A person who formally studies a second-language (in first-language context) ordinarily receives academic credit for such. In other words, if you grow up in Mexico City and study English-as-second-language (ESL) at school and college - you usually receive credit for your studies. Similarly if you grow up in London and study Spanish (SSL) - you get credit.

VUW's aggregate-learning (External) degrees process now extends this principle Worldwide. Our degrees originated in customary and statutory context. We collaborate in the quality concern and other academic organizations listed here.     (For our post-2004 in-BC degree context, see update).

We will assign transfer credit when candidates further formally study a (for them) second language. Thus, if you are a native speaker of Spanish and study ESL at college in Mexico, and then take further ESL in an English-speaking country, we may recognize all your study as meriting second-language academic credit - regardless of where studied.

This applies to all languages (as second-languages). Accordingly, Vancouver University Worldwide will award External associate, bachelor, and master degrees in formal second-language studies - in accordance with the general principles set forth in documents various degrees and teaching degrees, Table of Contents.

The degree when awarded specifies e.g., "Associate of Arts in English as Second Language", "Bachelor of Arts in French as Second Language", etc. The credentialing portfolio accumulates all appropriate second-language courses taken, whether taken in the candidate's home country or abroad.

The above degree sequence is particularly intended to help persons in or returning to a first-language context and wishing to teach the second-language there.  When, after learning - by formal studies - a (first or) second language, a candidate has also extensively studied the methodology of teaching a language (i.e., courses in how to teach the language), the candidate would be eligible towards a degree in Education (pedagogy).

There are schools for young people and adults, located around the world, which collaborate in this 'external' degree-credit program - including some in the Vancouver Canada (Whistler-Richmond) geographical region.