hi all,

i did an access to social work course last year before arriving in oz last july which i did over 1 year instead of 2 and finished with the required "kitemark" which was needed to attend university in the uk.

apparently this course is not accepted over here because of the fact i did it over 1 year and not 2 because the national office of overseas skills recognition office are "unable to provide an assessment of my qualifications as the course was less than two years in duration which is not covered in their guidelines".

is anyone able to shed some light on this as someone once mentioned that if you came here with your "kitemark" they would accept it in any university.

is anyone able to tell me what they class this "kitemark" as, e.g. diploma or just a mere year 12 pass.

i have just spent a very embaressing dinner with a cousin who says that a i merely just passed my year 12 and doesnt even equate to a diploma (in front of around 15 other people), she sort of shot me down in flames and dismissed me rather abrubtly!!!!!!

i figured that if the university was willing to accept this "kitemark" surely potential employers would too.

hope this makes sense and i really hope someone can shed some light on which avenue i can go down. pretty stuck at the moment and a bit disheartened as i worked bloody hard, juggled two kids while moving and sorting out immigration and being student of the year to top it off it too.

any advise would be very very much appreciated.

best regards
loopyloo2

please helllppppp!!! getting depressder!!!!!

loopy loo

ok i think you need to get back in touch with your college/higher ed place where you did your access course to get them to give you the points !
i did a teaching access course, this was no where near a diploma!

i had to do 2 years at uni to get the diploma! (still in the UK) but after finishing the access course i did manage to get 2 uni's in QLD that agreed that i had enough points to join a degree course. (for the full 4 years)

I have just applied to a Uni over here (WA) who have agreed to accept me on a teaching degree course and will give me some credit because of the diploma! (i'm hoping 2 years or at least 18 months)

Not sure if that answers your direct question but thats the info i was given/have! PM me if i can help any more

Sam xxx

Loopy - you need to look at your level of grading on there. The grade 2's are equivalent to GCSE and the grade 3 are level to an A-level. I did a access course and had it clarified by the director of the Australian Psychological Society, she also told me that it wasnt recognised over there (she is a friend of mine).

It maybe worth searching your kitemark company as there are different ones and emailing someone to ask them of their equation ie A-level equivalent/diploma level. The return email may support the certificate with agencies??? just a thought. good luck

In general (apart from degrees) UK qualifications mean jack here.

An awful lot of people come out here and realise that they have to go through the whole process again (especially in Queensland)

BUMP