Degree Planning Advice - 31, Norway, No Higher Education

[ASenna]

Your Location: Norway

Your Age: 31

What kind of degree do you want?: Comp Sci, Mathematics, Analytics, Business.

Current Regional Accredited Credits: None

Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: None


Any certifications or military experience? Google Data Analytics and Google Business Intelligence via Coursera certificate.

Budget: I would say around 10K USD would be my upper limit but would like to save money where possible. Finding a balance between price and time invested.

Commitments: Full time employment.

Dedicated time to study: I have consistently 4 hours every morning from 07:00 to 11:00 and more time through the week which would change depending on work. Minimal study time of 28 hours a week.

Timeline: Finishing as soon as possible. After reading other member write-ups 12-18 months seems realistic. I would like to move on to a Graduate program after this.

Tuition assistance/reimbursement: Its unlikely there would be any help.

Bio: A little about me, I am original from the south west of England and now live in Norway. I finished secondary school in the English school system (I believe 10th grade US school system would be the equivalent). I wanted to peruse higher education in the past but after finishing school I went directly into working on our farm.

After moving to Norway many years later I looked again, however my lack further education (A-levels) and the majority of undergraduate options are only taught in Norwegian and are full time on-site enrollment.

After loosing my employment over the pandemic and finding my current employment as a delivery driver. I need to fix my lack of formal education and level up my credentials.

I have some concerns regarding not going to college (UK) and if this would affect my ability to peruse an undergraduate degree. I have always been studying after finishing school at age 16. I read a lot and have self studied through the years but have no formal way of showing this. Currently I am working on learning Python and refreshing college algebra, calculus and other mathematics.

Goal:
I have been looking into Analytics and Machine learning. I have initial thoughts of completing an undergraduate and the applying to Georgia Tech for either Computer Science or Analytics.

But quite honestly I am very much looking to just get out of the grind of a minimally paying job with no security. Having more education regardless of the specifics is by far the best way for me to achieve this.

Thanks for your time,

Chris

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Since I don't currently have any credits. Are there some Sophia.org recommendations to start working on even without a concrete undergraduate or school finalized?

Thanks,
Chris

[rachel83az]

It might be suggested for you to get a "top up" degree since you are from the UK. But I'm not sure if that's even possible without any A-levels? They're also not necessarily all that cheap either. You do at least have a "leaving school certificate" or similar, yes? Something to show you didn't just drop out.

For a non-American who wants an American degree in Computer Science or related, TESU is hard to beat. You can get any/all of the following: BA Comp Sci, BA Mathematics, combined BA Comp Sci/Mathematics, BSBA Computer Information Systems.

However, if you are a Norwegian citizen now, you could get a BS in Information Technology from Metropolia University in Finland, taught in English, for just 579€. Cost for non-EU/EEA citizens is 10000€. While Norway isn't technically in the EU, it counts for this purpose; it's in the EEA. This degree would take 1.5-2 years to complete.

[ASenna]

It might be suggested for you to get a "top up" degree since you are from the UK. But I'm not sure if that's even possible without any A-levels? They're also not necessarily all that cheap either. You do at least have a "leaving school certificate" or similar, yes? Something to show you didn't just drop out.

For a non-American who wants an American degree in Computer Science or related, TESU is hard to beat. You can get any/all of the following: BA Comp Sci, BA Mathematics, combined BA Comp Sci/Mathematics, BSBA Computer Information Systems.

However, if you are a Norwegian citizen now, you could get a BS in Information Technology from Metropolia University in Finland, taught in English, for just 579€.  Cost for non-EU/EEA citizens is 10000€. While Norway isn't technically in the EU, it counts for this purpose; it's in the EEA. This degree would take 1.5-2 years to complete.

I have completed my GCSE’s which would be the pre requisite for A-levels. 

I am a permanent resident of Norway. I will check to see but I think for me to be a citizen I still have a couple years of occupation before I can apply. I will check to see if this is enough to satisfy the BS from Finland.

[rachel83az]

See https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Fi...d_Sciences for information about Metropolia.

I would start with Metropolia and do as much as you can. Even if it doesn't lead to the BS in IT, it will count toward the RA credit requirement that TESU requires. It's one of the cheapest ways to accumulate 30+ RA-equivalent credits.

There are degree plans for TESU here: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...ts_Roadmap

There is a combined BACS/BSBA CIS plan here that suggests where Metropolia credits can be used: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...z_version)

[ASenna]

See https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Fi...d_Sciences for information about Metropolia.

