New distance learning college courses give students access to UK university degree programmes
As of October 2016, these courses are no longer available.
As of January 2015, Oxbridge Academy has become the only distance learning college in South Africa to offer ABMA-accredited courses.
These courses, though college-level qualifications, are recognised by a number of UK universities as credit-bearing, even allowing ABMA students to enrol at master's degree level in certain fields of study.
What is ABMA accreditation?
ABMA is a leading awarding organisation based in the UK, recognised by Ofqual (the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) in England, as well as by many other national accreditation bodies worldwide.
ABMA focuses on awarding professional qualifications and skills-oriented, vocational training. The ABMA Charter reads:
"Recognised by international employers, industry experts and universities, both domestically and internationally, thousands of ABMA learners worldwide enjoy the benefits of undertaking a qualification that ensures relevant and advanced skills at an affordable cost."
Originally, ABMA focused primarily on business-orientated courses, but currently they offer a diverse range of qualifications, covering fields such as community development, computer engineering, and journalism and media.
ABMA's equivalency to university programmes in the UK
ABMA qualifications are recognised by a number of UK universities as equivalent to an undergraduate degree programme, or part thereof.
Each ABMA programme, as offered by Oxbridge Academy, is split into three levels:
* Level 4 * Level 5 * Level 6
Each level corresponds to a certain year of an undergraduate degree, depending on the university in question. This means ABMA students can gain exemption from a number of semesters of a degree programme, depending on the level of qualification, at the following universities:
Richmond University
At Richmond, the American international university in London, a relevant ABMA qualification can earn you exemptions for certain semesters of the BA degree programmes in the following manner:
Richmond University's degrees are accredited both in the United Kingdom and in the United States.
Middlesex University
Middlesex University in London affords ABMA's IT students the opportunity to enrol for a number of IT degrees, both at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
This means the completion of a Level 6 Diploma in either Computer Engineering or Computing & Information Systems can enable students to gain entrance to any of the master's degree programmes listed above.
University of Greenwich
The University of Greenwich is one of the largest and most esteemed universities in London.
ABMA Business Management students can enrol at final year level for a number of BA and BSc degrees in business and HR, after completing a level 5 ABMA diploma.
University of Derby
At the University of Derby, an ABMA qualification enables students to enrol for online degree programmes through the university's distance learning division, University of Derby Online Learning. This is a great opportunity for both local and international distance learning students.
ABMA Business Management and IT students can study online degrees at the University of Derby, even qualifying for entry into master's degree programmes once they have earned their Level 6 ABMA diplomas.
It should be noted that admission to the universities and degree programmes listed above are subject to the discretion of the universities in question. These universities might impose additional entrance requirements, such as the earning of additional credits and/or the provision of proof of competency in English. Students can contact the individual universities, or visit their Web sites, for their complete lists of entrance requirements.
What does this mean for South African students?
Though not all South African ABMA students might have the resources to go and study overseas on their own, an ABMA qualification provides a number of other opportunities:
1. Access to UK university scholarships: Top performing students can apply for a number of scholarships or bursaries to study in the UK. Students from developing countries, such as South Africa, are often given preference for international scholarship programmes. 2. Studying a degree programme online: As noted above, the University of Derby offers online degree programmes for ABMA graduates. These are perfect for international students who do not have the opportunity or the finances to physically go and study in the UK. 3. Improved chances for entrance to South African universities: Studying an internationally-accredited course can enhance students' chances of gaining entrance to South African universities, especially if they study internationally-accredited courses that are relevant to their intended degree programmes. 4. Career building: Most important of all, ABMA courses give students the vocational training and professional qualifications they will need to build successful careers in their chosen industries. Even for those with no desire to further their studies overseas, ABMA courses are particularly valuable as professional qualifications.
Studying an ABMA course in South Africa via distance learning
Oxbridge Academy is a leading private distance learning college in South Africa. It is proud to have entered into partnership with ABMA as the only ABMA-recognised distance learning training provider in South Africa.
Oxbridge Academy offers ABMA-accredited courses in the following fields via distance learning:
* Business management * Computer engineering * Computing and information systems * Community development * HIV/Aids management * Human resource management * Journalism and media * Shipping and logistics
As a distance learning institute, Oxbridge Academy allows students to study these programmes from anywhere in South Africa.
To find out more about studying an ABMA course with Oxbridge Academy, students can visit its Web site, or call the college on: 021 1100 200.
As of October 2016, these courses are no longer available.