Degrees are not all the same standard

ACS Distance Education and Affiliated Colleges (http://www.acsedu.co.uk/Info/About-Us/Affiliates.aspx ) offer one of the most diverse and reputable ranges of qualifications anywhere in the world.

Graduates compete strongly with graduates from all other colleges

John Mason (Principal) states:

"We even hear of graduates with our lower level qualifications beating people who have much higher university level qualifications for jobs."
 
Terms such as certificate, diploma, degree and masters degree are often not the same from college to college, and country to country.
Example: The ISHS published an article a couple of years ago showing degrees in some countries were 2 years full time study, while in other countries, they were 5 years full time study.
 
Most leading universities would consider a degree to be 3,000 hours or more of study that is focussed on academic learning first, and training for a job second. Vocational Diplomas can vary from perhaps 100 hours at some colleges, to 2,500 hours or more at top end colleges. The primary difference is that a Vocational diploma would normally focus on preparing you for a job first, and theoretical knowledge second.
 
ACS  courses are normally more strong on the academic training than a vocational course; but more focussed on preparing you for work than the traditional university course.
 
ACS offers courses up to 2,500 hour advanced diplomas, which in our experience, we find prepare graduates better for a career than most degrees.
For those graduates who need to achieve a degree; there are many avenues to upgrade to a degree after completing one of our advanced diplomas (eg. Our affiliate; Warnborough College Ireland, will always accept graduates from ACS and provide credit for past diploma or advanced diploma level study. It is conceivable that an advanced diploma graduate can upgrade to a degree with as little as 500 hrs of extra study, after completing the ACS advanced diploma.
 
ACS have seen numerous situations where graduates from our 2000 hour diplomas have been given credits ranging from 1000 hrs upwards, toward studies in degree courses at highly reputable universities. The granting of credits however will always depend upon the policy of the university concerned; and given that degrees may vary in length from perhaps 2,000 to 5,000 hours of study; and that policies change from year to year at universities; it is near impossible to be certain of what a situation might be upon graduating from a course you start now.

It is worth considering that statistical surveys in recent years have shown graduates with university degrees often end up either unemployed for a significant period after graduation, or end up being employed in something that is not related to the field they studied.

The general public tend to assume that a university degree guarantees a good, secure job, and a high level of pay. This may have been the case a generation or two ago; but todays world is very different.

Learning is still very important; but the qualification (whether degree, diploma or certificate) is diminishing in value; while the things a person has learnt (whether through study, experience, reading, or something else) are becoming increasingly key to a successful career.