American University of London

The American University of London (AUOL) is an online diploma mill.[1] The company disputes the label[2] and instead describes itself as a for-profit unaccredited educational institution offering undergraduate and graduate degrees solely by distance learning.[3] It is a different organization than the American University in London.[4] The organization has awarded degrees without requiring any work from the student,[1][5] and on one occasion awarded a Master of Business Administration degree to a dog for £4,500.[6]

Not to be confused with University of London; Richmond, The American International University in London; or American University in London.
American University in London
TypeUnaccredited
Websiteauol.us

The institution has no campus. Its website says it was established in 1984 as the American College of Science & Technology and was incorporated as an independent distance learning institution in 1999 in St. Kitts and Nevis. The website lists mailing addresses in London and Beverly Hills, California.[3] Bears' Guide and several U.S. state education agencies indicate that the institution is associated with the Anacrusis Institute, an unaccredited institution based in Greece and the United Kingdom.[7][8][9][10]

Accreditation status

The university's website and associated prospectus states that it is accredited in the United States by agencies specializing primarily in distance learning.[3]

The Oregon Office of Degree Authorization (ODA) identifies two possibly unrelated entities operating under the name "American University of London", one in St. Kitts and Nevis, the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka, and the other in Saudi Arabia. According to ODA, the Saudi Arabian institution does not have degree-granting authority in Saudi Arabia and neither institution has legal authority to enroll Oregon students and their credentials may not be used in the state.[11] American University of London also appears on lists of unaccredited colleges and universities maintained by the U.S. states of Maine[8] and Texas.[10]

According to the AUOL prospectus, the University has "not applied for accreditation with any American nor British official accreditor". The same prospectus adds that its degrees are validated due to their "agreement with a renowned USA agency" who are able to issue Equivalency Certificates to AUOL graduates. This agency is not named. AUOL is also a member of the American Association for Higher Education and Accreditation, which is not a recognized accreditor.[6] AUOL is not a valid UK degree awarding body.[12]

See also

References
  1. Wala Hawari & Samir Al-Saadi (7 April 2009). "What's real and what's fake?". Arab News. Archived from the original on 18 April 2009.
  2. "AUOL Accreditation". American University in London. Archived from the original on 28 October 2016.
  3. Official website (Accessed 6 Feb 2013)
  4. McLemee, Scott (July 2014). "The Economics of Fake Degrees". Slate.
  5. Jim Reed and Mike Deri Smith (22 October 2013). "American University in London sells study-free MBA". BBC Newsnight. BBC.
  6. Thomas Bartlett, ""Inquiry Into Higher-Education Group Reveals Odd Connections," Chronicle of Higher Education, Monday, August 25, 2008
  7. Bear, Mariah P. and John Bear. Bears' Guide to Earning Degrees by Distance Learning. Ten Speed Press, 2003.
  8. "Non-Accredited Colleges & Universities List". State of Maine Department of Education. Retrieved 2007-06-20.
  9. "Unauthorized Schools and Invalid Degrees". Oregon Office of Degree Authorization. Archived from the original on May 9, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013. Anacrusis Institute: Greece, UK. Greece does not recognize private degree suppliers. Related to American U of London.
  10. Institutions Whose Degrees are Illegal to Use in Texas Archived 2017-07-12 at the Wayback Machine, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, accessed March 20, 2013
  11. "Unauthorized Schools and Invalid Degrees". Oregon Office of Degree Authorization. Archived from the original on May 9, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  12. "American University of London". Higher Education Degree Datacheck. Graduate Prospects. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
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