The Importance of Accreditation

When an online degree or distance learning course has been accredited by an officially appointed body, this is a mark of a recognized high standard. It gives you confidence in the quality of the education that you will receive, and also instils confidence in employers and other learning institutes you may apply to in the future. If you are studying simply for personal interest, accreditation may not be so important.

On the other end of the scale, it is worth being aware that there are 'diploma mills' or illegitimate degrees in the market place which may offer little learning, but can sometimes claim to offer recognized degrees. These awards are not recognized by any official institution, and most employers will see through them.

When researching your distance learning options, always find out whether your chosen institution is accredited, and who it is accredited by. Accreditation by a recognised body means you can have confidence in the value of the learning experience, and that you will graduate with a credible qualification.

To see how programs and institutes are accredited in the country you are planning to study in, please review our accreditation bodies around the world section.