What's It Like to Study With MOL From Abroad?

Online learning has changed who can study a UK qualification.

You no longer need to live in the UK, take time out of work or move halfway across the world to earn an internationally recognised CIPD, Propertymark or CMI qualification. You just need an internet connection and the right training provider.

The global online learning market is now worth around $279 billion and on track to reach 1.1 billion users by 2029, and a growing share of those learners are studying qualifications from outside their home country. UK qualifications travel well. CIPD has more than 135,000 members across the world, and qualifications like Propertymark and CMI are recognised by employers in dozens of markets.

At MOL Learn, we work with learners across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. To give you a real sense of what studying with MOL from abroad is actually like, this article looks at why so many international professionals choose UK qualifications, how MOL's online learning is set up to work across time zones, and the experiences of two of our learners studying in Sweden and Saudi Arabia.

Why study a UK qualification from abroad?

UK professional qualifications are some of the most portable credentials in the world. There are three big reasons international professionals choose them.

First, recognition. CIPD is internationally respected as the gold standard for HR and L&D, with branches and members in the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, Gibraltar, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. CMI is the chartered professional body for management and leadership in the UK and is widely recognised by international employers. Propertymark is the UK's leading awarding body for property professionals and is increasingly relevant for international agents who work with UK property buyers.

Second, employer demand. Whether you are in Stockholm, Riyadh, Lagos or Singapore, a UK qualification on your CV signals to employers that you have been trained to a recognised academic and professional standard. For ambitious professionals working in multinational organisations, that recognition opens doors.

Third, flexibility. Studying a UK qualification online from abroad means you can build it around your existing role, family commitments and time zone, without the cost or upheaval of relocating.

The benefits of online learning are well established. You can study from home, on your commute or during your lunch break, with no need to travel to a physical campus. For international learners, those benefits are even more significant.

What MOL offers international learners

MOL has been delivering professional qualifications since 1984. We are a CIPD Platinum centre and Organisational Delivery Partner, part of LTE Group, with over 4,500 learners studying with us each year and a corporate client base that includes more than half of the FTSE 100. We have run programmes for organisations like Saudi Aramco, Shell Nigeria and Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, and our learners are based across four continents.

A few things make MOL particularly well suited to studying from abroad.

Our Virtual Learning Environment

All your course materials live on our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), which you can access from any device, anywhere with an internet connection. That includes digital workbooks, recorded webinars, podcasts, knowledge tests, mock exam papers, e-textbooks and a tutor moderated forum. If you cannot make a live session because of a time zone clash, the recording will be there waiting for you.

Switch Your Study

Our "Switch Your Study" approach lets you choose between fully on-demand learning, where you work through everything at your own pace, and live online learning, where you join structured webinars with a tutor and a cohort.

A 99.5% pass rate

For CIPD qualifications, our pass rates are 99% at Level 3 and Level 5 and 100% at Level 7. International learners get the same tutor support, the same materials and the same assessment turnaround times as UK learners.

Genuine tutor support

Our tutors are industry experts. They are quick to respond to forum questions, give detailed feedback on assignments and run regular live Q&A sessions. For learners studying from abroad, that responsiveness matters because being in a different time zone can otherwise feel isolating.

The qualifications international learners study with MOL

The most popular qualifications among our international learners include:

• CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management, for HR professionals moving into more senior roles
• CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management, for HR leaders working at strategic level
• MSc in Strategic Human Resource Management, delivered with the University of Salford as a top-up to the CIPD Level 7
• Propertymark Residential Sales and Residential Lettings qualifications, for property professionals working with UK property markets

All can be studied online from anywhere in the world.

Learner spotlight: Jacob Littorin, Stockholm

Jacob Littorin is based in Stockholm and has ambitions to move to London and become a self-employed estate agent. To prepare, he completed two Propertymark qualifications with MOL: the Level 2 and Level 3 Awards in Sale of Residential Property.

It was the flexibility and access to the VLE that convinced Jacob to enrol.