I would start with Metropolia and do as much as you can. Even if it doesn't lead to the BS in IT, it will count toward the RA credit requirement that TESU requires. It's one of the cheapest ways to accumulate 30+ RA-equivalent credits.

There are degree plans for TESU here: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...ts_Roadmap

There is a combined BACS/BSBA CIS plan here that suggests where Metropolia credits can be used: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...z_version)

Fantastic I will read thought the wiki now. 

Do you know if there are any concerns about have a degree from another country?  I know for example some occupations mainly medical and law that are regulated professions. 

Thanks for your help.

[rachel83az]

For things like computers and computer science, no it doesn't matter (that much). It might be slightly easier to get into Georgia Tech with a degree from TESU, but only because getting degrees evaluated can be a lengthy process sometimes. Staying in the Georgia Tech program is the tricky part. For both TESU and Metropolia, you'd have to do at least some outside studying before applying to GT to ensure that you've got sufficient knowledge.

[dfrecore]

TESU has the CS and Math degrees (CS can be done completely via alt-credit, but math would have to incorporate some math courses from TESU, which is fine if you want to do a Full-time/Flat-rate 15cr term there - you'd take the capstone and 3 UL math courses and 1 UL CS course I think). You'd probably end up right around $10k.

For Data Analytics, TESU has that as well, but it's going to cost more (I think $12k).

For Business, obviously you can do that anywhere, and UMPI would be the cheapest.

I think you'll get the most bang for your buck at UMPI. And you'll have a business degree pretty quickly (prob a year). But I think overall, you're better off with a CS degree. You can still get it within a year, but I'm guessing it might take a bit longer. But this is just a more useful degree with where you want to be.

My vote: start taking Sophia courses, and take everything you need for the UMPI GEC, AND take everything you need for the TESU GE (there will be lots of overlap). Take everything you need for a UMPI business degree as well. Then, you'll have lots of options when you need to decide what you want to do.

[bjcheung77]

@ASenna, Welcome to the board, great first post as you've completed the basic template and last post addendum asking for more details. If you're looking at US degree and need a combo type of degree for Business/Info Sys, you can go for the UMPI Project Management & Info Systems degree. If you're looking at UK degree options, then a Level 4/5/6 and top-up combo would work as well. I suggest you take some time to review this thread here: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...us-student

[ASenna]

For things like computers and computer science, no it doesn't matter (that much). It might be slightly easier to get into Georgia Tech with a degree from TESU, but only because getting degrees evaluated can be a lengthy process sometimes. Staying in the Georgia Tech program is the tricky part. For both TESU and Metropolia, you'd have to do at least some outside studying before applying to GT to ensure that you've got sufficient knowledge.

I have sent an email to Metropolia about there Open UAS; Degree Program of Information Technology - 180 ECTS - 579 euro.

After completion of the above you are then eligible to continue to complete the rest of the degree but its not super clear if this has to be in person or online and if there is an extra cost. It would be fantastic if its possible to complete the whole degree via Metropolia online for 579 euros. To good to be true?

While a wait for a reply I will look into the Georgia Tech requirements. I have a feeling that a degree in information technology wont cut it. Maybe for the masters in analytics but not computer science? The end goal is a masters but it doesnt have to be at Georgia Tech but ideal related to analysis, CS or Math

Thanks again for your help.

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@ASenna, Welcome to the board, great first post as you've completed the basic template and last post addendum asking for more details.  If you're looking at US degree and need a combo type of degree for Business/Info Sys, you can go for the UMPI Project Management & Info Systems degree.  If you're looking at UK degree options, then a Level 4/5/6 and top-up combo would work as well.  I suggest you take some time to review this thread here: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...us-student

This took me down a rabbit hole this evening. I have been reading posts all evening. Its very interesting the options that are out there.

How is it to transfer ECTS to the US system is it priced by course or credit. Is there a database to know i advance what would be accepted?

I am going to map out my options as see where time, price, evaluation all lay out.

Thanks for your help.

[rachel83az]

Metropolia previously confirmed to another student that the final year of the degree program can be completed entirely online. Hopefully, this has not changed. There should be no other costs either. It's 10k for international students, free for EU/EEA students.

As far as I'm aware GT will theoretically accept students even without a CS or related degree. I think someone with a Liberal Studies degree managed to be accepted? But, if you have concerns, you might want to email their graduate admissions people to confirm.

Foreign credit evaluation is done on a per-transcript basis. The foreign transcript might have just one credit or dozens/hundreds and the cost would be the same.

Unfortunately, there is no database. The evaluators are pretty secretive about what evaluations they give and why. Sometimes, they give slightly different evaluations to two people with the exact same degree. It can be a mess, but generally worth it in the end.