Tier 1 visa, all US taught masters degrees are now 0 points on PB calculator

We are trying to rally in Advocacy to get a more formal engagement with NARIC.  So take a peek over there if you are interested.  Thanks for trying phatbeetle.

I still don't understand if the calculator is screwed up because of the new rules, or if the calculator is right and the new rules are screwed up.  Or if the rules and the calculator have both screwed up coincidentally and simultaneously.  Or if they are both in synch and the US educational system has been downgraded across-the-board.

In these times, anything is possible...

I still don't understand if the calculator is screwed up because of the new rules, or if the calculator is right and the new rules are screwed up.  Or if the rules and the calculator have both screwed up coincidentally and simultaneously.  Or if they are both in synch and the US educational system has been downgraded across-the-board.

In these times, anything is possible...

I don't think anyone has found an instance where the calculator did not reflect that NARIC database.  There is a clear situation where the NARIC does not consider most taught Masters in the US equivilant ot UK Masters.  So they simply raised the bar in the calculator and the database starts kicking out unequivilant.

Now there seems to be some situations where a letter from NARIC might give you a more specific answer then what is contained in the database, but the database is limited.

I don't think it is a technical issue...

It's been two weeks since the new policy for Tier 1 started. Has anyone been awarded a Visa with the Masters w/ Further Specialisation category under the new guidance? If so, what documentation did you use? I'm waiting to submit my application until I get some clarity around how to prove that. My masters was in a slightly related field (B.A. in Communications w/ Business minor and M.A. in Management), so I'm hoping this will work.

Thoughts anyone?

You could always pay the NARIC fee rather than risk the big money. If they say it's comparable, then you provide that and get 35 points.

Yes, for right now, our best recommendation is to get an official UK NARIC Equivalence Letter.  You have to send off your degree and transcript, but we think that if an application is submitted with such a Letter and it says equivalent to the UK Masters, you will be safe and get the points.  We are going to press UKBA for an official statement.  Rumour has it that the Government is now aware of the confusion.

Hang on a sec...do we know if NARIC will issue such a letter, or if they will just turn around and say "as per the database, we believe this is equivalent to a UK Bachelors"?  Shouldn't someone try it before loads of people start potentially wasting money?

As NARIC effectively write the database, I think that assuming they will give a letter which contradicts the database could be rather optimistic.

Vicky

my NARIC letter stated that my degree was equivalent to a UK taught master's, even though my degree is most definitely a research degree.  i applied before the changes were in place, but i would think were i to apply now, the NARIC letter would be a hindrance rather than an asset...

Why?  NARIC confirm that you have a qualification which is equivalent to a UK masters, where is the problem?

Does the database say something different?

Vicky

because NARIC confirmed it was a taught master's rather than a research, no points are awarded for the qualification at all now in the current database...

I think MRebel's question was how to prove further specialisation in a degree that NARIC and the database both consider a taught masters.  If the masters is in a related but not identical field to the bachelors, is it further specialisation, and if so, what documents are necessary to prove that?  

because NARIC confirmed it was a taught master's rather than a research, no points are awarded for the qualification at all now in the current database...

No, that is not true.  It has confirmed that it is the equivalent to a UK Masters, therefore you get points.  The problem is with NARIC deciding that many US taught masters are only equivalent to a UK Bachelors.

Can you check the database and see if your qualification is listed as equivalent to a MA or BA.  This is *really* important.

Vicky

No, that is not true.  It has confirmed that it is the equivalent to a UK Masters, therefore you get points.  The problem is with NARIC deciding that many US taught masters are only equivalent to a UK Bachelors.

Can you check the database and see if your qualification is listed as equivalent to a MA or BA.  This is *really* important.

perhaps i'm doing something wrong, but when i enter my qualification as NARIC evaluated it into the database, it returns saying i have been awarded zero points and says it is for a taught master's. 

here's what the database returns:

United States of America   

North Carolina   

Master's degree (Taught)   

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill   

2 years or less than 3   

Arts / Humanities      

2006   

Points Awarded: 0

Bingo!

In which case, you (or anyone in your position) has a good case to complain about NARIC contradicting themselves.  The letter gives you points but the database doesn't, ergo there is a problem with the database.  It therefore is worth people writing to NARIC to make sure that the database is right about their qualification, and if more than two or three people find that NARIC alter their decision then it can and should be taken further.

Vicky