Please note: students majoring in Education are also required to complete the CIE TESOL course (either online or in-person) and the 120-hour upgrade course. These count as 12 credits towards the degree.
Most applicants are at least 18 years old, but we can accept exceptional younger candidates who have completed high school education early. There is no minimum age for graduation.
The Bachelor of Arts program is the equivalent of a 4-year BA program in the U.S. However, if you have already accumulated 2,000 hours of work experience, and have sufficient second language skills, you may be able to finish much sooner. Most students complete the online part of the curriculum in about one year.
Some graduates have mistakenly commented to employers that they obtained their degree in just one year. In order to complete this program, however, students must accumulate 2,000 hours of work experience, and intermediate second language skills. The amount of time invested in these activities, in addition to the online courses, is equivalent to four years of study.
120 to 130 credits, depending on the major field of study.
A Bachelor of Arts (BA) specializing in your chosen field of study: ancient history, education, English language, or linguistics.
A Bachelor of Arts (BA) is a bachelor’s degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, sciences, or both. BA students are given a broad education that encompasses a variety of subjects in addition to their major field of study. This allows students to tailor their education to their personal interests and career goals.
Most students can earn up to 79 credits toward the BA, provided their experience and learning meet degree-level expectations. These credits typically come from the following areas:
- Prior Learning: up to 21 credits
- Second Language(s): up to 18 credits (maximum awarded for intermediate level or higher)
- Work Experience: up to 40 credits (based on 2,000 hours of documented experience)
Flexible, Individualized Assessment
The structure above is the usual framework, but we recognize that every student’s background is different. Your credits can be adjusted according to your strengths. For example, if you have less work experience but are fluent in multiple languages, we may award more language credits and fewer work-experience credits.
CIE will guide you through what is realistic for your situation and help you maximize the credits you can earn.
Because this is a Bachelor of Arts, we are able to recognize a wide range of professional and volunteer experience.
You may submit experience from:
- Teaching or tutoring (any subject)
- Community or volunteer service
- Work in education, language, or cultural organizations
- Roles involving communication, training, mentoring, or public speaking
- Administrative, creative, or leadership positions
Yes. If you would like confirmation of whether your experience, prior learning, or second language skills can be credited, simply send us your résumé. Our faculty will review it and let you know which types of credit you are likely to receive before you enrol. This helps you understand your starting point and how many courses you will need to complete.
After enrolling in the BA program:
1: Go to the Recognition of Prior Learning & Experience module.
2: Download the Experience Form for your major field of study.
3: Complete the form with detailed examples of your duties, responsibilities, and accomplishments.
4: Submit it through the portal.
5: CIE will review and confirm the credits you qualify for.
It’s a structured template that helps you explain your work, learning, training, volunteer activities, and skills. This allows the faculty to evaluate your experience fairly and consistently.
Examples include:
- References that can verify your experience/learning/skills
- Certificates or training records
- Job descriptions or letters from employers
- Volunteer records
You do not need to provide everything listed—only what best demonstrates your experience.
Yes - if you have functional proficiency in one or more second languages.
Yes. You can receive credits for courses or training you completed prior to taking this degree program.
College/university courses: Credits may be awarded for courses taken in arts-related subjects such as art, education, ethics, geography, history, humanities, languages, linguistics, literature, mathematics, music, performing arts, philosophy, psychology, public speaking, and science. You must submit documentation that lists the courses you took and the number of credits awarded (or study hours).
Other training: We may be able to award credits for training received in association with a volunteer organization. For example, you may attend weekly meetings where you receive training in public speaking, listen to lectures, and/or analyze and discuss literary texts. If you can document this training, we will award you credits towards this degree program.
Some of our students are hired by companies on the condition that they are pursuing a degree qualification. If you need a letter confirming that you are enrolled in our program, please contact us and we will arrange this for you.
