Questions and answers
Straight answers to what applicants, students and employers ask us most.
Getting in
Who is Berkshire for?
Working adults with real experience in their field who want a university degree without leaving their job. Our programs are designed for people with five or more years of experience.
When can I start?
Applications are not open yet because every program is in preparation. When a program opens there are no fixed intake dates, so you can start at any time of the year. Register your interest and we will write to you.
Which programs are open now?
No program is open for enrolment yet. Every other program is in preparation and opens when its curriculum and courses are in place on the learning platform. Each program page shows its status, and you can register your interest in a program that is not open yet.
Can I transfer courses from another university?
Yes. Courses you passed at a recognised institution may count toward your degree. In a bachelor's program, transferred courses and courses earned through experience together cover at most 28 of the 40 courses. Read the transfer credit policy.
Is there an entrance exam?
No. Your certificates and your documented experience decide your program and level. Your experience is then tested course by course.
What documents do I need?
Your CV, your passport or national ID, your previous certificates, proof of your work experience, and any training certificates you hold.
Turning experience into courses
How is my experience assessed?
For each course you claim, you sit a short online test drawn from that course's question bank, after an identity check. Your evidence is reviewed alongside it.
How much of my degree can experience cover?
In a bachelor's program, up to 70% of the courses. At least 30% is always studied with us, and the graduation project is always completed with us.
What happens if I do not pass an experience test?
Nothing is lost. The course is marked "not yet mastered". You can retake the test once you are ready, or study the course online like any other.
Can I appeal a result?
Yes. Every appeal is decided by a person, never by the system alone.
Studying with us
How long will my degree take?
It depends on how much of the program your assessed experience covers. Your advisor gives you a personal study plan, with the number of courses and an expected finish date, before you enrol.
What are online courses really like?
Short lessons with quick checks, a practical tool in each unit, cases and practice situations, and a task you carry out in your own workplace.
I work full time. Will I manage?
The programs were designed for exactly that. There are no fixed class times and most tasks are done in your own job. It still takes steady effort every week.
How do tests work?
Each course ends with a final assessment taken online, after an identity check. Practice work during the course receives coaching feedback that does not affect your grade.
Is an online degree different from one earned on campus?
The curriculum, learning outcomes and graduation requirements are set by the program, not by where you sit. Only the delivery is different.
Certificates and transcripts
What will my certificate and transcript show?
Your degree, your program, and every course with its credit hours and grade, in the standard university format. How each course was completed is kept in your student record.
How can an employer check my certificate?
By entering the certificate number and verification code on our verification page, or scanning the QR code on the document. The answer comes from the University's records.
Can my documents be apostilled?
Yes. Documents can be notarized and apostilled for use abroad on request. An apostille confirms the signature and seal on the document.
Cost and payment
How much does a degree cost?
There is a $120 application fee and a fee for each course: $240 for a bachelor's degree, $590 for a master's degree and $790 for a doctorate. A bachelor's degree of 40 courses comes to about $9,720. A master's degree of 12 courses comes to about $7,200. A doctorate of 12 courses and a research project comes to about $14,340. Your written offer gives your exact total. Tuition and fees.
Do I pay for the whole degree at once?
No. You pay the fee for a course when you register for it, one course at a time. There is no contract for the whole degree and no interest.
Where we stand
Where does Berkshire stand on accreditation?
We are preparing our programs for international accreditation, one program at a time, and each one will be announced on this site the day it is granted. Until then, acceptance of the degree is decided by each employer or authority, so check with yours before you enrol. Read the full statement.
Will my degree be accepted for a government job?
That is decided by the government body concerned, and many require specific accreditation. Ask the body that matters to you before you enrol. We would rather you ask now than be disappointed later.
Ask an admissions advisor
An advisor will reply to you by email.