Status of Qualifications

Calamus Extension College Ltd.

For details of Calamus Extension College's registration in the UK see our about page.

Calamus Extension College Ltd. certificates and diplomas are private UK qualifications. The college is independently fully accredited by the International Association for Distance Learning, a private, non-governmental accrediting body that specifically accredits distance learning colleges.

Calamus Extension College Ltd. certificate and diploma qualifications are not under any British national or governmental qualifications accreditation framework. In the UK, it is legal to issue certificates and diplomas in many fields without government authority or approval and there are very many UK private sector schools that do so especially in the areas of complementary therapies, personal development, business training and vocational skills.

Also, in the UK there is no specific standard for a "certificate" or "diploma" across all colleges or even all accrediting bodies. In many cases, a diploma is held to be of greater length or of higher standard than a certificate but that is not always the case, and it can be difficult to compare one course with another. In the UK, a diploma is the most favourite qualification, in contrast with the US where diplomas generally refer to high school, and certificate is the desired title for most professional and training qualifications. Please look at the specific course details to see if the course covers what you need.

Because we attract students from many parts of the world, and "diploma" is preferred in some countries whereas "certificate" is preferred in others, we will consider tailoring the title of the qualification to the local needs of the student. For example, a course featured in our website or prospectus as a "diploma" may be given the title "certificate" for a US student subject to approval. This may make some of our courses more appealing to overseas students.

Apart from our general accreditation by the International Association for Distance Learning, if a particular course is given a specific accreditation, it will appear in the course details.

We do not offer courses leading to school-leaving qualifications, GCSEs, Advanced levels, NVQs or similar, NOCN or Aset qualifications.

It is the applicant's responsibility to make any relevant enquiries from professional bodies, etc. about the suitability of any course before enrolling. If you are outside the UK, it is especially important for you to find out what specific types of qualification are required in your country for the work you wish to do. If you are travelling to a different country for work, you will need to find out that country's specific requirements for qualifications and any associated legal documents.

Because Calamus Extension College Ltd.'s certificates and diplomas are private and not approved by any government-linked body, the process of obtaining an Apostille (a form of international legal verification) for a Calamus Extension College Ltd. is very expensive and in many cases will cost more than the tuition fee itself. However, if you do desire an Apostille, we can recommend an agent who will arrange one for you. For further information on Apostille services click here.

Calamus Extension College Ltd. is registered with UK Register of Learning Providers - registration number 10001088.

Calamus Extension College Ltd. is fully accredited by the International Association for Distance Learning (since 2006) - membership no. 10151.

Calamus Extension College degree study programmes lead to qualifications awarded by Calamus International University (see below).

Calamus International University

Calamus International University strives to make straightforward statements about issues of accreditation or recognition. Being legally registered and/or licensed outside the UK does not mean UK accreditation or recognition by the British government.

Important Statement on Accreditation
(including CIU's Accreditation by the International Association for Distance Learning)

Calamus International University is not a UK university & therefore does not have UK accreditation or recognition by the UK government. CIU is not a US university and so cannot come within the official US regional accreditation system or be "regionally accredited" in the US. CIU is not an EU university. CIU is an international private distance-learning university. There is no government-approved accreditation system for such universities.

Nevertheless, private accreditation systems exist and Calamus International University has been fully accredited by the International Association for Distance Learning www.iadl.org.uk since 2006 - membership no. 11031.

Calamus International University degrees are not designed to meet any particular statutory occupational licensing or other requirements of any single state or country, and it is the prospective student’s responsibility to ensure that the degree sought meets all desired requirements in terms of acceptance by local employers, educational institutions, professional bodies and for the purpose of local vocational or employment licensing laws. Prospective applicants are directed to carry out local enquiries in their own country concerning such matters by contacting whichever local bodies the applicant deems relevant to his or her purpose. Calamus International University cannot undertake to do so on the applicant’s behalf. Calamus International University students tend to value individuality, flexibility, love of lifelong learning and a holistic approach more than the restrictive conventions of traditional higher education. Most students are professionally qualified, or will already be pursuing routes to professional credentials, and will be interested in a distance learning degree primarily to acquire a degree qualification.

Calamus International University was founded in the British West Indies in 2001

The University’s corporate location in the British West Indies was established in 2001 through becoming licensed as Calamus International University Ltd, enabling the institution to accept students from all continents. The University was given a certificate of registration from the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands, British West Indies. However, further developments took place and Calamus International University no longer held its corporate presence in the Turks and Caicos after December, 2007.

Registration of CIU in the Republic of Vanuatu from September 2007

flag of Vanuatu - image courtesy of www.3dflags.com

In September 2007, Calamus International University became registered in the Republic of Vanuatu, in the South Pacific, under the International Companies Act No. 32 of 1992, Republic of Vanuatu. To honour the original foundation of CIU in the West Indies in 2001, the university company registered in Vanuatu was given the name of Calamus International University (British West Indies) Ltd. The company is limited by Guarantee (therefore it operates on a non-profit basis) and its registration number is 34088.

