Getting BA from US Uni Online?

I've just discovered that I don't qualify for home fees for university here until 2013.  I have an associate's degree which I was told equals 5 A Levels. Correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I've been reading, to teach in the UK, you need a bachelor's degree and QTS.  You can get QTS after you have your degree through a year-long PGCE course.  If you are teaching secondary school, your degree should be in the subject you plan to teach.

Well, I want to teach high school history.  I don't want to wait two years before I can even start the course, so I am considering taking an online degree from a US university now, because I still qualify for US financial aid.  I can take a Bachelor of Arts in History entirely online, and then do PGCE here and teach, right?  Does anyone know anyone who has done this before?  I always looked rather skeptically at online degrees but there is honestly no other way I can do it before 2013.  I am worried that they aren't accredited the same way as a regular university degree, or that the UK won't accept it, or something.  I am going to call a few local unis on Monday, I was just hoping for some thoughts or experiences you all may have had.  Thanks a lot

I'm pretty sure you qualify for home fees after 3 years, not 4.  So if you arrived in the UK in September 2009 as your signature says, then you'd qualify in September 2012. 

I'm pretty sure you qualify for home fees after 3 years, not 4.  So if you arrived in the UK in September 2009 as your signature says, then you'd qualify in September 2012. 

Just what I was going to say: for home fees you need to hold ILR and have lived in the UK for the previous 3 years before the start date of the course (so if you entered the UK in September 2009, then as long as you hold ILR you'll qualify for home fees from September 2012).

What about Open University? Their fees are lower than traditional universities, and you can always transfer to a traditional one after you've met the residency requirements. Then you'll be receiving an education in line to what you'd be teaching your students, rather than history with an American slant.

Sorry I can't quote from my phone, but I will be eligible for home fees on Sep 30 2012.  Unfortunately this is after the start of classes so the first year I can begin a degree program is 2013.
I haven't looked into Open Uni but I assume they have the same residency requirements, and even though they may be lower, the int'l fees will still be unaffordable.  Thanks though guys, I wish it were simpler than this.

I can confirm the OU has the same residency requirements.

Sorry I can't quote from my phone, but I will be eligible for home fees on Sep 30 2012.  Unfortunately this is after the start of classes so the first year I can begin a degree program is 2013.

Some universities have start dates at the beginning of October, so you might be able to find one that enables you to meet the residency requirement and start in 2012. Both my degrees had classes starting in the first week of October, so it's not unheard of - for example, I went to Bristol and Exeter and on their websites they both have the same starting dates for the next couple of years... 2010/11: 4th October; 2011/12: 3rd October and 2012/13: 1st October. (Looking closer to you, it looks like quite a few of the unis start in September, but Lancaster University has their classes starting on October 5th 2012).

Otherwise, if you really can't start in 2012, I don't see that there would be a major problem with an online degree, but you'd probably just have to check that the particular one you do would be accepted in the UK.

Thanks ksand.  I did look at Lancaster but it's actually hours away from me here in Rossendale.   I can really only commute as far as Manchester.  I am going to call and ask there on Monday about PGCE requirements, but the websites all say I need to check with NARIC to see if I have an equivalent degree.  How can a get a NARIC report on a degree I haven't even started yet?  I wish they could just tell me if they accept it or not!

open university has rolling starting dates so you should be able to get started pretty quickly after eligible for home fees.

I am enrolled in an university from the States, completely online. Which one were you looking into?  Some of them have residency requirements because you have to intern in a school in the States to complete the degree program. (Western Governor's U.)

The university I am enrolled in has teaching degrees, no residency requirements, and it's fully accredited. The main issue I'm having at the moment is getting books over here.

I chose to go this route for the same reason. I didn't want to wait another 3 years to get started. Being charged international student rates in the UK wasn't an option for me either.

 Hi drofnnyl, thanks for your reply.  I am looking at Grand Canyon University in AZ. Since I'm not doing an actual teaching degree I don't have to be there for internships or anything.  I want a Bachelor of Arts in History, and there were only a handful offering it.  I didn't think about books - I've never done an online course before.  Do you think EBay might have something?  Also, do you know anything about how online degrees are received in the UK?

I can confirm the OU has the same residency requirements.

Yes, but their overseas student rate is roughly the same as going to a brick & mortar university at UK rates.

Yes, but their overseas student rate is roughly the same as going to a brick & mortar university at UK rates.

As an example, if you did a History degree with Open University, you have to take 360 credits in total. From what I can see on the History course webpage (http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/qualification/b01.htm), each 60-credit course costs £1470 (non-UK students), so the entire 3-year degree as a non-UK student would cost you £8,820.

However, as a UK (home fees) student (when you qualify in 2012), it would only cost you £4,200 for the entire degree (£700 per 60-credit course).

As an example, if you did a History degree with Open University, you have to take 360 credits in total. From what I can see on the History course webpage (http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/qualification/b01.htm), each 60-credit course costs £1470 (non-UK students), so the entire 3-year degree as a non-UK student would cost you £8,820.

However, as a UK (home fees) student (when you qualify in 2012), it would only cost you £4,200 for the entire degree (£700 per 60-credit course).

another thought-- you could take a couple of courses at the higher rate to get started, and then you would when you qualify your next courses would be at the lower rate. I would think in the end this would end up cheaper than a US online course, but I could be wrong.