andrea_d

Hi everyone

I'd like some advice please. I'm currently studying for a degree in social work and my partner is really keen to leave the uk once i have graduated, however I am concerned that i will not have the opportunity to work in my chosen field if we move. Are uk qualifications recognised in other European countries?

Looking forward to your replies

jojojojojo

I guess the first question has got to be do you speak any european languages?? I suspect that social work, regardless of whether the qualifications cross, is one of those professions where the language is imperative??

Jo xxx

jimenato

It might be worth looking at Gibraltar - very British - could well recognise UK qualifications.

Carol&John

Hi,
Refer to this post:
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showp...3&postcount=11

and the link to the UK NARIC.

andrea_d

Thanks for your replies, in answer to your question, i took french and german A-levels but that was a looong time ago, i still remeber quite a lot of french so could maybe do a refresher?

Hillybilly

You could indeed...but French won't be much use in Spain

lynnxa

you took the words right out of my mouth

andrea_d

Loool oops i've not had my cup of coffee yet It makes you wonder how I ever got into Uni!!! I'm not convinced Spain would necessarily be the right country to move to, my partner just hates the UK at the moment - e.g crime, chavs, lack of respect, dire financial situation, the list goes on and on. However i just dont know if leaving the uk would be the right answer, could it simply be a case of "out of the frying pan into the fire"? My other major consideration is my kids aged 7, 12 and 15, what is the education system like in other countries, do English kids tend to integrate well? I'm so confused

Mitzyboy

Now why does that sound familiar

What makes you think that other countries are any different ... just wondering

lynnxa

lack of coffee is always my excuse


Honestly - for a 12 or 15 year old going into the Spanish system it would be tough - & from what I've read on the other European forums it would be at least as bad if not worse in other countries (have a look at the Education thread in Italy)

in fact for a 15 year old the only realistic option would be private English/International school

also at the moment if you have to earn a living it could well be "out of the frying pan into the fire" since there is about 20% unemployment here in Spain - much worse than in the UK

jojojojojo

For a 15 yo it would be a bad idea - assuming he/she is in year 10 and half way thru the 2 year course work for GCSEs it would probably totally ruin the results. Unless you can find an international school that does the exact same GCSEs and has the same timetable to enable him/her to continue, which would be virtually impossible and you'd have to pay, not only for the schooling but also for the exams.

I personally wouldnt even consider putting a 15yo into a Spanish state school - the language problem would cause too much loss of learning in what is a very important time at school

Jo xxx

lynnxa

also a good point

Hillybilly

My advice, for what it's worth - wait until your kids have finished their education, finish your own degree and then get several years of relevant work experience under your belt in the UK before you land yourself on any foreign job market. Oh, and study the language of your preferred country of destination, of course
Otherwise you may end up trying to scratch a living in Spain/France/Germany/wherever, not doing what it is you really want to do (and you've made that decision by studying for a degree at this time in your life, good on ya!), then only to find you are then also unemployable in the UK.

littlelambfound

Any job working for any type of governmental agency requires you to take (and pass within the top 5%) the Spanish exam called "oposiciones". Though Spain "should" recognise most foreign qualifications according to current EU directives, the reality "on the ground" is another story. I personally know of someone who spent almost 2 years getting their qualifications officially recognised (also incurring a hefty bill for the process)....only to find no-one would employ her anyway.
I note that you include "dire financial situation" on your list. With 3 children in tow, and with Spain's ever worsening finances, I would suggest that you might be moving to an even worse "dire financial situation". Also 15 years old is a very difficult age for a total life change, let alone to be re-starting schooling mid course.
I suggest that you make a very strong coffee for your partner.

andrea_d

Hey thanks for all your replies.

MitzyBoy - personally I think that all countries/communities will have their own problems, i suppose it's a case of looking at the big picture, and seeing if you would experience an "overall" better standard of living somewhere else, i certainly dont believe the grass is always greener somewhere else, thats just naive.

I still have 2 more years left at uni, so we are not planning on moving in the very near future, and realistically it would be sensible to wait until the older kids have left secondry school, especially now you've told me those horror stories, and ouch, those unemployment figures are scary...and i was worried about finding a job here when i graduate!