The address of CIU in the Republic of Vanuatu is: Calamus International University (British West Indies) Ltd., PO Box 1487, Port Vila, Republic of Vanuatu. (Please note that all routine correspondence, including all student and academic matters, should be sent to our International Office at Calamus Extension College Ltd., LONDON, United Kingdom. This applies to enquiries from ALL COUNTRIES.)

In the Republic of Vanuatu, no government approval or accreditation is necessary in order for a private university entity to award its own degrees. A similar situation exists in various other countries, including Denmark and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Vanuatu is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations (formerly the British Commonwealth). From Wikipedia: In 1906, the United Kingdom and France officially claimed [Vanuatu], jointly managing it through a British-French Condominium as the New Hebrides. An independence movement was established in the 1970s, and the Republic of Vanuatu was created in 1980.

Click here for full Wikipedia entry on Vanuatu

Professional Bodies and Societies

Through Calamus Extension College Ltd., the University offers advice on possible membership of certain UK professional bodies for students/alumni who have taken appropriate courses. Management-related degree courses are approved by the Institute of General Management (Ireland). CIU degrees in South African History are approved by the Anglo Zulu War Historical Society. (These approvals are not degree accreditations.) Calamus International University is also a member of The Vocal Coach Association (UK) in connection with its courses in Contemporary Voice.

Arrangements can be made for UK diplomas to be awarded in parallel with some CIU therapy-related courses.

Routes to Professional Accreditation for Counsellors, Hypnotherapists and Psychotherapists

Calamus International University, through Calamus Extension College Ltd. and/or our affiliated school UK College of Holistic Training, can assist students and graduates to apply for memberships of certain professional societies in the UK. Further details, which may change from time to time, will appear on the Calamus website and/or in brochures concerning specific CIU degree programmes. In particular, we can advise students of counselling, hypnotherapy and psychotherapy in the UK and other suitable jurisdictions on acquiring professional and/or accredited status in their fields from reputable bodies suitable for private practice in conjunction with Calamus qualifications and other education and training. The professional bodies will make their own independent decisions on membership in each case and Calamus Extension College Ltd. and Calamus International University will not be involved in the decision-making process and cannot be responsible for the outcome of any application..

Authentication/legalisation of CIU degree certificates and transcripts by Apostille

It is possible to apply for an Apostille for your CIU degree or transcript. The Apostille is not a form of accreditation, but it helps to authenticate your documents.

The Apostille is an official government seal which, when affixed to a document, automatically renders it legal in any country which is a signatory of the Hague Convention (1961). Some countries that did not sign the Convention will also respect the Apostille, though additional attestation might be necessary in some cases.

We can recommend an agent who can apply for an Apostille for your CIU degree after authenticating it via a Notary Public, Solicitor (lawyer) or person of similar standing. This process will be carried out in a separate country (not the UK).

Obtaining a United States Apostille for your Calamus International University degree

NEW Obtaining a United States equivalence qualification and a United States Apostille for your CIU studies

It may be possible for suitable CIU graduates to apply to a US private, non-profit educational body for the issue of a special diploma mentioning your CIU degree. This US-issued "equivalence" diploma can then be notarised and Apostilled in the United States, giving you an extra certificate legally authenticated in the USA. (Obtaining this extra certification is not an accreditation of your degree by any US regional accrediting body). All applications for this scheme are subject to acceptance. Details will be given to successful applicants for CIU programmes where applicable - if you are an interested applicant, contact us at info@unicalamus.org

For further information on Apostille services click here.

Note: even if any qualification has an Apostille, any employer, authority or professional body can still make its own decision regarding the suitability of a qualification for a particular purpose. An Apostille does not guarantee a job or a visa. It is simply a verification that you have a genuine document.

What is Recognition?

There is no precise meaning of this word, so it is difficult to answer queries about it. You always need to specify, recognised by whom and for what purpose?

Individual employers, professional bodies, and other bodies and agencies all have different recognition criteria depending on exactly what is being recognised to what end. Recognition does not mean accreditation - for example an employer may recognise a degree but that does not mean the company accredits it! Even government-accredited degrees may not be recognised by certain employers or foreign governments or for certain specific jobs or professional memberships. And most agencies who say they do not recognise certain types of degree have no power to accredit any degrees at all.

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DECLARATION AND DISCLAIMER: The Apostille agents and services mentioned in this page have no commercial connection with Calamus Extension College Ltd. and/or Calamus International University. We do not receive any payment for mentioning them here or any remuneration for recommending their services, and we do not pay them any fees. Calamus Extension College Ltd. and/or Calamus International University do not accept any liability or responsibility whatsoever for the outcome of any contact or transaction with an agent or service mentioned on this page, or for the outcome of any use or attempted use of the documents provided by such agents or services. Any queries regarding the delivery of Apostille services or details of Apostilles provided should be addressed to the service provider. All transactions are between the student/graduate and the service provider and all fees for Apostilles and related services provided by Apostille agents are paid by the student to the service provider.