Masters v Bachelor Assessment

[MaynardFriedman]

Does anyone know if it's theoretically possible to have a (non-NZ) Masters degree assessed against an NZ Bachelors degree via the NZQA for comparability, or is this a complete non-starter? I have an MSc in Strategic Information Systems and need a BSc in Computer Science, apparently.

You may have guessed, this is for an IT qualification and I, like countless others before me, made the fundamental error of assuming an MSc gained in the UK would be viewed as equivalent to a BSc gained in NZ for EoI purposes. Doh! Of course it isn't, so all my points for:
- Qualifications in an area of absolute skills shortage, and
- Work experience in an area of absolute skills shortage (10 years +)
have been removed.

Plus, my qualification points have been downgraded to 50, from my assertion of 60 for my MSc (although that is not the main issue here).

Net result is that my points have been reduced from 155 to 120 and I'm splashing around back in the pool, which doesn't appear to be a heated one at the moment...

is there any subjectivity/discretion applied by case officers anywhere?

Thanks in advance,

MF

[JandM]

Hello and welcome.

Do you have a Bachelor's degree in a comparable subject? It's quite common that NZ won't consider a Master's without a Bachelor's leading up to it, because in some institutions abroad, they say, it's possible to get a Master's without the depth of knowledge from first principles that a Bachelor's would give. I don't know of subjectivity or discretion, but believe that people have challenged this by submitting proof of all the detail of their course for it to be compared. No doubt you'll hear from people with experience when NZ wakes up.

[MaynardFriedman]

Thanks for the reply JandM. My MSc is in Strategic Information Systems but unfortunately my BA is in Geography(!) so not very relevant. I have 12 years work experience in IT for a large UK bank and a PRINCE 2 Project Management qualification so although I have a large aggregate of relevant work experience and qualifications in an area of absolute skills shortage, without the BSc in Computer Science comparability match, I'm stumped without a job offer.

[JandM]

I suppose it's possible that, if you could get someone to look at your degree transcripts, they might see that the course content is equivalent and to the purpose. (That's guesswork, nothing official.) While waiting to see if anyone replies directly, here are some old threads that MAY contain something relevant. http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=sit...2409l2-4.4l8l0

[MaynardFriedman]

Thanks again, methinks it's time to navigate the potential minefield that is NZQA for a comparability assessment. I wonder if they could assess my MSc content against a BSc in Computer Science AND against a level 9 qualification at the same time?!

I suppose it's possible that, if you could get someone to look at your degree transcripts, they might see that the course content is equivalent and to the purpose. (That's guesswork, nothing official.) While waiting to see if anyone replies directly, here are some old threads that MAY contain something relevant. http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=sit...2409l2-4.4l8l0

[rizjunior]

A B. Sc in computer science is most likelyto be assesed at level 7 by NZQA. I don't think NZQA will assess M. SC against a B. Sc (both have different assesment levels). If your M. Sc degree was obtained after two years of study, it is most likely to fall under level 9, masters degrees (uk) after one year of study are assesed at level 8. (I am trying to understand what is the benefit of getting M. Sc assesed against a B. Sc degree)

I am sure you know the work experience in ICT area will start after you received M. Sc degree since your previous degree is not relevent to ICT work experience.

Thanks again, methinks it's time to navigate the potential minefield that is NZQA for a comparability assessment. I wonder if they could assess my MSc content against a BSc in Computer Science AND against a level 9 qualification at the same time?!

[Sun777]

My BSc (Electronics) was assessed at Level 7 and MSc (IT) was assessed at Level 9, so yes as Riz says both qualifications are assessed regardless of the streams.

[MaynardFriedman]

A B. Sc in computer science is most likelyto be assesed at level 7 by NZQA. I don't think NZQA will assess M. SC against a B. Sc (both have different assesment levels). If your M. Sc degree was obtained after two years of study, it is most likely to fall under level 9, masters degrees (uk) after one year of study are assesed at level 8. (I am trying to understand what is the benefit of getting M. Sc assesed against a B. Sc degree)

I am sure you know the work experience in ICT area will start after you received M. Sc degree since your previous degree is not relevent to ICT work experience.

Reason for assessment is to understand if my MSc may be regarded as comparable to an NZ BSc in Computer Science so that I will have a valid qualification for an IT Project Manager (my job) that can gain me points (qualification and work experience in an area of absolute skills shortage). That is key. Gaining an extra 10 points for a level 9 classification, rather than the default level 8 is incidental, as those extra 10 points alone would only give me 130 points in total.

[rizjunior]

M. Sc is in Strategic Information Systems is a valid qualification for an IT Project Manager. The word "Information Systems or Technology" in qualification is a keyword to be considered under ICT sector and IT Project Manager falls under ICT area. A letter from employer with details of job description makes most difference when assessed by a case officer.

As I said before, B.A in geography is not relevent to IT sector, so any work experience you have before M. Sc degree will not be counted by INZ.

Reason for assessment is to understand if my MSc may be regarded as comparable to an NZ BSc in Computer Science so that I will have a valid qualification for an IT Project Manager (my job) that can gain me points (qualification and work experience in an area of absolute skills shortage). That is key. Gaining an extra 10 points for a level 9 classification, rather than the default level 8 is incidental, as those extra 10 points alone would only give me 130 points in total.

[msher]

Hi

i need some help regarding my qualification
i have done MBA from my home country and did my post graduate diploma from NZ. i wanted to know does my MBA degree gives me any extra point in my PR or not and do i have to assess it by NZQA..

and does post graduate diploma in business comes in skills shortage or not..
i will be very thankful if some1 helps me out.

Regards