Job Discussion Forums

backtothefront · Joined: 02 Sep 2012 Posts: 48 Location: uk

I have completed 2 years of 3 of a MA in education with applied linguistics. I have read that distance learning American degrees are not accepted. Does anyone know if this UK distance learning MA accepted in Saudi?

johnslat · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2014 1:07 pm Post subject:

Dear backtothefront,

In a word - No.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=107146&highlight=online+degrees+saudi

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=106318&highlight=online+degrees+saudi

Regards,
John

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

It is not the source of an online degree... it is the fact that it is online rather than on campus.

VS

MuscatGary · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2014 2:16 pm Post subject:

OU degrees are not strictly 'online' they are delivered using blended learning, a mixture of correspondence, telephone, internet, face to face tutorials and on-campus residential schools. I've worked for them for years. The Saudis however are unable/unwilling to grasp the difference.

backtothefront · Joined: 02 Sep 2012 Posts: 48 Location: uk

Thanks very much for your help.

bosch02 · Joined: 16 Mar 2016 Posts: 11

What about if someone had a BA from the Open University in the UK and an MA from a "real" uni? Would they still be denied a visa?

paul.conlong · Joined: 31 Mar 2015 Posts: 84 Location: Rochdale, UK

I'm not too sure but from what I've read it probablt isnt worth doing a BA online if you havn't done it already but having an MA on campus may off set the BA being online.

It may possible affect the package they offer you though.

The veterans may be able to shed more light on this.

Regards

Paul

plumpy nut · Joined: 12 Mar 2011 Posts: 1652

I would forget about working in the Gulf States with that degree. Most likely a perfectly good degree, but you know....they're Saudis. Let's hope providence hits the Saudis sooner than later.

plumpy nut · Joined: 12 Mar 2011 Posts: 1652

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Who knows what will be happening in 3 or 4 years time ? Will KSA still be recruiting foreigners to teach English ? If they are, will these foreigners be from "The West" ?

foolsgold · Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 12

It's not the visa that will be the problem, it's the institution you apply to. I have received 2 Saudi visas with my OU English BA with different organisations (1 uni, 1 private employer). I did get turned down by one university at the interview stage, but the next interview it was no problem - It's probably a bit hit and miss.
If you need any detailed info, PM me.
Good luck

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

mrpianoman · Joined: 27 Mar 2016 Posts: 171

You only need to verify ONE degree with the SACB so if you have a real MA and an online BA, just verify the MA at the SACB. I think like the previous poster mentioned, it goes on the employer's acceptance, not the embassy's, whether that be for a real employment visa or a visit visa

rollerblader · Joined: 01 Jul 2014 Posts: 20

I am sure that many online/partial time and full time degrees can be found to be valid however, the Saudi government is not willing to cipher out this for themselves. Their main concern, and it is a valid one, is keeping fake degree holders out of the kingdom. They pay large sums of oil money for properly trained degree holders and they don't want any of that cash going into the hands of people who are unqualified, full stop. The easiest way for the Saudi government to separate the good apples from the bad is to simply draw a line in the sand by stating that degrees %100 percent earned while attending brick and mortar universities are accepted and all others are excluded. They don't have the time, nor the manpower to decide on an individual basis whether a prospective teacher's non traditional degree is valid. One college system in another unnamed Gulf country recently fired about thirty percent of their foreign ESL teachers precisely because they had fake degrees. A certain woman who was fired told me that she had thought her degree from a Louisiana outfit was valid and that she had studied hard through the course only to find out from her host government that her degree is worthless.

Roller