JOIN MAILING LIST

ABOUT UNIVERSITY ACCREDITATION

ACCREDITATION of UK degree-awarding universities and colleges is either by Royal Charter or Act of Parliament. In the USA, accreditation of universities is voluntary, and government-validated accreditation in that country is provided by regional accrediting agencies recognized by the US Department of Education.

There is no government-approved accreditation system for such universities. However, private accreditations exist and CIU is accredited by the International Association for Distance Learning.

RECOGNITION - there is no precise meaning of this word, so it is difficult to answer queries about it. You always need to specify, recognised BY WHOM and FOR WHAT PURPOSE? Individual employers, professional bodies, and other bodies and agencies all have different recognition criteria depending on exactly what is being recognised to what end. Recognition does not mean accreditation - for example an employer may recognise a degree but that does not mean the company accredits it! Even government-accredited degrees may not be recognised by certain employers or foreign governments or for certain specific jobs or professional memberships. And most agencies who say they do not recognise certain types of degree have no power to accredit any degrees at all.

RECOGNITION QUERIES? Please read the text on this page carefully, and make any necessary local enquiries. If you want to know what degrees a certain body will recognise, ask that body to give you a list of appropriate universities or courses. Distance degrees validated by a private university are normally for people who are not specifically seeking a government-accredited degree.

Registration, Recognition & Professional Memberships

(UPDATED JANUARY 2010)

Calamus Extension College Ltd.

For details of Calamus Extension College's registration in the UK see our about page.

Calamus Extension College degree programmes are validated by Calamus International University (see below).

Various specific courses offered via Calamus Extension College Ltd. are recognised as Approved by The Counselling Society, a UK body for professional counsellors and psychotherapists which is open to international members. Approval is on a points system depending on the courses taken. For further information see the Society's website on www.counsellingsociety.com and also our information page on this link.

Calamus International University

Calamus International University, unlike many other unconventional institutions, confines itself to scrupulously honest statements about issues of accreditation or recognition. Being legally registered and/or licensed outside the UK does not comprise UK accreditation or recognition by the British government.

Important Statement on Accreditation
(including CIU's Accreditation by the
International Association for Distance Learning)

Calamus International University is not a UK university & therefore does not have UK accreditation or recognition by the UK government. CIU is not a US university and so cannot come within the official US regional accreditation system. CIU is not an EU university. CIU is an international private distance-learning university. There is no government-approved accreditation system for such universities.

Nevertheless, private accreditation systems exist and Calamus International University is proud to announce that from January 2010, it has been fully accredited by the International Association for Distance Learning www.iadl.org.uk

Calamus International University degrees are not designed to meet any particular statutory occupational licensing or other requirements of any single state or country, and it is the prospective student’s responsibility to ensure that the degree sought meets all desired requirements in terms of acceptance by local employers, educational institutions, professional bodies and for the purpose of local vocational or employment licensing laws. Prospective applicants are directed to carry out local enquiries in their own country concerning such matters by contacting whichever local bodies the applicant deems relevant to his or her purpose. Calamus International University cannot undertake to do so on the applicant’s behalf. Calamus International University students tend to value individuality, flexibility, love of lifelong learning and a holistic approach more than the restrictive conventions of traditional higher education. Most students are professionally qualified, or will already be pursuing routes to professional credentials, and will be interested in a distance learning degree primarily to acquire a degree qualification.

Calamus International University was founded
in the British West Indies in 2001

The University’s corporate location in the British West Indies was established in 2001 through becoming licensed as Calamus International University Ltd, enabling the institution to accept students from all continents. The University was given a certificate of registration from the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands, British West Indies. However, further developments have taken place and Calamus International University no longer held its corporate presence in the Turks and Caicos after December, 2007.

Registration of CIU in the Republic of Vanuatu
from September 2007

flag of Vanuatu - image courtesy of www.3dflags.com

In September 2007, Calamus International University became registered in the Republic of Vanuatu, in the South Pacific, under the International Companies Act No. 32 of 1992, Republic of Vanuatu. To honour the original foundation of CIU in the West Indies in 2001, the university company registered in Vanuatu was given the name of Calamus International University (British West Indies) Ltd. The company is limited by Guarantee and its registration number is 34088.

The address of CIU in the Republic of Vanuatu is: Calamus International University (British West Indies) Ltd., PO Box 1487, Port Vila, Republic of Vanuatu. (Please note that all routine correspondence, including all student and academic matters, should be sent to our International Office at Calamus Extension College Ltd., LONDON, United Kingdom. This applies to enquiries from ALL COUNTRIES.)

In the Republic of Vanuatu, no government approval or accreditation is necessary in order for a private university company to award its own degrees. A similar situation exists in various other countries, including Denmark and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

From Wikipedia: In 1906, the United Kingdom and France officially claimed [Vanuatu], jointly managing it through a British-French Condominium as the New Hebrides. An independence movement was established in the 1970s, and the Republic of Vanuatu was created in 1980.

Click here for full Wikipedia entry on Vanuatu

Professional Bodies and Societies

Through Calamus Extension College Ltd., the University offers access to membership of certain UK professional bodies for students/alumni who have taken appropriate courses. Management-related degree courses are approved by the Institute of General Management (Ireland). CIU degrees in South African History are approved by the Anglo Zulu War Historical Society. (These approvals are not degree accreditations.) Calamus International University is also a member of The Vocal Coach Association (UK) in connection with its courses in Contemporary Voice.

Arrangements can be made for UK diplomas to be awarded in parallel with some CIU therapy-related courses, leading to the possibility of membership of certain UK professional bodes for therapists.

Routes to Professional Accreditation for Counsellors, Hypnotherapists and Psychotherapists

Calamus International University, through Calamus Extension College Ltd. and/or our affiliated school UK College of Holistic Training, can assist students and graduates to apply for memberships of certain professional societies in the UK. Further details, which may change from time to time, will appear on the Calamus website and/or in brochures concerning specific CIU degree programmes. In particular, we can advise students of counselling, hypnotherapy and psychotherapy in the UK and other suitable jurisdictions on acquiring professional and/or accredited status in their fields from reputable bodies suitable for private practice in conjunction with Calamus qualifications and other education and training.

Authentication/legalisation of CIU degree certificates
and transcripts by Apostille

It is possible to apply for an Apostille for your CIU degree or transcript. The Apostille is not a form of accreditation, but it helps to establish that you have a genuine degree.

The Apostille is an official government seal which, when affixed to a document, automatically renders it legal in any country which is a signatory of the Hague Convention (1961). Some countries that did not sign the Convention will also respect the Apostille, though additional attestation might be necessary in some cases.

We can recommend a reliable agent who can apply for an Apostille for your degree after authenticating it via a Notary Public, Solicitor (lawyer) or person of similar standing. This process will be carried out in a separate country (not the UK). Details of the agent are available to CIU graduates (please quote your student ID number with all enquiries).

European Educational Databases

Calamus Extension College courses that lead to Calamus International University degrees may be listed in some UK (and some European) post-secondary education databases alongside the degrees of traditional universities. These databases are government-sponsored and are part of a Europe-wide initiative to promote lifelong learning. These database entries do not imply official approval or recognition, and private as well as public education providers have been included in such listings.

GET ANNOUNCEMENTS, OFFERS, REVIEWS, NEWSLETTER FEATURES AND MORE DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX -
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR E-MAIL LIST NOW USING THE BOX BELOW:

Mailings will be every few weeks and will only be from us. We will not pass your details to any other organisation. You can unsubscribe any time.

This page last updated January 2010. All information is subject to change at any time.