[Duncan74]

Good news, EOI approved in Principle, and ITA being issued :nice1

But the bad news. Apparently I need to get my UK MEng approveds as although the list has BEng, Msc and MAs, then a 4 year Master of Engineering degree isn't on there :wah

Still it's only money ($450)

"Please note that your Master of Civil Engineering awarded by University of London (Imperial College) is a Washington Accord accredited degree but it is not on our List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (LoQEA). Therefore you MUST provide a NZQA Qualifications Assessment Report (QAR) for this qualification when you submit your residence application."

Anyone else had this?

[Duncan74]

Wah, even more daft. To claim points on LTSS I need to demonstrate that I am qualified in a specific area. And that means a 'Washington Accord' Degree. And guess what, my MEng is on that, so they recognise it for points in that respect, but not for it being a degree for the qualifications bit.

Daft thing is that we had 155 points, and so if I remember right only gained 10 for the MSc as it was a second qualification. So if I'd jsut claimed for that, and not claimed for the MEng at all then we'd still have passed the 140 'goal' anyway and saved more form filling and $450.

Still, glad we've got the one and only hiccup of the relocation process out the way nice and early and can rely on everything running like clockwork from here on ;-)

[Duncan74]

Actually, this is a big issue.

Current guidance:- http://www.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual/18347.htm
Pre 25/5:- http://www.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual/11934.htm

Note the bit at the top:- "Masters degrees (except Honorary degrees from the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford and Masters degrees which are a first degree from Scottish institutions) and PhDs from the following institutions are assessed as occupying Level 9 or 10 of the Register and will therefore qualify for 55 points, provided the holder of the qualification also obtained their undergraduate (Bachelors) degree from an institution included on the List of Recognised Qualifications. If the Masters degree is not preceded by an undergraduate degree from an institution included on the List of Recognised Qualifications, it is assessed as occupying Level 7 of the Register and will therefore qualify for 50 points."

This actually means that anyone who applied after 25/5 with an MSc or MEng from the UK now has to go through the QAR process (at 7 weeks and $486). Before that then MSc and MEng were on there by default from the institutions listed - basically all the Universities.

[sophiedb]

Wow, they're going to be lapping those extra $500s up.. Four-year science/tech degrees that end in a Masters are long-standing practice over here, as you say, and there's absolutely nothing lacking in them other than bypassing the Bachelors stage *sigh*

[ricky1981]

Madness, I had issues with them not accepting my MEng from Oxford (a proper one not honorary) as a proper Masters because it was a 4 year course rather than a 3 year degree with a 1 year Masters.

They refused point blank to change their mind even when I got an old tutor of mine to explain that I could have left after 3 years with a BSc so had effectively done a 3+1 course. If you don't have a separate degree then your masters will not be accepted at level 9/10.

The Washington Accord actually played a huge role in getting us PR though as it meant I qualified for the Lecturer skills shortage points even though I am not nor will ever be a lecturer.

Crazy system, hope it works out for you since despite some of the doom and gloom we are loving NZ.

[Duncan74]

So not just me then. Glad it worked out Ricky.

As it happens I called NZQA and spokle to the guy that put the list together. It's all about the difference between taught and research awards, and not wanting to offend anyone by only giving them a L8 instead of a L9! I was asked to email in the details and they are reviewing in August.

Oh, and yes, I've got the Washington Accord part which gives me the bonus points for LTSS qualification, but in a surreal 'strict policy' world then I don't have any valid qualifications! So not only did I miss out on the £££ grant for the final year (ok, this was a while ago!) then I am still suffering now ;-) Oh, and I've no idea where my final year transcript went. Fair chance in the bin I guess, only thought I'd need the degree certificate. Thankfully mother hung on to al the others, so I can also send my 25m swim certificate....

[M-Squared]

You should be able to get a replacement transcript from Imperial, no? (great place, my Dad graduated from there!) But that is some whacked-out daft crap going on there, for sure! :mad:

[Duncan74]

Yep, just checked and in a shock to the system then these are free and take 10 days. I may have to complain that by convention these should be at least £70 each and take 3 months to produce, and even then only on production of another official document I've not got... ;-)

[M-Squared]

Not to mention some DNA as well.... and your first-born. :laugh But that's great, one thing that's relatively easy, cheap and quick! :nice1

[ricky1981]

How surreal, I only had the MEng and we still got the points for that as well as being able to use it to qualify for the lecturer points. Sometimes the only consistent thing about NZIS is their inconsistency!! ;)

Best of luck, sure they will come through soon and you'll be over here!

[Duncan74]

Yep, it's the policy that changed at the end of May, hence it's jsut become an issue, perfectly timed for me.