Need Help Finding a Cheap Online Bachelor's Degree

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by pink1986, Sep 29, 2011.

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  1. pink1986

    pink1986 New Member

    Hello everyone,

    I am new to the forum and I need your help.

    I am a stay at home mom from Germany and I want to find the cheapest online Bachelor's degree that exists out there.

    I want to obtain an online Bachelor's Degree in one of the following subjects: English Literature, Publishing, Creative Writing, Library Science or Book Science (Buchwissenschaft in German).

    Basically, I want to obtain a degree that enables me to work in the publishing field or in libraries (but I would prefer a publishing company since I would love to work in the publicity department; if you happen to have another idea of what I could study in order to get to my dream job, then I would love to hear suggestions).

    I have searched for weeks in vain, but I couldn't find an online Bachelor's degree here in Germany concerning the subjects named above. The only degree that exists here in Germany is called Kulturwissenschaften (Culture Studies), but they 'force' you to pick a minor in History or Philosophy, and I really don't like any of them, so the degree is out of the question.

    I already have obtained 30 ECTS points in the past, from previous University studies, so maybe they could be somehow taken into account.

    The only problem I have is that I really don't have that much money, since I don't work at the moment.

    So I can't afford a degree offered by The Open University in the UK, for example, since it's too expensive for me.

    I am looking for a degree that would not cost more than 4000 €. Hopefully, I can find something, since I have been searching like a crazy person all over the internet.

    Thanks for your time and help.

    Greetings from Germany!
     
  2. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Does anybody remember which Australian university offers degrees in Editing & Publishing?
     
  3. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

  4. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 30, 2011
  5. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I didn't do the currency conversion but I figured that if she couldn't afford the Open U then she'd never be able to afford an Australian U.
     
  6. Jonathan Whatley

    Jonathan Whatley Well-Known Member

    Charter Oak State College
    Completing Your Degree
    Relevant concentrations (choose only one): Literature, Applied Arts – Creative Writing, Communication, Liberal Studies (combine multiple liberal arts areas), Individualized Studies (combine liberal arts and professional studies).

    You can earn 15 to 18 semester hours just from the GRE Literature in English subject test. (The degree is 120 semester hours; each academic year, 30.) You can take affordable tests typically for 3 semester hours each from the CLEP, DSST, TECEP, UExcel, ECE, and COSC Early Childhood Pathways programs. Especially relevant to your interests: TECEPs in public relations, news reporting, advertising, sales management, and marketing communications, and technical writing and introductory general business subjects from several sources. Probably especially easy for you to knock out: CLEP German (for up to 12 semester hours!), DSST Western Europe since 1945, and surely some of the child development stuff!

    You might have to get an international credential evaluation to earn credit for your previous university studies. It is very likely you would credit for them at Charter Oak or a similar American school.

    The ultimate total cost would probably be more than 4000 EUR. But you could take it step by step. And you could start accumulating credit through testing - and ask us later about courses and portfolio assessments, more expensive but offering more subject options and in the latter case flexibility! - before incurring any cost to enroll in the college.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 30, 2011
  7. pink1986

    pink1986 New Member

    I have heard about Unisa before and I checked them out - the problem is that I couldn't really get much info through their website so I contacted them because I had tons of questions. It turns out that they don't even bother to answer you unless you have registered.

    Sorry to say this, but what kind of uni is that? I would have liked them to answer, after all, they should be interested in new students as it means profit for them.

    Besides, I tried to figure out the total cost of a B.A. in Language and Literature - Creative Writing but somehow, I couldn't. I know the fees must be relatively low, especially when you compare it to the fees American Universities charge you, but I've read somewhere on the internet that a B.A. degree would cost around $5600 plus textbooks and some other fees for foreign students. The thing I don’t like about it is that you really don’t know how a degree ultimately costs with the UNISA. Furthermore, I couldn’t find satisfactory information about their modules, exams etc., as their website is not really helpful.

    So if I have to pay that much for a South African degree I might rather consider the University of London which offers a B.A. in English Literature. I think the total cost of the degree is around 4213 British pounds (for courses and textbooks) plus 1500 € for exams at my local exam centre here in Germany - if finished in 3 years. If you need more time to finish it, you have to pay an additional 319 British pounds per year. So if I should finish it in 3 years, then the degree would cost me 6339 €.
    It’s over my budget, but I guess I will never find a degree for 4000 €. At least it’s cheaper than the Open Uni.

    So what do you think of the University of London? Has anyone had experience with it? I would love to hear about it.
     
  8. pink1986

    pink1986 New Member

    If the costs are the same as with the Open Uni, then I guess you're right. Thanks anyway for your answer.
     
