Job Discussion Forums

[public enemy]

I am looking to begin an MA TESOL through DL

One of the universities in the UK have told me that although the MA cert will not show that it was studied through DL, the transcript WILL.

My question therefore is: Do employers in Saudi/The Gulf ever ask for the transcript or only the MA certificate?

[veiledsentiments]

Yes, many of them do... certainly the best/savviest employers who want actual verification of an applicant's education do, as a certificate can pretty easily be faked.

As to the acceptability of a distance or online MA, it depends on the country. Saudi doesn't like them, Oman will accept most of them, in the UAE it depends on the Ministry (Higher Ed does), and not sure about Qatar or Kuwait.

Of course, since you are a year or two from applying, better to ask this question then.

VS

[nomad soul]

For Saudi Arabia, you'll need to provide official transcripts to the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission as well as disclose whether your degree program was completed online or onsite. (This refers to Americans but is likely the same for applicants in the UK.) See "New Requirement for Anyone Seeking a Saudi Visa" (http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=103292).

[public enemy]

thanks for the replies/ actually i have been accepted for 3 unis in the uk to start this month/ the dilemma is basically:

university sunderland offers MA TESOL in only 18 months but is only one that says it does mention DL on transcript

university of portsmouth/ sheffield takes 2 years but no mention of DL on either cert or transcript

i want to complete asap so was leaning for sunderland but transcript issue has me having second thoughts


oh....and portsmouth is almost 1500 GBP cheaper