Unbelievable Value! Ph.D.

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Craig Hargis, Nov 28, 2003.

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  1. Craig Hargis

    Craig Hargis Member

    Well my ENTIRE tuition for the Ph.D. at Vista University South Africa is paid. I just sent the second part by wire--$307. Total Cost: Tuition: $614; Evaluation of Credentials: $35; Cost of two wire transfers $70; Cost of First Class Insured mailing of copies of my credentials $14; Long Distance calls and fax to set this up $96

    Grand Total US $829

    GAAP Ph.D. in English.....Priceless

    Note to make this even better: Vista VUDEC is merging with UNISA and the degree will say UNISA

    Chapters one and two are done, three and four yet to go.

    God Bless South Africa!
     
  2. Bill Grover

    Bill Grover New Member

  3. roysavia

    roysavia New Member

    Definitely a good deal. UNISA is more expensive but still a bargain. My total tuition for 2004 (includes administrative fees) is $1,724.00 U.S. Still a good deal if you consider most U.S. PhD programs start at around $15,000.00 per year.
     
  4. Craig Hargis

    Craig Hargis Member

    15,000/year! This whole thing was about $600, $800 if I include every possible associated expense. I was in the Ph.D. program at UCR for several years. My tuition then was about $600/ quarter, wasy less than 15K. BUT my lost income, even when you figure in my $12,000/year TA ship had to be at least $15,000. I was ABD there; when I inquired a year or two ago, I was told I was past my normative time and would have to do at least a little course work over again. They said look at about two years of full time study, including dissertation. I could not do that. Vista gives me the chance to finish something important, to remain employed, and costs so little that it is painless. When I realize my entire tuition is $300 less than one quarter of my son's tuition at Cal State, San Bernardino, I simply find it astounding. South Africa is the last great secret in education.

    Craig
     
  5. roysavia

    roysavia New Member

    My "gut" instinct tells me that this will all change in the next couple of years. As more and more students apply to SA universities for DL degree programs. The costs will significantly increase - based on the law of supply and demand.
     
  6. Anthony Pina

    Anthony Pina Active Member

    This is from Vista's website. Will this school continue to be in existence?

    http://www.vista.ac.za/RetireesWeb/RetireesWeb_ENG/index.htm

    =============================================

    INFORMATION CIRCULAR TO RETIREES

    Allow me to start with a sincere apology for failing to keep you abreast of matters that are affecting the University and might have an impact on the continued administration of your existing rights and benefits. As you might be aware, the Minister of Education, Professor Kader Asmal, has in terms of legislation decided to incorporate some of Vista University's teaching campuses into existing universities or technikons and other campuses into institutions that will be established. The Minister also decided to close what remains of the University after the conclusion of these incorporations.

    Unfortunately the progress made with the incorporation of the campuses is not matched by the progress required for the deliberations on what is entailed by the Minister's decision "to close what remains of the University". Of significance to the University is the realisation that the Department of Education totally underestimated the complexities flowing from this decision, especially the future management of the rights and privileges that you rightly enjoy as retirees of the University. This observation should, however, not be a source of undue concern, in view of the report hereafter.

    At the persistent instigation of the University I am happy to report that the Department of Education has now taken steps to remedy the situation. In particular, the Department formally ruled that the new dedicated distance education institution must be entrusted with the continued administration of some of the current responsibilities. These responsibilities include the University's responsibilities towards you. The practicalities of implementing this ruling are currently being investigated by the University, the Department, the University of South Africa (UNISA) and Technikon South Africa (TSA).

    It is important for you to acknowledge and accept the University's unwavering commitment to ensure that your rights and privileges are not in any way eroded in the processes flowing from the Minister's decision. The following matters, pertinent to your continued enjoyment of these rights and privileges, must still be decided upon between the University, the Department, UNISA and TSA:

    Who will continue to administer these rights and privileges, and what are the contact details of the relevant administrator?

    On what date will the administrative responsibilities be transferred from the University to the new administrator?

    Once these facts are known, the University will inform you. I trust that the above information will set your minds at rest while enjoying a well-deserved retirement. On behalf of the University, let me use this opportunity to thank you for your contributions to the University.

    _____________________________________

    Professor Talvin G Schultz

    Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration)

    29 August, 2003
     
  7. Craig Hargis

    Craig Hargis Member

    Anthony: I asked about these issues and was told that there should be no problem. Vista University Distance Education Campus (VUDEC) is set to merge with UNISA. Should that not happen, there are plans to at least transfer students to an existing program, almost certainly UNISA. I don't think VUDEC is still accepting applicants, that is the down side. I seem to have been one of the last. I hope everything works out, but at least there is not much at risk financially. It seems like DL inherently presents greater risks of schools closing, loss of accreditation, discontinuing programs and so on. I am pretty confident that this will work out with Vista/UNISA because I think I can finish the dissertation fairly quickly--less than a year. It is worth a try!

