)

--Orson

 

Again, I am simply amazed at the amount of support I am getting from people.

Special thanks to tcmac for pointing out the exam pages and conflicts. I followed novemberdude's advice and sent an inquiry to UoL asking about how they'd handle a special case of dual registration. I am still waiting to hear from them.

It will be a bit disappointing if they don't allow me to get on both program(me)s simultaneously.

Let me try to answer Orson's question as to why another BSc in Econ versus PG. I could be completely misguided on this, so please provide feedback if you feel my line of thinking is wrong/unrealistic.

First, why I am doing an MBA. Simply because I am stuck at my work in my position and can't go any further without some further training. I am stuck anyways in my current firm, because our company is small and they don't have any "higher" position for me. I feel that even if I change jobs, a person with 7 years of experience as a software architect in the same company should not only have some administrative skills in terms of work, but should also possess an MBA if he wants to be considered in a "higher" position.

Second, the BSc in Economics. I am very interested in the subject matter and honestly want a full exposure starting from the basics. The progam(me) is lead by LSE! Granted I probably won't have any access to the faculty, but I will go through the same material and the same exam standards and judged by the same graders! And the price I'll pay is, quite frankly, nominal. Given LSEs reputation, it won't be wrong to say that its almost in par with MIT and Harvard as far as Economics is concerned. Think about it, if Harvard or MIT had such a program (at such a price), who wouldn't want this if he/she were interested in the subject?

The PG program, while not bad, is meant for those who don't have background in Econ but want to pursue graduate studies in Econ. So I am not sure how the PG program will be relevant as a ladder to MBA. Honestly, from what I have seen of MBA curriculums, it is not really a graduate program in Economics (though its related). As the name suggests it is all about Management and Administration; and frankly, if I would do an MBA, it would just be to tell the world, that I have theoretical knowledge about M&A in addition to my practical experience M'ing and A'ing.

I am not thinking about the Econ program as a complementary education to the MBA. I am thinking about it because I am interested in Econ for its own intrinsic self. Granted, it will take me a few additional years, but I am not really in a rush.

And quite frankly, I also have an eye for a possible, PhD in Econ in some distant and probably highly unlikely future.

So Orson, that's the scoop. MBA is for the resume. BSc Econ is for my heart and mind. One has nothing to do with the other, but if the combination "emerges" into something else - a new possible career in a new field, I wouldn't mind! The only constant in life is change!

 

My degree was through Birkbeck College, not through the External Programme. But Birkbeck does indeed insist that you take no other program (within U. London or elsewhere -- but who's to know if you do it elsewhere?) at the same time. If you go the the "Declaration by Applicant" on page 5 of the application form (at http://www.bbk.ac.uk/study/pgform2003.pdf), you'll see that you have to sign the following declaration:

• 3. I undertake not to engage in any course of study concurrently with that to be taken at Birkbeck College.

 

Response from UoL regarding dual registration.

Here is a direct quote from the response I got from UoL regarding application to two programs (Bsc econ and MBA):

"It would be at the University’s discretion as to whether you would be able to register concurrently for two qualifications which are offered through the External Programme. To discover your eligibility, you would need to submit applications for the two qualifications concerned. I don’t know how concurrent registration would affect your sitting examinations, but suspect this would be one of the factors taken in to account when considering your applications."

From this, it seems to me that they couldn't find any written policy against concurrent registration to the external programs if they are undergrand and postgrad level.

However, shouldn't they let me know before I spend time, effort and money in applying to both programs?

 

Re: Response from UoL regarding dual registration.

In the US system where you pay up to $100 application fee - yes! In the British system where you don't, perhaps not....

--Orson

 

There is no such declaration on the application forms for the University of London External Programme.

As far as I am aware there is no written policy against concurrent registration.

The response to daniel_olivaw from our information centre refers to eligibility only. He would only be able to register if he were eligible for each programme. Until he applies we do not know his eligibility for either programme, hence the cautious wording.

Hope this helps clear things up.

Best wishes,

Brendan Fawcett
Promotions Manager
University of London External Programme

 

Brendan,

It took me a while to understand the rationale; I just wanted to share my understanding and suspicion that UoL probably has no policies against it, and you have double confirmed it...Thank you very much for that.

I actually attended a virtual open seminar last week for the Imperial MBA programme with the wonderful director Dr. Marcel Cohen. He also cautioned me against tackling two programmes at the same time as I might be underestimating the amount of work required for the MBA (or the programme from LSE). From that I also concluded that there was no written policy against concurrent registration.

Just one last question and you are certainly not obliged to answer this...Have you ever had any instances of a student in concurrent programmes both at the Bachelor's and the Master's level?

 

Hi Daniel,

None that I know of, however I'd imagine that someone has done it.

It is certainly not unheard of that traditional students at other universities take UoL External Programme qualifications concurrently with their studies.

Brendan