  9. pink1986

    pink1986 New Member

    Thanks so much for your reply. I will check them out and see if it's something for me.
     
  10. Jonathan Whatley

    Jonathan Whatley Well-Known Member

    Marketing or public relations.

    There's probably a lot of value in knowing people to get work as a book publicist or similar. You might want to look for something with the chance to obtain an internship or co-operative education work in your area, or even arrange your own on an ad hoc basis.
     
  11. pink1986

    pink1986 New Member

    The moment my daughter will go to kindergarten (which will hopefully be next year or in 1,5 years) I hope to do some internships. I also plan on working somewhere once or twice a week in order to finance my studies. Yes, you're right, often you need to know certain people in order to get work as a publicist. Still, I love books and literature and it would really be my dream job.
     
  12. muaranah

    muaranah New Member

    If your German is up to snuff, you can't get much less expensive than Fern Uni Hagen- check out what they offer- I personally doubt having a business degree or one in Kulturwissenschaften would exclude you from working as a book publicist, but it would be best to confirm that. I doubt a Library Science degree would be of much particular benefit to you.

    German companies usually prefer people with German degrees anyway.
     
  13. pink1986

    pink1986 New Member

    In my entry post I already mentioned that I couldn't find a German degree that meets my criteria since they don't offer an online B.A. in the subjects I am interested in. I mentioned Kulturwissenschaften at the Fernuni Hagen and that I cannot study for it since I have to pick a minor in either Philosophy or History, but I don't like any of them so the Fernuni Hagen is out of the question.

    The Kulturwissenschaften degree would indeed enable me to work in the publishing field, but as I mentioned, unfortunately, I cannot study for this degree.

    Anyway, thanks for your answer and your help.
     
  14. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    There is an Open U in Malaysia and several in India that have been discussed here recently. You may want to check them out. You will find they are the right price for your budget but I don't know if their offerings match your interests. As you are clearly learning, the number of schools that match your criteria is exceedingly small. You may very quickly find yourself in a position where you either have to relax your criteria (suck up a few History courses or take on the UNISA admissions office) or give up your plans for college altogether. As to the UNISA thing, these people have proven to be very useful:

    International Academic  Correspo

    Please remember that UNISA is an international DL university and they probably get thousands of emails every day. They are not going to answer them, they don't have the time. They will answer the phone but the fact is that most of the information you need is on the website if you dig a bit.
     
  15. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

  16. pink1986

    pink1986 New Member

    Yes, I have looked at the Uni of London and it sounds great to me. I was wondering if anyone has studied there or is currently studying with them because I would like to hear of some personal experiences.

    Thanks.
     
  17. pink1986

    pink1986 New Member

    I will check out the Open U in Malaysia and see if it's something for me.

    As to UNISA - I have made up my mind, I will not try it out because, as I said, I don't like wasting time on finding the right info on their website - they should have an easy website with all the info available, just like other universities.

    Furthermore, as I already mentioned, I had problems finding and adding up the total cost for a B.A. and I don't like that either. I would like to know what a degree costs before I enroll - and that goes for every uni I am interested in.

    That's why UNISA isn't something for me. Besides, as I said before, I would rather have a UK degree than a South African one if the costs will be nearly the same. So I guess I will go with the Uni of London.

    But anyway, thanks so much for your input. I really appreciate any answer given here and I wanted to thank all of you for your help and suggestions. I am very grateful that I have found this great board.
     
  18. muaranah

    muaranah New Member

    For a degree costing 2K euros that will not be questioned by anyone in Germany because it's a German degree, I'd suck it up and take some history courses- they can't be too bad.
     
  19. pink1986

    pink1986 New Member

    Yes, I know that it's a cheap degree and that it won't be questioned by anyone here in Germany, but as I said before, I can't just take history or philosophy courses and expect to pass them if I'm not good at these subjects. I looked at the German Fernuni Hagen board and talked to philosophy and history students concerning this matter, and they all said the courses are really hard and they don't think that I will pass these courses if I don't have any interest in them and if I am not good at these subjects. (I never had philosophy in school, I had religion; and I was never good at history because I had no interest in this subject - I would rather take 10 math courses than one in history or philosophy).

    I hope you understand.
     
  20. rmm0484

    rmm0484 Member


    I had to take statistics, economics and financial management for my master's degree. Having had a fear of math since grade school, and not doing very well in it, I was also afraid to take those courses. However, I passed them all! Statistics and Econ with an A, and financial management with a B. You cannot only take the classes you know you will pass. If a degree requires a class, then you should take it.
     

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