    Blessings
     
  8. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    Sounds great, Craig. Full speed ahead!
     
  9. chris

    chris New Member

    Exchange Rate economics

    Part of the reason it is so cheap is that the exchange rate is so favorable for the US dollar right now. I can remember when the rand was actually worth more than a dollar. Right now it is 6.4 Rand to the Dollar. However, it was about 8 R to the $ when I started researching SA universities. So the price per year has gone up a couple of hundred dollars in just 2 months. Still very cheap though. I do not think tuition in SA will sky rocket as that would price out their local students but one has to be aware of the exchange rate and watch out for the international student levy in case it increases. At Stellenbosch they have a special price for International student on their MBA. It was like E11,000 which is about $14K, but not for their PHD which is about R6995 per year. With the demand for MBA's it just shows the market forces at work on the programs.

    I got from the Vista site that not all of it was merging with UNISA, only the distant education portion of it. I might be wrong. Also, I don't think that when you are applying for a PHD that you are necessarily being registered as distance learning student. They seem to handle the PHD overseas candidates as almost special cases.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 28, 2003
  10. Bill Grover

    Bill Grover New Member

    Less than a year for a dissertation? Craig , you are a real fireball:D
     
  11. Craig Hargis

    Craig Hargis Member

    Chris: All very interesting. I don't know how I am being handled--I just hope they handle me some way! All my mail, communication and registration is to VUDEC--the DL unit of Vista. The readers are from Vista, UNISA, and Free State. I hvae no idea what that means as to my status.

    Bill: This is my old UCR dissertation, a great deal of it--research-- is done. I have two chapters untouched and a lot of updating to do but a lot of it is more or less in place. I am changing some of its emphasis and direction, but most of my early work can be incorporated.

    Craig
     
  12. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

    Surf the wave Craig! I'm sure it will work out. BTW, just so that some others (newbies) don't think your costs are a fluke, I think I squeaked in at under $500. for my first years expenses at UFS. As Chris pointed out, this is likely to shift through time but AFAIC, even if it doubles it's still a great deal.
    Jack
     
  13. Bill Grover

    Bill Grover New Member

    ===

    Then you saved much more than money, time and work too ; good for you!

    We'll have to call you Dr., Dr.:D
     
  14. frkurt

    frkurt New Member

    When I go to the Vista University homepage, I only get links to the memo for retirees. Is there a link to see what programmes they offer? Or is that well and truly gone now? If so, what is the link to the equivalent/successor department at the University of South Africa?
     
  15. RKanarek

    RKanarek Member

    Not just cheap, but spiffy too!

    Greetings.

    As a proud American TSA student, I'm slightly offended at the continuing references to the (current) cheapness of an SA education. Thus far, my enrollment has been a happy adventure, and I'm sure that the course I'm currently taking is better than many similar American/RA courses. Yes, its also competitively priced, but cost and Accrediation/GAAP shouldn't be ones only metric.

    My two cents (0.13 Rand). <g>
     
  16. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    Hoo! "Two cents worth" etc.
     
  17. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

    One of our members has recently informed us that his application was turned down by Vista due to the advanced status of the merger process. Apparently that boat has sailed. The University of South Africa can be found here:
    http://www.unisa.ac.za
    Google or some other decent search engine will yield a number of sites that list all the SA universities (if you're thinking of a more extensive exploration). However, Vista is not the only SA school that is merging and so you may want to do some preliminary research on that topic before you delve too much deeper into the general subject. You could do worse than beginning that search right here at degreeinfo where members have been following the merger development for some time. Good luck,
    Jack
     
  18. GBrown

    GBrown New Member

    Perhaps I am showing my ignorance with this question:

    What is the utility of a South African PhD in the US? Is it readily accepted by academics? For example, if I earned a PhD from a SA college and I applied at several colleges, would I have an equal chance (assuming all other variables are equal) as somebody with a similar US RA PhD?
     
  19. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

    It is my expectation that a doctoral degree from a SA university is not as useful as one from a US university (at least here in the US). I base this primarily on the general lack of familiarity with SA universities, lack of familiarity with SA in general, lack of familiarity with DL (or perhaps even suspiciousness of DL), and perhaps even a touch of xenophobia/racism. I further expect that at some point I will develop a short spiel to address these issues in interviews, etc. Fortunately for me, in my profession there is a long history of multiculturalism and respect for other traditions and so I believe I'll possibly have less trouble than someone studying in another field.
    Jack
     
  20. oxpecker

    oxpecker New Member

    Some South African universities are well known internationally, especially in certain fields. Others are relatively unknown (and in some cases, deservedly so). Soon to be exacerbated by silly name changes.

    So do your homework to check that a specific school will meet your needs before investing your time and effort in a degree.
     

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