[R-sig-teaching] self-taught routes to a degree with R?

[Daniel Pocock]

Given the nature of mathematics and the fact that anybody can now
download, experiment and learn with software like R on a Linux desktop,
it seems more than plausible than ever that somebody could achieve the
level of knowledge required to pass undergraduate and probably some
masters level exams without attending classes.

There are plenty of schools now offering online courses yet many of them
appear to involve hefty tuition fees.  For people who have a history of
self-education, paying fees for classes they won't attend may feel wasteful.

A search also finds numerous pages of advice for people wanting to take
a self-taught route, e.g. http://datasciencemasters.org/ but not all of
these lead to a formal degree.

My own view is that even without classes and without having a whole
bunch of money on the line, the goal of sitting an exam and getting a
degree provides a useful motivator for people who want to educate
themselves in this field.

Can anybody comment on any educators or schools who are willing to
engage with students who want to pursue that route?