"It's so good to be able to sit in the car, because I have a 40-minute drive to my work, and listen to the podcasts and learn that way, as well as reading the workbook through the VLE.  It's accessible through my phone, so I can access all of the webinars, forums and podcasts. It's very convenient and it's very easy to keep a good balance. 

I can come home to my computer and sit down and read the workbook for 1 to 2 hours, then drive to work and listen to the podcasts, because they're quite short so it's easy. That makes it very convenient to just get in ten minutes of learning here and there."

Jacob's experience is one a lot of international learners recognise. The ability to break your study into small, mobile chunks is what makes it possible to complete a UK qualification while holding down a demanding day job in a different country.

Learner spotlight: Khaled Shaker, Saudi Arabia

Khaled Shaker works as a Senior Talent Management Advisor at Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare in Saudi Arabia. He completed his Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management with MOL and is now studying for his MSc in Strategic Human Resource Management. He flew to London to attend MOL's graduation ceremony in person.

Like a lot of international learners, Khaled juggles study with work and family commitments, including looking after his two young sons.

"There is a three hour time difference," he said. "It makes all the difference because you have to stay up late. That's challenging, trying to put the kids to bed and then finding time to start the webinars.

But if you want something really bad, you'll have to sacrifice and make the effort, and you get the reward. Being online is different, but MOL are very supportive. They are quick to respond to my requests and the group I was with were fantastic, so credit to MOL. 

They are reliable, they have fantastic tutors and you really learn from them. They are someone you can trust with your development."

Khaled is one of many learners in Saudi Arabia who have studied with MOL. MOL has been working with Saudi Aramco since 2019 and has now delivered CIPD qualifications to over 600 employees there, with a 700-strong graduation event held in Dhahran in 2024.

Practical considerations when studying from abroad

International learners often ask the same handful of questions before they enrol. Here is what to expect.

Time zones

Live webinars run on UK time. If you are in the Middle East, you can expect a two to three hour difference. If you are in Asia or Australia, the gap will be larger. Recordings are available, so you do not have to attend every session live, but joining at least some live sessions is recommended because the discussion is where a lot of the learning happens.

Exams

For CIPD courses, assessments are coursework-based rather than exam-based, which means there is no need to travel anywhere to sit a paper. For Propertymark qualifications, exams are arranged through Propertymark Qualifications, and there are international options to make this work.

Payment and currency

Course fees are quoted in pounds sterling, and you can pay from international cards.

Support

Our Learner Support team, tutors and Qualifications Advisors are all reachable by email, phone or through the VLE. We are used to working with learners across multiple time zones and will adapt to what works for you.

Language

All MOL courses are delivered in English. For learners working in English-language professional environments, this is usually a strength of the qualification rather than a barrier.

Tips for studying with MOL from abroad

A few things make a real difference for international learners.

• Plan your study time around your week. A consistent rhythm beats heroic weekends. Even an hour a day adds up over a 12 to 18 month qualification.
• Use the recordings. If a live webinar lands at an awkward hour, watch the recording the next morning and post questions on the forum.
• Lean on your cohort. The forums are full of professionals working in different countries. They are an underrated source of perspective on the work you are doing.
• Talk to your tutor early. If your time zone or workload is making something difficult, your tutor will help you find a way through. Reach out at the start, not at the deadline.
• Make the most of the VLE on mobile. Like Jacob, plenty of our learners do a lot of their study on a phone during a commute or a lunch break.

Where to take this next

If you are based outside the UK and want to find out more about studying one of our HR, L&D, management or property qualifications, we would be happy to talk through what is right for you.

You can get in touch with our Qualifications Advisors through our contact form, or email enquiries@mollearn.com. Our team is used to working across time zones and will help you choose the right qualification, the right study option and the right pace for your circumstances.

Studying a UK qualification from abroad is more accessible now than it has ever been. With the right course and the right support, it can also be one of the most rewarding career investments you make.