How important in the awarding institution (in your opinion)?

I started a MA (English Lit) distance learning at an institution within the EU that is not particularly prestigious (because I am strapped for cash and managed to get it for free). I've done only about an eighth of it so far (so not very far in). Now, I've got a full scholarship at a red brick in the UK in my home city (same subject). So the query is, should I jack the first one in, (regardless of whether I can transfer any credits) and start again?

I think the value of the awarding institution's name varies depending on the expertise of the person you're talking to. People who work in English are likely to know that there are good students doing good work in all sorts of odd and obscure places, and they're less likely to discount less well-known institutions in my experience. Institutional name can count for more when you're talking to non-specialist potential employers, on the other hand.

But winning a full scholarship speaks pretty well for you, particularly at the masters level (funding for masters degrees in English is so rare at present). Being able to say 'Look, they thought highly enough of me that they spent money on me rather than just offering me a place and a chance to spend money on them' is kind of a significant thing, I think.

I started a MA (English Lit) distance learning at an institution within the EU that is not particularly prestigious (because I am strapped for cash and managed to get it for free). I've done only about an eighth of it so far (so not very far in). Now, I've got a full scholarship at a red brick in the UK in my home city (same subject). So the query is, should I jack the first one in, (regardless of whether I can transfer any credits) and start again?