Distance Learning degree attestation for Saudi Arabia

@buuggzzy interested to know how you manage it because I have the same situation. I have also written to the university to see if they can issue a new certificate where it doesn't explicitly say it was completed via distance learning. Does your cert specify if it was via distance learning?

Hi, my degree certificate (and transcript) has no mention of distance learning and it’s the same as if someone has attended the University in-person. Also, the same degree was offered on campus as well during my period of study, so it might be helpful. The UKSACB will only know as/when or if they contact the University.

In your case, the University has to issue you a new degree certificate and then confirm accordingly that the study was in person.

@buuggzzy so I'm still waiting for their reply to see if they can take the distance learning out.... Do you have any other formal qualifications

Nope, this is the only degree I have along with tons of other professional certificates/certifications which are obviously of no use. I plan to apply for UKSCBA attestation next week, let’s see if it gets through. Besides, i am currently working in another GCC country, so if the KSA role doesn’t workout then I can at least continue in my current position.

All the best for your efforts of sorting out with the University. I sincerely hope that it works out for you.

@buuggzzy BTW I got in contact with Saudi cultural attache and asked if diplomas and other professionals certs are also enough for work visa and they said it should be. Provided your role is not engineering based then hopefully you're OK. Mine is strategy and marketing so no need for engineering cert. All the best

Many thanks for the information,  appreciated. My role will be to manage enterprise risk management at Director level, so not sure if my professIonal certificates will suffice to meet the attestation/visa requirements. I will discuss with the onboarding team to explore possibilities and available options.

@buuggzzy cool. All the best and would be delighted to hear how you got on. I will not be presenting till another few months as I have a long notice to serve.

@Newcomerquestions Many thanks. I will certainly share my experience in this forum for the benefit of others who are in a similar boat. All the best for you too, hope your transition turns out to be smoother without any major hurdle.

@buuggzzy how did this go?

i was in the same boat as you. my degree was from northumbria and it was distanced but i managed to overcome it and got my iqama and visa

@usamahbackuphi, could I ask how you managed it?

@Newcomerquestions you need to get your sponsor to write a letter saying they are happy with your level of experience. this is an exemption letter. this has to be stamped by Chamber of commerce in saudi and will be submitted to the cultural attache in your country. if you are using your degree then the letter would ask the cultural attachè / mission in your country to attest your degree.

with the exemption letter, you can also submit your CV. your visa agent will advise on approach. i have been working in saudi for a few months now and everything is fine but this may cause issues down the line if you want to bring children or spouse over as depending on your profession, when you go to the Istiqdam office to apply for family residency visa you have to present a stamped certificate from the saudi embassay. i got turned away

@usamahbackup also i cannt reply to your message as it wont let me verify my email for some reason. but no, my degree did not mention anything about location and method of study. it looks like a normal degree but the visa agent i used told me not too use this. im from Uk

@newcomerquestions 

Hello @usamahbackup

also i cannt reply to your message as it wont let me verify my email for some reason

This should not be an issue now. It has been fixed.

Could you please try again and let me know if all is working fine on your end?

Cheers,

Cheryl

Expat.com team

@usamahbackuphi thanks mate this is very helpful and valuable feedback which has been really hard to get anywhere. For the family visa stamping, was it due to degree being online?

SORRY for all the questions

@buuggzzy Hi,

Thanks for rasising this. Currently I am also doing my Master's degree from UK, University of Liverpool. I will be finishing next fall. I need to get my degree attested then by Saudi Embassy. Would you please mind sharing more about your experience and how did it go through?

This will really help me way beforehand in dealing with my university and how to respond to the embassy when the embassy get's in touch.

Really appreciate your reply!

@buuggzzy Hi,

Thanks for this man! You have no idea how much this would help.

Could you please post more about your experience on applying to UKSACB?

I am going to be finishing my degree from University of Liverpool, UK. Of course they offer the same degree as offline. There is no mention on the degree of anything such as distance or online. I need to get the certificate attested next fall.

Would really appreciate if you can talk more about your personal experience with UKSACB.

Looking forward to your reply. Thanks man!

@muddassirmasihuddincheck with UOL if they will issue the transcript without the mention of distance learning. Cultural attache may request transcript as well.

@buuggzzy did you manage to get everything sorted

@Newcomerquestions Hey, thanks!

Oh wow, I didn't know that the trascript is also requested. Are you sure? As per UKSACB, there is no specific mention of trasnscript. To quote one of their points, "SACB will ONLY attest academic certificates". I am assuming (I can be wrong) that this only means they attest the degree certificate.

If you are 100% sure, please do confirm once again. Yes, I will try to seek more info from UoL on what is the mode of study they will mention on the transcript.

Thanks alot man!

@buuggzzy do we need to send the transcript also or only degree is enough?

@buuggzzy hello on my degree its not mentioned that its distance studies but on transcript yes it is mentioned so do we need the transcript also??

@muddassirmasihuddin yes please if you get any info let me know as far as i know they only ask fir the degree not for the transcript

@muddassirmasihuddincheck I am yet to start the process but see a lot of conflicting information everywhere. Seems sometimes they do sometimes they don't... Really eager to see if anyone managed it via an o line course

@buuggzzy Hi, this is really helpful and I am very keen to know the outcome of your application. Would you mind sharing some info please? Thanks!!

Hi,

Please check the company OneVasco. They do attestation services' almost for 70 countries. there are some agents same like them they are doing on behalf of you but takes time.

Hey peeps!

Same boat here. I have a Masters in PM from Robert Gordon University, a public and well renowned university in the UK.

Some of these rules make no sense. If I had gone and sat in Scotland to do the same course and attain the same degree all would be fine but because it was studies via distance learning, the authorities turn their nose to it. My understanding is that the UAE accept distance learning degrees, which is a relief.

Moreover, my degree certificate itself makes no mention but the transcript says structured part time. Hopefully that does the trick.

Will keep everyone posted!

@usamahbackup Usama hi, my company is offering me another role in Riyadh. the thing is im still currently studying and will have my degree in year. I have only high school diploma but have been with yhe same company for 8 years. Basically they will need to find some neutral title for my visa and iqama but will be it be accepted as i dont have a degree.

you have mentioned about the exemption letter from yhe company. Is it possible to use when applying for visa together with my CV. will it help? will appreciate your help and response.

@muddassirmasihuddin

Please let us know if your degree was able to go through the attestation process without any issues of it being DL ?

@Fizzaqayum did your problem sort out ? i also have the same issue and i’ve been looking for answers

@Fizzaqayum hi, i have the same issue and i’ve been trying to find out more about this. Was your issue resolved ?

@buuggzzy

Hi. What is the status of your query. Have you got any response from SACB?

@usamahbackup how??

Hey, I hope someone replies. I have the same question. My degree is distance learning but it’s not mentioned and same as a degree that I get on campus. Will it get attested. I wanted to know from your experience

@Newcomerquestions hey, no i have not yet graduated. Still waiting for my graduation. If you have done the process, do let us know

@muddassirmasihuddin hi, if you do it via UK then you submit your docs to Saudi cultural Attache office and then they contact your uni for the verification of online or presencial. There's no way around it. So what can you do is speak with your uni in advance to see if they would be willing to confirm it was presencial and not online.