Seeking Advice on Pursuing an Affordable and Accredited Online Master Program

[KingRagnarrr]

Hello everyone,
I’m a 32-year-old cybersecurity professional from Belgium, working full-time in the field. Although I have solid work experience and certifications, I never completed my bachelor’s degree in IT due to personal and health challenges during my studies. As I matured, I realized that many employers in Belgium, especially in the public sector, prioritize having a recognized degree. Since a bachelor’s degree is mandatory for public service roles and often required by consulting IT companies due to client demands, I’ve been exploring ways to obtain an accredited qualification.
My Educational Background and Efforts

1. Master in Cybersecurity (Propio):
   • In 2022, after extensive research on forums and other resources, I pursued a Master in Cybersecurity (60 ECTS, título propio) through Structuralia in partnership with Universidad Isabel I (UI1).
     
   • At the time, this appeared to be the fastest and most practical option to gain a degree. The program included a final master’s project, and I was admitted based on my unfinished bachelor’s studies, certifications, and work experience.
     
   • I paid approximately €4,000, which included a physical copy of the diploma.
     
2. MBA through ENEB (Propio):
   • I also completed an MBA (60 ECTS, título propio) through ENEB.
     
   • Thanks to a discount code, I only paid €199 for the program.
     
3. Unfinished Bachelor’s Degree:
   • I have 77 ECTS credits from my earlier bachelor’s studies in IT, which remain incomplete.
     

Challenges with Degree Recognition

• NARIC Belgium Refusal:
  • When I applied for equivalency for the Master in Cybersecurity, NARIC Belgium denied the request, citing several reasons:
    • Structuralia is not listed in the RUCT (Registro de Universidades, Centros y Títulos), meaning it is not officially accredited in Spain.
      
    • The partnership with Universidad Isabel I (UI1) was deemed irrelevant because the program itself (título propio) does not carry the same accreditation as degrees listed in the RUCT.
      
  • Despite arguing that similar degrees had been evaluated positively by NARIC Belgium in the past (e.g., one as a bachelor and another as a master), this did not influence their decision.
    
• Legal Efforts:
  • I hired a lawyer and spent over a year challenging the decision in court. Although I highlighted inconsistencies in NARIC’s evaluation process, such as why similar degrees were recognized previously without changes to the law, the court ultimately sided with NARIC.
    
  • Escalating to the Supreme Court is an option, but it would likely result in NARIC re-evaluating the case and issuing another negative decision, making the effort costly and potentially futile.
    
• Other Attempts:
  • I applied to NARIC France and Luxembourg but received similar negative results, reinforcing the challenges with gaining recognition for título propio degrees in the EU.
    
  • While Validential evaluated my Master in Cybersecurity as a regionally accredited master, this does not meet the standards for NARIC equivalency in the EU.
    

Open University UK: A Speculative Option
One option I’ve considered is pursuing an MSc in Cybersecurity from The Open University UK.

• The full program consists of 90 ECTS and costs approximately £14,000.
  
• Since I already hold a Master in Cybersecurity (60 ECTS, título propio), there is a possibility that I might receive some credit transfer, which could reduce the total cost.
  
• However, I am not 100% certain whether Open University would accept my título propio for admission or grant credit transfer, making this idea speculative at this stage.
  
• Even with potential credit transfer, the remaining cost would likely still be a significant financial burden, as I am still paying off loans related to my legal efforts.
  

What I’m Looking For
I am seeking an affordable, online master’s or bachelor completion program that:

• Accepts my existing degrees and credits (77 ECTS from my bachelor’s, 60 ECTS from my Master in Cybersecurity, and 60 ECTS from my MBA),
  
• Is fully accredited and recognized, and
  
• Would be evaluated as at least a bachelor’s degree in Belgium or other EU countries.
  

Having a recognized degree is critical for my career progression. The lack of a formal, accredited qualification is now a significant barrier—not only for public sector roles but also for opportunities in consulting IT companies, as many of their clients require employees to hold at least a bachelor’s degree. My ultimate goal is to complement my work experience and certifications with a degree that meets regional equivalency standards.
If anyone has suggestions for affordable online programs that align with these criteria—or any advice on alternative paths—I would be extremely grateful for your input.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post. I look forward to hearing your recommendations and insights



UPDATE:
Budget:I don't really have a budget, as I'm honestly looking for the cheapest option possible. Also because I'm still paying off loans I took for the lawyer and court which costed 6000€+-
Study habit: I work fulltime and also go to the gym, so I will be studying mostly late nights and weekends.
Certifications: EITCA security academy (24 ECTS of courses as they claim) , Azure fundamentals, ISTQB foundation, Certified White Hat Hacker-Global Tech Council, Cyber Threat Intelligence-Coursera (if this counts?)