Accreditations

When it comes to our “Academic Programmes”, Forward College operates as a Recognised Teaching Center of the University of London (UoL), of which LSE and KCL are members. Our teaching is academically directed either by King’s College London (for the BSc in Psychology) or by the London School of Economics (for the other six BSc programmes). For Forward students, this means they:

• are also registered at the UoL during their studies at Forward College (at no additional cost),
• have full access to the learning materials developed by LSE or KCL through the UoL Virtual Learning Environment,
• are taught and tutored in small groups on our campuses by Forward professors who use the material from LSE or KCL, complemented by their own teaching,
• take annual exams graded by academics from LSE or KCL,
• receive their Bachelor’s degree from the UoL “under the academic direction” of LSE or KCL.

This ensures that our students earn fully accredited and internationally recognised degrees from a highly respected institution, enabling them to apply successfully to top universities around the world (see more here).

Note: The UoL is the historic degree awarding institution for London based universities (LSE, KCL, Queen Mary…). Until recently all these institutions’ degrees were awarded by the UoL.

The Open Bachelor’s is awarded by Forward College. We are currently in the final stages of obtaining full recognition and degree-awarding powers from the French authorities, where Forward College is registered. Full recognition is expected by the end of 2024 and will apply to students enrolling in this programme from September 2025. Once recognised, the degree will be valid across the European Union and in all countries that recognise European degrees.

During this transition period, Forward College has been authorised to offer and award the Open Bachelor’s without formal academic recognition. However, the programme’s quality is rigorously reviewed each year by our Academic Council, composed of international experts in higher education.

Please note, this programme is independent from the University of London, LSE, and KCL, and they are not involved in its academic direction.

The official title of the degree on the diploma will be “Bachelor’s in Social Sciences and Technology,” with the possibility of a major and, potentially, a minor based on the student’s chosen subjects.

The Business & Leadership degree is a specialised version of the Open Bachelor’s, always combined with an academic degree from the University of London. It recognizes up to 100 ECTS from the UoL programme and adds 80 ECTS through business and leadership modules, including three modules in entrepreneurship and three in personal development.

In terms of recognition, the Business & Leadership degree currently holds the same status as the Open Bachelor’s.

Although it does not yet have formal academic recognition, our students have received highly positive feedback from recruiters, who value the practical experience and unique skills gained through this programme. This degree has proven to help students stand out in their applications and professional experiences.

It’s important to note that certificates from this programme are not formal university degrees. However, they carry a certain number of ECTS and are valued for the skills and practical knowledge they provide, which enhance students’ applications to master’s programmes, internships, and job opportunities.