Degree plan advice - Impossible to realize

[hakjack]

Hello to everyone

I'm seeking any advice or help regarding an online accredited Bachelor of Science / Eng in a STEM or quantitative field (Math, CS, Eng, Statistics...) or / and cybersecurity. Here's some information about myself:

I'm 22, based in Italy, I've just enrolled Open Studies (non stop), B.Eng. in IT from Metropolia University --> Can do up to 120 ECTS of 240 in total.
I have a full time job as a Cyber Security engineer, and have overall 2 years of experience in Cyber Security. I do freelancing as well. Companies are requesting me to have a degree, for requirement.
Since last year I've started to consume material related to Investment, Trading, and general finance, discovering a new passion.
I felt in love with the topics, particularly to the hard understanding of Trading and financial markets. I basically want to build, at the same time, a dual career in cybersecurity, which I've already started and in Quant/Finance/Trading world.

In the last months I've been really stressed trying to understand what I should do in order to bdo both of these, which type of degree, certification or what else is needed.
After talking with some professionals, they adviced to start a bachelor's degree in financial mathematics, or another quantitative based degree.

I've been a quiet looker and reader on the forum, but right now I sincerely need help, I'm mentally ill.

Your Location: Italy
Your Age: 22
What kind of degree do you want?: Bachelor of Science / Eng in a STEM or Quantitative field or / and cybersecurity.
Current Regional Accredited Credits: None
Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: None
Any certifications or military experience?: No
Commitments: I have a fulltime day job, but have flexibility being remote. No spouse or kids.
Budget: Ideally less than 6k. In case of a double degree, can increase to less than 10k$ (?)
Dedicated time to study: The time needed.
Timeline: ASAP
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: Unfortunately not.

I tried to think on all the programs I was able to discover in so many hours of research by targeting specific areas like Europe, some asian countries, USA, Canada, Oceania and so on. 
I searched for competency based, odd ways like top-ups (similar to OTHM), college hacking and everything there was on the community and in other places online.
I called around 15 universities, only in europe to ensure they had or not online degrees and english taught.
I really couldn't find nothing specific for me, which can be done in a reasonable time (I'm 22, getting older...) with a low cost and specific degree.

After it I would ideally pursue the OMSCS from GaTech or another stem master's.

What do you think guys?

Thank you so much for the time spent reading and for any suggestion.

[Tomas]

Why don't finish the B.Eng. in IT at Metropolia?
BSc in Cybersecurity from SNHU India branch would fit the budget, even more so if you will transfer some credits from Metropolia or Coursera or Sophia.
Masters in Quantitative finance from WQU.edu is free, might fit depending on what you want the quantitative degree for.

[cro-magnon]

Hey, I’m also going to start the Metropolia BEng later this year!

Since you’re interested in finance and located in Italy, you might want to consider the English-taught Master of Economics and Finance from University of Naples Federico II. It’s 4500€ for the whole program.
https://www.federica.eu/universita/maste...s-finance/

Here’s the forum thread: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...Top-School

[hakjack]

Why don't finish the B.Eng. in IT at Metropolia?
BSc in Cybersecurity from SNHU India branch would fit the budget, even more so if you will transfer some credits from Metropolia or Coursera or Sophia.
Masters in Quantitative finance from WQU.edu is free, might fit depending on what you want the quantitative degree for.

Thanks for the answer

For Metropolia, I like the program and the uni, but to finish it would take still more than 2 years:
some months for the 120 CR, 1 year full for the 3rd year and IDK about the fourth and graduation.

I didn't think about SNHU India --> They have different tech BSc and a BA in Math which would be interesting to check
Any idea on the prices / tuition? I can transfer credits there for sure

I know about WQU, the fact is that it has National accreditation. I'm not concerned about a master's degree, only the bachelor's is a problem.

---

Hey, I’m also going to start the Metropolia BEng later this year!

Since you’re interested in finance and located in Italy, you might want to consider the English-taught Master of Economics and Finance from University of Naples Federico II. It’s 4500€ for the whole program.
https://www.federica.eu/universita/maste...s-finance/

Here’s the forum thread: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...Top-School

Thanks for the answer, great to hear!

I already knew about the master's program, anyway I'm not concerned about the master's, while only for the bachelor's.
It's the first milestone always the hardest.

For a master's, there's ton of option for EU citizens (I speak Italian ofc) online at really good universities, and really cheap programs, in english or even Italian.

Maybe I'll share some examples with the community!

[Tomas]

I've read here on the forum that price for SNHU India is/was around 4000 USD.

[bjcheung77]

Welcome to the board, I would recommend a different approach, you can try to get the balanced mix/match trifecta of certs, degree, experience. Basically, there are so many different avenues to get to your goal, here's an option: UMPI PM & IS, UK Level 7 diploma (CS, IT or Data Science related), UK Masters Top-Up in a similarly related field... with that budget of 10K, you can hit all 3 spots!

[hakjack]

I've read here on the forum that price for SNHU India is/was around 4000 USD.

Thank you

I will get in contact with them to understand if they accept credits transfer.

---

Welcome to the board, I would recommend a different approach, you can try to get the balanced mix/match trifecta of certs, degree, experience.  Basically, there are so many different avenues to get to your goal, here's an option: UMPI PM & IS, UK Level 7 diploma (CS, IT or Data Science related), UK Masters Top-Up in a similarly related field... with that budget of 10K, you can hit all 3 spots!

Hey, thank you!!

I've checked UMPI's programs, and while it's good cheap and fast, it's not exactly the time of degree I'm searching for, since a B. Admin. degree.

I was searching for a double Bs ( or BA even ) in CS/Math, something like TESU's programs, but its cost would be a little high.

 Any other idea?
I'm not concerned about a master's, I already know what to get after, but the hard part is still the Bsc.

[bjcheung77]

Yes, I think the TESU BA CS and another major would work, or just the BACS alone can work for you as well...

[Avidreader]

There are a few online accredited Mexican universities that offer Math degrees.

The UNADM certainly offers a Math bachelors.
https://www.unadmexico.mx/division-de-ci...atematicas

This is a public 100% online university that is free. Only downsides is the degree is in Spanish and not Italian, it requires a huge time commitment with synched zoom classes that might be problematic due to work and time zones and the next sign ups are in July 2025.

Accelerating seems to be theoretically possible but only if you have finished at least 1 semester with a minimum grade of 8.0. You show them you already took equivalent courses and they will let you skip some of them (maybe like take a toefl and skip English). By law, the shortest amount of time you can get a bachelors in Mexico is 2 years 8 months, can't accelerate it further than that. I don't know if they accept foreigners that don't have curp numbers. Given the degree is free, it might be an option since there's fewer schools that offer fully online math degrees.

Accredited private online Mexican universities with math degrees include Universidad Hipocrates
https://www.uhipocrates.edu.mx/licenciat...tematicas/
Sign ups seem to be open right now and this degree is accelerated 2 years 8 months. I don't know the exact cost but their brick and mortar degrees are 3000 usd a year. So it might be a pricey option but still far cheaper option than the ITAM or UVM.

If you opt for Tesu, you should take advantage you speak Italian and nab an ACTFL exam. The speaking exam costs 165 USD, takes 40 minutes, scores are uploaded on Credly less than 1 week later and you could easily get a whopping 12 credits where 6 of them are UL.

[davewill]

Yeah I'd definitely do the TESU BACS in your shoes. With your experience, I think that admissions in OMSCS would be straightforward. Georgia Tech also has an online CyberSec masters if that interests you.