If you need help with one of the study units or have questions about the program, please don’t hesitate to contact us. A tutor will reply in a timely manner to assist you. When you research and write your capstone project (thesis), we encourage you to remain in regular contact with your tutor, who will provide you with helpful suggestions. When you have completed the first draft, your tutor will review it and provide suggestions for improvement.
Our philosophy is to help you achieve the grade required to pass the program. If you score under 70%, we may ask you to retake certain units.
You can expect to receive your degree within 60-90 days once you have paid in full, submitted all the necessary documentation, and have completed all your study assignments. This time period is required for our partner university to evaluate your work and process your graduation.
Many of our graduates have successfully used their degrees to secure employment in a wide range of countries. That said, degree recognition varies by country, employer, and sector, and these policies can change over time. For this reason, we cannot guarantee that the degree will be accepted in every situation.
If you are considering the program to work in another country or to meet a specific employer requirement, please contact us. We are happy to provide more information about how graduates have fared in your region and whether this program is a suitable match for your goals.
Our program is often a great fit for adults who need to “check the box” on job applications that simply require:
- A completed Bachelor’s degree, regardless of major
- A degree for general employment or professional development
- A bachelor’s degree to qualify for online teaching, private-sector teaching, or freelance work
- A degree to access certain training programs or internal promotions
Many employers primarily verify that the applicant holds a bachelor’s degree, rather than evaluating the institution in detail.
Some graduates seek a formal credential equivalency evaluation in countries such as the United States, Canada, or parts of Europe.
Results vary: Although a good number of our US graduates have successfully obtained equivalency evaluations stating that their degree is equivalent to a degree from a US university, some were not as successful.
Each evaluating agency sets its own policies and may change them without notice.
Equivalency is never guaranteed, and we advise students to view it as a possibility, not a certainty.
If you anticipate needing equivalency for a specific purpose—such as graduate school admission or government-regulated employment—please consult with us first. We can explain what previous graduates have experienced in your country and whether this degree is likely to meet your needs.
We do not recommend this program for those who plan to apply for English teaching positions in public schools or universities, as these institutions typically require degrees from internationally recognized universities in native English-speaking countries.
If you are planning to use your degree overseas, you will need to have your diploma authenticated. First, you need to ascertain whether or not the country where you are headed is a participant of the Apostille Convention: https://www.hcch.net/en/states/hcch-members.
Countries that are Participants of the Apostille Convention
Authentication is a two-step process: notarization and Apostille.
U.S. graduates usually have their diploma notarized by a notary public in their home state, and then submit the notarized diploma to the Office of the Secretary of State in their home state for the Apostille Certificate.
Other Countries
Authentication is usually a three-step process: notarization, Apostille, and embassy legalization. As the process varies from country to country, please contact us for more information.
The Apostille is an official government issued certificate added to documents so they will be recognized when presented in another country. Typically, the Apostille Certificate is issued by the state from which the document originates although in some cases another state can issue the Apostille. Once a document has had an Apostille Certificate attached to it confirming the authenticity of signatures and seals it can be presented to any country which recognizes the Apostille. The authority receiving the document should then accept the seals or signatures as true and valid without requesting further evidence or proof.
Prospective employers can contact the university that issued your degree directly to verify your degree credentials. As CIE did not issue the degree, but only served as the education provider for the university, we are unable to provide verification.
If you are planning to use your degree in the Canada, the European Union, or the U.S., you may consider applying for a degree equivalency evaluation (also known as a credential evaluation). Please contact us for more information.
You can contact the university that issued your degree directly. The university will then inform you about the process and fees involved.
If you completed the bachelors and/or masters program when CIE was affiliated with a different university, and would like to transfer your credits to our current partner university, please contact us. We may be able to arrange for a complete transfer of credits for you.
Students can receive a refund within 30 days of their registration and payment. If a student has paid in full and chooses to cancel any time after 30 days, a refund will be pro-rated at $240 for each remaining unused month up to 12 months after registration.
Due to unexpected events or circumstances, students are able to put their account and payments on hold without cancelling, and may resume at a later date.
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