Online Degrees: A Great Alternative to Studying Abroad

A lot of our members at MyHappyPlanet, esp. those learning English, are interested in learning the language to pursue further studies in an English-speaking country, such as the US or the UK. But with the visa regulations getting tighter and tighter, studying abroad may not be the best option.

The good news is that online education has become an accepted method of obtaining a degree. For example, online MBA’s have become increasingly popular in the last decade. While online degrees are not for everyone, they certainly offer a number of benefits, especially for foreign students who want to earn an American or British education.

The first advantage is cost. A two-year full-time on-campus MBA program at Harvard University can cost up to $150,000. But the average online MBA costs only $32,000, one-fifth of the price. And that does not even take into account the salary you’re foregoing by leaving your job to pursue a full-time MBA. If you’re looking to enhance your career without disrupting your personal life, then obtaining a degree online is a great option.

The second advantage is that you don’t need to apply for a student visa to obtain an online degree. The global political situation has made it increasingly difficult to obtain a visa to study abroad. The UK, for example, recently tightened its visa regulations. To apply for a General Student Visa (GSV), students now need to show proof that their English level is intermediate according to the Common European Framework of Reference.

While there are a lot of advantages, there are disadvantages too and online degrees are not for everyone. For example, others stress the importance of face-to-face learning. Networking and teamwork are critical factors that can be lost in online education. On the plus side, online students report they learn greater networking and teamwork skills because they are not limited geographically.

In the end, the most important thing is to ensure that you pick the right program for you. Unfortunately you can’t depend on name recognition or price to determine which program suits your needs. You can begin by checking a program’s accreditation, or browse the rankings of online programs.