Weigh Pros, Cons of Associate Degrees at Arab Region Universities

Students in the Middle East not yet ready to commit to a four-year college degree program need not fret -- they have options. Arab region universities offer many associate degrees, certificates and diplomas for students, including those considering options abroad, to begin their foray into higher education. But there are some things for prospective students to consider.

Pro: A two-year degree could be cost-effective. Cost was one reason Jordanian national Riham Al Ramahi chose Al Khawarizmi International College, a private institution in the United Arab Emirates, where she completed an associate degree in computer graphics and animation in 2014.

"KIC has affordable tuition fees compared with other colleges," says Al Ramahi, who wanted to immediately join the workforce, rather than wait four years. She now works as a graphic designer for the school.

Ahmed Said Ghonim, president of the school, says associate degrees give students "the basic technical, academic knowledge and transferable skills that they need in their employment in a short period of time with lower cost."

Fees at KIC are AED 2,400, about $653, per course for an associate degree and AED 3,000, about $817, per course for a bachelor's degree. Ghonim says the school offers eight associate degree programs (which each require between 22 to 25 courses) and six bachelor's degree programs. He says 50 percent of students are from other Arab countries.

[Get advice on paying for higher education in the Arab region.]

Con: Parents may not be familiar with the degree. Lauren Jackson, co-founder and principal consultant of educational and career consultancy ProEd in the UAE, says "many students and families are unaware that a two-year degree is possible, or do not think that it is a suitable option for them when pursuing university studies."

Parents may have set their sights on larger, four-year universities that offer a greater variety of majors, minors and classes and larger faculty. The American University of Beirut, for example, has more than 130 programs leading to bachelor's, master's and Ph.D degrees.

Pro: Graduates can head straight into the workforce. Palestinian Maysaa Adas graduated from the two-year dental assistant program at College of the North Atlantic-Qatar, a branch campus of a Canadian university, in 2009. The technical college offers around 30 certificate, two- and three-year diploma programs in four areas: engineering technology, information technology, health sciences and business studies, says spokeswoman Meaghan Philpott.

Adas will graduate from the three-year dental hygiene program in June. "I attended the college because it is the only option in the region, besides Saudi Arabia, and I wanted to go straight into a career and gain work experience before committing to a degree," she says.

In between her two programs, Adas worked as a dental assistant in Texas for two years when her parents relocated there. She returned to Qatar to join the new dental hygiene program because she says it is "the only hygiene diploma program offered in the GCC region."

Adas works part time in a dental office while in the program and hopes to stay and work in Qatar after graduating.

"Oral health problems are a big issue here in this region and I enjoy educating people so that they look and feel good," says Adas.

[See which careers are hot for Arab region university grads.]

Con: Some jobs require further training or degrees. ProEd's Jackson says students who pursue associate degrees find employment in the Middle East and North Africa "although sometimes they can find their salary and benefits limited in the UAE." She says a higher qualification can yield "better jobs and opportunity for progression, and will expand the type of visa they are allowed, too."

Jackson says typically grads with associate degrees find employment in business areas, such as accounting, after obtaining the proper qualifications, such as from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants or Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, which she says some do simultaneously. They also find jobs in human resources, general administration, sales and information technology, the latter of which she says is a popular employment area for grads with associate degrees.

"But I think the size and type of the company will also affect their chances," says Jackson.

Pro: Students earn a degree in less time. Jordanian national Ahmad Al Sharif wasn't ready to spend four years to get his degree. After spending two years working toward a bachelor's degree in marketing at Canadian University Dubai -- which offers several undergrad and grad programs and associate degrees in marketing and food safety -- he switched gears.

"I'm 24 years old and I was supposed to be done with the university two years ago," says Al Sharif, who switched to the associate degree in marketing while starting his own business. "I wanted to finish as early as I can and at the same time be educated."

[Explore how to make the most of studying abroad in the Arab region.]

Pro and con: Transferring to a local university may be easier, but not all classes or credits may be transferable. Jackson, of ProEd, says families view the associate degree as a bridge to help students transition from high school to a college-level curriculum and to improve grades to transfer to a university, "or as a way into their desired top public university."

Rema Menon Vellat, founder and director of Counselling Point Training and Development in the UAE, says that students can take one-year preparatory foundation and associate degree programs "to strengthen their English proficiency and to make the transition to university easier."

But, students should note that not all classes and credits are transferrable.

Canadian University Dubai, for example, will only accept transfers from a recognized, accredited institute and courses similar to their own in a related program.

Vellat says associate degrees can benefit students unsure of what to major in or pursue, as well as those reentering the academic arena after a brief period in the workforce. Overall, she encourages everyone to pursue "a lifelong learning mindset and continue to upgrade one's skills."

See the complete rankings of the Best Arab Region Universities.

Anayat Durrani is a Los Angeles-based freelance education reporter for U.S. News, covering Arab region universities.