EMBA MBA Degree from Top Ranked University
1) Offering institute: Auston Open Learning
2) Validating university: University of Western Sydney
3) Length of course: 1 year
4) Course structure: part-time classroom based
5) Area of study: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (Data Comm)
6) Costs: Course fees = $9800 (cover exam fees, material etc.) No administration fees needed because I was an ex-Auston student (did my Advanced Dip there).

Completed the course in March 2002. Still waiting for final result.

My comments:
Lecturer / teaching method
Most tutor and lecturer are local (mostly part-timer from Poly and NUS/NTU). Some are good in the delivery of the course. They are willing to stay after class hours, and reply by email. Usually, part-timer don't response during office hours, because will disturb their full-time job.
There are also bad one as 'bo-chap' attitude and just 'read from the book' style.

Course Material
Usually the FOC course material is useless. Those are extracted and photocopy from somewhere. Some never use at all. The lecturer always said FOC material is for "extra reading". The school will recommend to buy some books, but not necessary.
Taking note and tape recording is very important because you could replay the lesson when you do revision later.

Computer Room / Classroom booking
Auston has few computer rooms with Internet access for student use. Usually, I don't use them often because I have better PC at home. Unless you're attending practical lesson (like programming), else you don't use much.
My study group used to book the classroom for group discussions or project meeting. But due to Auston expansion and popularity, we can't get often.

Library.
Auston has a small library in level 3. The collection is not big and resources are limited. This is a good place if you want to borrow book for photocopy.

Tea-break
Auston will provide hot beverage during lesson break. I like the balcony area in level 3. At least can have some fresh air during the break. It's also a smoking area.

Admin support / Exam Result
You can request for document from the school. for example, reservist deferment letter, letter of studies, etc. Sometimes, the support staff didn't do their job well.
Normally, provisional result will be out in one month, but the actual result (from the awarding university) is 3 months after exam.

Assessment Methods
Each subject is assessed by written assignments and an examination; standard percentage is about 50/50 or 40/60. The written assignment is to help you to pass the subject.
As long as your assignment is 'OK' and don't fail the exam, you will get at least a PASS. The failure rate is about 5% - 15%.

The minus point:
As the degree course can be completed within 12 months, therefore some quality of study would be compromised. It is impossible to cover 100% for each subject, in 3 hours per lesson per week in the period of 10 study weeks.
30 hours of academic lesson compare to minimum 60 hours by full-time student. On top of that, assignments must be submitted before exam.

Auston has no different from other commercial school, that the more student enrolled is better. Sometimes, the class is too big. There is no enough time to ask question or clarify any unclear topics.

Some lecturers would expect student to have some background and basic knowledge for the subject. This will be a challenge for student that does not have necessary experience or knowledge.

Personally, I would like to grade Auston 6 out of 10 point. The reasons I enrolled in Auston:
1) Fast – The program can be completed within 12 months.
2) Cost - A final year degree is just cost me below $10K.
3) Flexible Module / Semester system.

Banking and Finance (economics) Degree from SIM University
School: SIM
University: UOL
Degree: Banking and Finance (economics)
Tenure: 3 yera full-time
Grade: 2nd lower.
Fees: about sgd$ 15,000

However, i will like to add something more.

After grad, i was not able to find a job for 10months (financial crisis - suay). Later wok in a futures firm for about 6 months and later went to my current job (banking) - first of doing MIS later in the front line doing sales.

For some of you whom have been crusing through the forum, you will see me asking for pointers regarding OU Maths degree and thankfully, one of the forum members are willing to call me on the phone to let me clear my doubts. So I have already applied for a place in OU Maths degree.

Master of Business Administration in International Business (with concentration in Marketing) MBA EMBA 

2) Offering institute: MDIS

3) Awarding university: Oklahoma City University, USA

4) Length of course: 1.5 to 2 yrs, depending on the schedules of the Professors

5) Delivery method: Part-time, Distance-learning, Fully-taught MBA EMBA

6) Costs:Reg fees S$ 41.20, course fees $24,514 (incl. GST). Textbooks and notes incl. in course fees.

Ranking:

OCU is ranked #23 in the Top Tier Schools in the America's Best Colleges 2007, Universities–Master's (West) category.

Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Business and Management Studies

2) Offering institution: MDIS

3) Awarding university: University of Bradford, United Kingdom

4) Length of course: 2 years (with advance standing) or 3 years

5) Delivery method: Distance-learning, Part-time, Fully-taught

6) Costs: S$18K (2 years) or $20K (3 years), inluding 4% GST, but excluding registration fees and textbooks.

This is a franchised course whereby the course syllabus, selection of lecturers, examination content etc. are fully controlled by the university and not by a third party institution.

You need to complete 360 credits worth of studies in order to graduate; there're 33 modules (10 credits each) and 1 management project (30 credits) for the entire program, and it is divided into 3 stages (equivalent to 3 academic years).

Exemptions from stage 1 modules will be given to students with business diplomas from local poly, advanced diplomas in business from PSB Academy and MDIS and other relevant qualifications.

Stage 1: 11 modules (110 Credits)

1. Foundations of Accounting 1
2. Foundations of Accounting 2
3. Quantitative Methods in Information Management
4. The Digital Enterprise
5. Business Law
6. Work, Employment and Society
7. Organisational Psychology
8. Business Economics
9. Practice of Management
10. Foundations of Marketing
11. Foundations of Production & Operations Management

Stage 2: 12 modules (120 Credits)

12. Resource Planning
13. The Management of Service Operations
14. Marketing Management and Strategy
15. Marketing Research - Strategic Implications
16. Accounting and Corporate Governance
17. Financial Management
18. The Macroeconomic Environment of Business
19. Work Behaviour and Performance
20. Organisational Design
21. Economics of Industry
22. Quantitative Methods for Managers
23. Information and Management Systems

Stage 3: 10 modules and 1 management project (130 Credits)

24. HRM: Strategic Resourcing and Development
25. Electronic Commerce
26. Understanding Strategic Management
27. Applied Strategic Management
28. International Business Strategy
29. International Business Environment
30. Capital Markets, Investment and Finance
31. Strategic Accounting and Management Control
32. Corporate Identity and Brand Management
33. Retailing and Services Marketing
34. Management Project

Each stage is split into 3 terms (4 months each). The students can expect to do 4 modules and sit for 4 exams at the end of each term. There is 2 ~ 3 lessons per week, for lectures and tutorials.

The course coordinators are mostly efficient, though they do make mistakes in the notes once in a while, but these are rectified quickly.

Lecturers are mostly practicing professionals in their fields, a number of them are currently teaching in the local unis or polys. Most are very knowledgeable and can teach well....though there are a couple of duds along the way (got qualifications but dunno how to teach....their lessons boring till zzzz....).

Overall I am rather satisfied.

Note: The above is for the Generalist pathway only. Those who're taking the Marketing or Accounting and Finance specializations will have different contents in stage 2 and 3; content of stage 1 is the same for all specializations.

Further information:

1) The Bradford University School of Management is a Top 100 Business School in the World. The business school itself is accredited by EQUIS, and all its MBA degree programs are accredited by AMBA. According to the Financial Times worldwide Top 100 MBA 2005, its full-time MBA is ranked #76 (#10 among UK business schools); in the Economist Intelligence Unit's Top 100 full-time MBA 2005, it's ranked #84, while Bradford's Associate Institute, NIMBAS, is ranked #57.