[globetrecker]

Does every single application/person with a degree, etc. have to have their qualifications assessed? I have a degree from a credited University, is that enough? If not, at what point do they ask for you to go through NZQA?

[BodaciousBean]

Does every single application/person with a degree, etc. have to have their qualifications assessed? I have a degree from a credited University, is that enough? If not, at what point do they ask for you to go through NZQA?

Nope, not everyone has to do one. I did not because my degrees are from accredited universities. If you degree is, as you state, you do not have to do one. From what I understand, the NZQA is for folks whom earn their degrees from unaccredited institutions or some earn kind of certificates from a vocational or trade school type of setting. That is my understanding. I am not sure at what point the NZIS would ask for one but my guess would be when they do the preliminary checks on your submitted EOI. Not sure if you have gotten to that stage yet.

Hope this helps and good luck! :nice1

[Scibby]

I believe BodaciousBean is correct. I didn't get my degree NZQA cerified. My degree is from a acredited institution and I just sent my transcripts and diploma. We were granted PR so I think it will be ok.

Scibby

[BodaciousBean]

I believe BodaciousBean is correct. I didn't get my degree NZQA cerified. My degree is from a acredited institution and I just sent my transcripts and diploma. We were granted PR so I think it will be ok.

Scibby

That is exactly what I am doing for my ITA! Transcripts and Diplomas. :) :D

[globetrecker]

Perfect! Just wanted to make sure. Thanks for the answers!

[BodaciousBean]

You are welcome and good luck!! :nice1

[Mrs Pony]

i believe that it gives you some points on the EOI if you DO get it assessed even if you don't need to .

[WANZLittles]

I had to submit to the NZQA for my Associates of Applied Science. Still waiting.

If you get a degree while your EOI or ITA is being evaluated, would you have to reapply to the NZQA?

[globetrecker]

Really? That would be good to know if you do get extra points for having it assessed. I need all the points I can get if I can't get a job offer.

[rizjunior]

Thats not the case. If you are claiming bonus points in your EOI, your degree needs to be assessed regardless of approved university or not. If you donot claim bonus points and your degree is issued from an institution which is listed on NZQA as approved, you don'd need assessment.

Bonus points are mostly claimed for qualification in an area of absolute skills shortage list and in this case your degree needs to be assessed at Level 7 otherwise you dont get any bonus points.

[BodaciousBean]

I had no idea. I wonder where you read that from. It just seemed like a waste of money, time and hassle to do one even though my university is accredited. I wonder why it would add points? :confused:

[BodaciousBean]

Thats not the case. If you are claiming bonus points in your EOI, your degree needs to be assessed regardless of approved university or not. If you donot claim bonus points and your degree is issued from an institution which is listed on NZQA as approved, you don'd need assessment.

Bonus points are mostly claimed for qualification in an area of absolute skills shortage list and in this case your degree needs to be assessed at Level 7 otherwise you dont get any bonus points.

Good to know. This forum is full of useful information. :nice1

[rizjunior]

If you are short of points then its worth getting bonus points but ofcourse if one can go through without bonus points then should not waste time and money.



I had no idea. I wonder where you read that from. It just seemed like a waste of money, time and hassle to do one even though my university is accredited. I wonder why it would add points? :confused:

[Scibby]

Thats not the case. If you are claiming bonus points in your EOI, your degree needs to be assessed regardless of approved university or not. If you donot claim bonus points and your degree is issued from an institution which is listed on NZQA as approved, you don'd need assessment.

Bonus points are mostly claimed for qualification in an area of absolute skills shortage list and in this case your degree needs to be assessed at Level 7 otherwise you dont get any bonus points.

Yes, I only claimed the 50 points for the degree, I didn't claim any bonus points for it being in a area of absolute shortage.

Scibby

[Barestdegree]

Thats not the case. If you are claiming bonus points in your EOI, your degree needs to be assessed regardless of approved university or not. If you donot claim bonus points and your degree is issued from an institution which is listed on NZQA as approved, you don'd need assessment.

Bonus points are mostly claimed for qualification in an area of absolute skills shortage list and in this case your degree needs to be assessed at Level 7 otherwise you dont get any bonus points.


I hope this is incorrect. According to the "Essential Skills in Demand List":

If a principal applicant does not have skilled employment in New Zealand in an area of absolute skills shortage (see SM8.20), they will be assessed as being qualified in an area of absolute skills shortage if they meet the specifications in Column 4 of the Long Term Skill Shortage List (see Appendix 6).

Column 4 of Appendix 6 Reads:

In order to claim bonus points for qualifications in an area of absolute skill shortage under the Skilled Migrant Category or the General Skills Category, applicants must meet the following specifications:

A Washington Accord accredited engineering degree

I have a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington in Seattle, which is an ABET accredited, part of the Washington Accord accredited progams.

Can you point me to a link that says I still need a separate NZQA assessment? I'm worried now that we've just sent in our ITA! :confused:

Thanks,
Brian

[welsh_italian]

I had no idea. I wonder where you read that from. It just seemed like a waste of money, time and hassle to do one even though my university is accredited. I wonder why it would add points? :confused:

I'm just guessing here, but my thinking is that NZQA assessment is required even if your university is on NZIS's list because they need to check that the degree is relevant to your occupation. Therefore, if you are simply claiming points (not bonus points) for a degree, then just having a degree from an accredited institution is enough: if your university is on the list, then it's all done and dusted. if, however, you are applying for a career in a particular area and saying that your degree is relevant to this area, then NZIS need to know that it is relevant which requires checking.

For example: in my case, the nearest career on the careers list is web designer (I'm actually an interaction designer though I am working exclusively on websites). I have claimed for my degree and PhD but not for bonus points because I am not claiming that my job is on any skills shortage list (I got enough points without them). Therefore, the degrees could be in anything so I would not need to get them assessed.

If however, I claimed that my job was on a skills shortage list somewhere (along with the bonus points that I would get), then NZIS need to check that my degree and PhD are relevant to my job - and this needs assessment by NZQA. It might turn out that my qualifications are in theology which is not relevant to web design so they would not count as bonus points, but I would get the basic points for them.

Like I said, I'm just guessing at the thinking behind this: but if we can nail down the reasons for NZIS's policies, they'll be easier to understand. Please feel free to correct my mistakes here.

[Duncan74]

Bonus points are mostly claimed for qualification in an area of absolute skills shortage list and in this case your degree needs to be assessed at Level 7 otherwise you dont get any bonus points.


Not quite correct, although possibly right for the majority, some qualifications are automatically assessed as being valid to support the absolute skills shortage list. As an example, in Civil Engineering (in my case Transport LTSS) then if a degree is from a 'Washington Accord' course then it counts as bonus points without NZQA assessment.

However, there is a temporary glitch in the LoQOA which means that UK MEng and MScs from virtually all universities apart from the American University in Richmond and 4 scottish ones do need assessing. This is hopefully being reversed in August back to where it was pre May.