Earning a Degree from an Abroad Location

Online learning has exploded worldwide, with thousands of colleges on six continents offering degree programs that use distance learning for part or all of the degree program. The Sloan Survey of Online Learning reports that in 2008, 4.6 million students were enrolled in an online course. What began as "correspondence coursework" evolved into asynchronous learning, with video via web cam, chat rooms, online blackboards and so much more. With geographical distance no longer an obstacle, why can't Americans live outside America but get a degree from an accredited U.S. university?

You can. Here's how.

Can I Earn a Degree From an Abroad Location?

Yes, you can, although some programs do limit student participation to specific areas. For instance, Texas A&M's online master's degree in statistics requires students to reside in the Americas during their enrollment in the program. Most colleges, however, do not have residency requirements for earning a degree from an abroad location. That's the whole point of online learning, after all: to be empowered to learn any time, from anywhere.

Online Degree Programs and Requirements

This does not mean that there aren't restrictions and requirements for students wishing to earn a degree from overseas locations. A few issues to consider:

Make sure the degree program is accredited. Financial aid applies only to accredited programs. If you plan to use federal or private student loans for living expenses, the program needs to be accredited. In addition, if you plan to cash student loan checks overseas, be sure to clear this with the local bank in advance, to prevent obstacles and nasty surprises.

Consider time zones. If your college is based in the eastern time zone, and you're in Europe, any "real time" class sessions the professor holds at 8 p.m. EST means you're up past midnight, or later, in local time.

Know how to handle paper-based requirements. In the rare instance that paperwork needs to be mailed or faxed directly, be sure to know long before the deadline how to manage this.

Account for local holidays when managing time. Most online colleges in the United States follow standard U.S. holiday schedules, and also do not honor non-U.S. holidays. If you don't want to work for a weekend because of local customs or holidays, be prepared and do schoolwork ahead of time.

Getting a Degree Online While Living Overseas

Most online degree programs have computer system requirements. If dial-up is your only option in a rural or less-developed area, you may not be able to meet class requirements. If your access to the Internet will be sporadic, or rely on spotty electricity or Internet service in the country, think twice about signing up for online learning.

Aside from infrastructure and time zone issues, both of which are non issues in most cases, earning a degree from an abroad location isn't just possible - it's encouraged. The world is getting smaller as education goes global, so a South Carolina resident traveling and living short-term in Romania can attend a Texas college, all thanks to the power of the Internet.