[Lara Croft]

My NZQA assessment states:
According to the Qualifications Assurance Agency for Higher Education in the UK, the ordinary bachelors degree falls into category Intermediate level, the same level with FOundation degrees or Diploma of Higher Education. Therefore, we are unable to give comparability to a NZ bachelors degree.

It goes on to say:
The most appropriate benchmark for you BSc degree (awarded 1999) is a qualification at Level 6.

Has anyone else fallen foul of this? I still can't believe that a perfectly good BSc in the UK doesn't count for NZ, even though when you look at the list of approved qualifications, a BSc from the OU is acceptable.

I have no bonus points now, as I need a Level 7 qual. Can anyone suggest how I can proceed (apart from getting a job offer)?
Thanks,
Jane

[renew]

Hi,
I think the best bet may be to get in touch with Assurance Agency for Higher Education in the UK. http://www.qaa.ac.uk/ check with them that they believe that your Bsc is equivalent to a foundation degree. I know the OU does do foundation degrees but i did not think you got BSc for that. It is possible that the NZQA may a mistake. Also try the OU itself to see what they say.

The list of recignised qualifications is something that NZIS use and is updated rarely.

good luck

what explicitly does your degree certificate say if you dont mind me asking, including subject? Your degree I think is after the QAA was setup and the whole point is that the word degree shoud mean the same across the whole UK. You have to love NZQA ... ok no you dont

[Perksy]

Are you just claiming that the 50 points you get for having an OU degree or additional points for it being in a particular skills area?

I have an OU BA in psychology and was granted the 50 points for that on my EOI but my claim for extra points on the basis that it was in an absolute skills shortage area was knocked back. This was because I wasn't actually using the degree in my work and as it was not an MA so would not be recognised in that skills area in NZ.

They still granted me an ITA which I thought was good as everyone was telling me I wouldn't then need to pay for an assessment.

Have you had to have an assessment for just declaring a degree like me or because you were claiming those extra points for a skills area? If so I am going to find myself in the same boat as you.

[Lara Croft]

Hi, thanks for your replies.
After an initial period of horror and disappointment, I began to think a little more clearly. I have emailed the Assurance Agency people in the UK for advice, and the OU to ask for their feedback. I've also mailed NZQA to ask for their criteria in only awarding it a level 6.

My BSc is an Open degree, that is, it is not assigned to any particular subject. However, half the work studied was in IT-based modules, and it is linked directly with my 21 years of working in IT, hence me thinking I could claim the relevant bonus points... silly me :confused:

I am still confused, but it seems to be as follows:
- if you are just declaring a degree to get the 50 points, that is OK
- if you want to claim any bonus points, the degree has to be assessed at Level 7 (why???); no Level 7, no bonus points
- simply having 100 points is not enough, you have to have bonus points too
- when my ITA pack arrived, it included a sheet declaring that a full NZQA assessment was required, and my qualification had to be assessed at level 7

Renew - my certificate states clearly - bachelor of science
Perksy - have you received your ITA pack yet?

Jane

[andrewandjane]

Jane (my wife has an OU Bsc) and it was fine for us to claim points for it. (I claimed 50 for me (not OU) but Janes degree was good for another 10 points for her qualifications and the degree certificate was enough for the imigration officer.

So i would presume that just claiming the 50 points for a degree is fine

[Lara Croft]

After spending ages digging through the small print on the NZIS website last night, it seems that if you are the principal applicant, and you want to claim bonus points for your qualification, it has to be either:
- BSc Hons (OU)
or
- Bsc (studied for 3 years full time)
It would appear that a part time degree is not acceptable as such, unless you do the Honours year.

So, although I can still claim 50 points for it, I cannot claim a single bonus point. An as the lady at NZIS explains:
As outlined in my previous email, the selection criteria outlined that you either needed at least 140 points, 100 points WITH a Job Offer or 100/105 points WITH bonus points. You do not fall under any of these categories.

So my only options are to study another year for the Honours, or get a job offer. Hmmmmm. Expo here I come....

I would be very interested to hear if anyone else has been in this situtation, and how they got round it.

Jane

[renew]

Hi
From what you have said I and what i have found on the QAA website Isuspect your best option is a job offer. The extra study could well be wasted as not only would NZQA have to re-assess your degree for level they would also have to say that it equivalent to that listed in the long term shortage list in content.

Good luck

[Lara Croft]

Hi.
I have definitive information from the UK QAA:
According to the framework for higher education qualifications in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, all bachelors degrees without honours are classed as Intermediate level. All bachelors degrees with honours are classed one level higher, at Honours level.

This is worth looking out for, if anyone else is planning to use a basic BSc on their application.

Oh well, back to the job hunting.... :)

Jane

[tim&em]

Hi all

As a general point it's worth noting that NZ degrees do not necessarily match UK degree types.

I remember when I got my UK 3-year full-time BA with Honours degree assessed it came back as Level 7 - equivalent to a regular NZ BA degree.

I had expected it to match Level 8 - a NZ BA with Honours - but apparently this level in NZ is a 4-year course (with the Honours year being the fourth year).

Tim.

[Perksy]

Perksy - have you received your ITA pack yet?

Jane

Yes I have got my ITA but from what you say it isn't an issue for me. I have got my 50 points for having a degree. I have a named degree in psychology - tried to claim additional points but they knocked me back but thankfully still got an ITA.

What day are you at EXPO? I'm off there with hubby on Sunday - can't say I'm looking forward to it.

I hope you get some answers re your degree. Let me know how you get on.

Kim

[Lara Croft]

Hi Perksy.
I'm going to the Expo on Saturday. I know parking in the city centre is a pain on Saturdays (the GMex carpark is awful!!!), so I'm going by train. Both Oxford Road and Deansgate are a short walk away, and there are trams from Picadilly.

Parking on Sundays is usually easier if you are taking a car.

Jane

[Perksy]

I'll take the train anyway as less hassle and OH is a police officer so gets free travel. Busy putting my CV on to a memory now.