shrads:I'm 22 yrs old, and working in the HR dept for a local company in Dubai. I wanted to know if there's any way I can do an online dimploma course (online/correspondence - preferably in human resources/public relations) within 1.5 yrs and top it up with a masters degree? If yes, which colleges give that option, because I dont want to do a 3 yr degree course. Also, is there any college that gives the option to do a degree within 1.5 yrs? Please let me know which colleges are good, and affordable.
Hi Shradha and welcome!
Most Master's degree programs require a Bachelor's degree for entry, meaning a four year degree in North America and a three year degree most other places. In one and a half years you could do an Associate's degree (the first half of a Bachelor's in the North American system, similar to a Foundation degree in the UK), but that wouldn't qualify you to apply for Master's programs. I can think of two exceptions, both are in the UK:
The first is the MBA program from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. They do not require a first degree, and their MBA can be earned solely through examinations -- notoriously difficult examinations. There's no HR concentration of which I'm aware, though.
Another exception is the Centre for Labour Market Studies of the University of Leicester. They offer a Master's and a doctoral program specifically in HR, and they're willing to consider experienced applicants for their Master's program that do not have a first degree: http://clms.edu
Hope this helps!
-=Steve=-
B.S., Info Sys, Charter Oak State College
M.A., Educational Tech Leadership, George Washington University
Doctor of Health Education, A.T. Still University, in progress