Degree Attestation and Mode of Study

Hey Jessica,

That is unfortunate indeed. Saudi Cultural bureau attests degrees which are approved by MOHE (I believe) Ministry of Higher Education or just MOE. So unfortunately the university which you listed is not part of it.

There are very few distant education degrees that KSA approves of, such as from Leicester.

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I don't know about MOHE (or MOE) is this just a UK, or an Indian group (I ask this because when I typed it into the computer that's what came up first)? I am not sure if we have the same in Canada. However my university (Athabasca) is:

accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. (267-284-5000). The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Plus it is a publicly funded post-secondary institution, one of four public comprehensive universities in the Province of Alberta, Canada.

But my current issue is that (at least in Canada) they seem to be blanket denying the university based on mode of learning rather than looking at the specifics of any individual institution.

lol @ MOHE / MOE being indian, perhaps if you entered Saudi Arabia after those it would come up, but again all those websites are mostly in Arabic.

If MOHE/MOE Saudi Arabia feels that it's not accredited, then Saudi Cultural Bureau will not attest it regardless of the distinction. (Welcome to Saudi Arabia)

I suffered the same as I was pursuing my MBA from a well recognized university in UK.

The idea that brick-and-mortar institutions are automatically superior to their online counterparts is ludicrous; more and more education is being completed online every year. But the authorities who have thwarted you won't discuss or modify their views: there is nothing you can do about that. I suggest either remaining in Thailand or seeking a position in another country.

To hamudi:

Thanks again for the feedback. After receiving your note, I checked and found MOHE through SACB in the USA which also lists Canadian schools (I guess we are too small of a nation to have our own MOHE). Even though it is in Arabic I found a way to check the names of schools there and you are correct that Athabasca was not among them. However Thompson Rivers University is and I have now resorted to attempting attestation of my BA from there. This means a significant pay cut since my school pays more for those with MA degrees however the salary increase from Thailand is still worth it. However, I still have several courses (though certainly less than half) from my BA which were obtained online. My current issue seems to be whether or not I can this degree approved because of the mode of study for part of the degree or specifically what percentage of online credits are allowed for the degree to still be considered an in-class vs. distance degree. My questions are pending with a contact at the Saudi Cultural Bureau in Ottawa.

To Maestro67

I agree with you on the ridiculousness of the entire situation. I'm not giving up hope yet though. I am now attempting to get my BA attested but it also has some online courses associated with it. So we'll see. Maybe I will just go back to Canada and get a MA TESOL in class (it only takes about a year). I don't have any real interest in staying in Thailand though but perhaps another nation if this doesn't work out. Cheers. J.

jessiesilver wrote:

To hamudi:

Thanks again for the feedback. After receiving your note, I checked and found MOHE through SACB in the USA which also lists Canadian schools (I guess we are too small of a nation to have our own MOHE). Even though it is in Arabic I found a way to check the names of schools there and you are correct that Athabasca was not among them. However Thompson Rivers University is and I have now resorted to attempting attestation of my BA from there. This means a significant pay cut since my school pays more for those with MA degrees however the salary increase from Thailand is still worth it. However, I still have several courses (though certainly less than half) from my BA which were obtained online. My current issue seems to be whether or not I can this degree approved because of the mode of study for part of the degree or specifically what percentage of online credits are allowed for the degree to still be considered an in-class vs. distance degree. My questions are pending with a contact at the Saudi Cultural Bureau in Ottawa.

Great, glad you found a way.

All the best.

Hi Jessie,

I have noticed in the tread that you were trying to get the Canada degree (distance learning) attestation. Can you please advise whether you manage to get the attestation for Saudi or not. Currently, I am in the same situation. Please share your experience. Thanks in advance.

@hamudi Dear Hamudi,

Are you stating that KSA would accept MSc distance learning degrees from the University of Leicester?

I am in the final stages of the above mentioned and seeking clarity on this matter as I have heard similar in the past, but unfortunately can't find the same in writing anywhere.

Many Thanks for any assistance,