[starkhorn]

Hi Folks,

I just thought to share my experience with getting a qualification recognised through the NZQA.

My wife got her degree in a french university and unfortunately there are no french universities on their list of recognised qualifications. So we started to gather of of the required documents in aug 2005. It took quite some time as everything had to be translated into english from french by a recognised translater which can cost quite a bit.

We finally got everything ready and submitted our application mid-Sept 2005. We didn't pay for a fast/speedy response and we paid the return of original documents fee.

After 2 weeks we received our original documents back from the NZQA...not too bad I thought.

We then got a verification hold letter around mid-Oct. From that point on we heard nothing and we started becoming a little worried....finally on the first week of Jan we received the qualification certificate....phew!!

So all in all, from starting to gather the docs to getting the cerificate it took around 6 months so be prepared for a long process. around 12 weeks waiting on the response from the nzqa.

With translation fees, application fees, postage etc I think it cost in all around 600-700 euros.

Just thought to let people know our experiences as maybe it might help them planning their application.

Cheers
Starkhorn

[jewelsvani]

Hi

At least you got the cert in the end, it took me 2 and half months to recieve the certificate, got mine early January as well. On to the next stage.

Good luck with it. :laugh :yes

[starkhorn]

Yes indeed, I must admit to being quite relieved to finally receive the cert in the end. It's quite worrying not to hear anything for 10-12 weeks but it's a great feeling to get the cert in the end.

I'm still a little annoyed at the cost of so-called 'official' translators. The first person we tried wanted 1400 euros!!!!

We managed to get someone who was alot cheaper in the end but even then we had to send it back for corrections. All that money just to get an official stamp on your document, quite annoying but alas a necessary evil it seems.

Good luck with your application as well.

Cheers
Starkhorn

[katandbob]

yes got mine, fine, my level 2 was assessed as a level 3 NZ, but after paying etc,and sending it in with OH application, we found out today (during ITA interview) that it was not relevant and we couldnt use it towards our ITA (good job we had 105 points!)

[Kali ~]

Hi,
Can anyone give me a link to read about the NZQA qualification process?
Thanks!

[Kali ~]

I'am a female Chilean Graphic Designer, and i know ther are no chilean universities on the list of recognised qualifications. Waht kind of papers do you have to gather?

Some info about this matter will help.
Thanks again!!!

[starkhorn]

Hi

Here is the page for getting your qualifications evaluated. On the left side there are several menu's, you'd probably want the "International qualification evaluation".

http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/for-international/qual-eval/index.html

For the specific documents, you can try this link.

http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/for-international/qual-eval/international/documents.html

Hope it helps.

Cheers
Starkhorn

[sidabrine]

Hi there, does the NZQA have a list of recognised overseas educational institutions available online anywhere? Or do they take those $75 to tell you that your university is not on the list?

Luckily I checked this forum, I have a growing suspicion that my Finnish MA will not be in the recognised list, so I guess no point to go for pre-assessment, have to go straight on to the Full assessment?

[starkhorn]

You could try this link on the immigration web-site. Basically if your qualification and university isn't on this list then the immigration department require you to have it recognised by NZQA.

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/general/formsandfees/formsandguides/lorq/

My wife's qualification was from a french uni and France isn't on this list so we had to get it recognised.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Starkhorn

[sidabrine]

Thank you starkhorn, obviously Finland is not in the list... :(

In other posts I read about people collecting all sorts of documents (even high school graduation certificates, etc) to get their university degree recognised.

Can you tell from your wife's experience, did she need only the university degree certificate (with the transcript of academic records in English, etc) to be recognised, or did she have to go back to all the previous educational institutions to collect graduation certificates and other documents as well?

It would be rather odd, if I have to get all the papers that I used to apply to the university approved by NZQA, as the university did their checks when they were accepting me to their programme already!

[starkhorn]

I believe that you must submit certicates that are a pre-requiste for the final university certificate.

So in my wife's case she submitted her final master's certificate, the pre-requiste university certificate and then her examiniation results from high school that enabled her to attend university.

[sidabrine]

Ow no! Bl**dy hell! I don't have my highschool results anywhere! Its all long gone and forgotten! arrrrrgh...

Did NZQA tell your wife to include the highschool certificate? Or did you just supply it, because it states in their website that "all qualifications from all countries and all work experience"... ow my ow my...

The PR is a bit of a moving target, all of a sudden it seems to be lightyears away... :(

[starkhorn]

No NZQA didn't tell us to include the high school results, but we read that "certificate of completion of final year at a general or junior secondary school" was required so we sent it along.

We saw that in this document, item 13.

http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/for-international/qual-eval/docs/nzq1.pdf

What sort of qualifications are you trying to get recognised?

[sidabrine]

I'm trying to get my MA of Arts from a university in Finland recognised. At the moment I'm in NZ already, happily working (I was hired and my work visa was issued based on the papers I produced without any approval from NZQA).

I'd like to start applying for the PR (especially hearing how long it takes to collect all the papers). As I'm working here already, I should have 120 points even if I don't get the MA recognised. But if I do, I'd have 175 points, a sure bet!

So I'm kind of torn apart, should I go ahead with EOI with my 120 points or should I get my MA of Arts recognised.

Sounds like enormous amount of work, money and time has to be spent to get that NZQA recognition... Especially if I'm sent to hunt for my high school diploma that is getting dusty in the school archives (do they even have those?!?) in Lithuania...

[Ana&Steve]

Sidabrine- I think you can submit the EOI with the 120, then see about the other info then add to the EOI later. It stays in the pool for 6 months(?), and, if selected, I think you can still add to it even up to the ITA to beef up your points. Just an option! :)
Ana