silenttiger
Things may not be as bad as some people are making out. You did not do the MSc that you initially entered the UK to do, but you appear to have had three extensions since then.
Unfortunately, just because the college is on the DfES' register of providers does not mean that all the college's courses are recognised or accredited. The DfES do not accredit or recognise colleges. Their website makes this clear. They are now called DIUS, but the list is still on the DfES website.
From their
FAQ:
Can a college advertise the fact that it is on the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) Register?
No. Registration on the Register of Education and Training Providers should not be seen by anyone as an endorsement of the college, or the quality of its courses.
If a college is on the Register, does this guarantee that it provides good quality education and training?
No. The Register does not quality assure or accredit in any way the learning provision of any registered colleges. Some colleges are accredited separately; you can ask the college you want to study at whether it has any accreditation.
If your college is not accredited and you are still concerned, you may wish to consider contacting the body which awards the qualification you are hoping to attain to see if the provider is approved to offer the qualifications it claims to offer. Your college should be able to tell you whether they are offering qualifications regulated by an external awarding body.
If you are proposing to take a qualification to enhance your career prospects, you might also wish to confirm with your prospective employers that they recognise the qualification you are intending to take.
If you are in any doubt about the college at which you are intending to study, you should conduct as many checks as possible to ensure that your hard work will lead to a qualification that is of value to you. For example, some colleges may be able to provide testimonials from previous students.
If you are seeking a UK degree-level qualification, you should also look at
www.dcsf.gov.uk/recognisedukdegrees, which provides a list of all institutions recognised as awarding UK degrees.
Other institutions may award degree-level qualifications from other countries. You should be clear about whether you are studying for a UK degree or one accredited from abroad, as it may affect the status of your qualification.
It is illegal for institutions to offer degree-level qualifications purporting to be UK degrees where they do not have permission to do so, so all the information from the college at which you intend to study should be clear about the status of their degree-level qualifications.
Who awarded the Masters of Computer Science that you did?
As far as I am aware, you do need to have been awarded a recognised degree to switch in the UK to HSMP. Here is what it says in the guidance:
Students who have obtained a degree qualification during their current period of leave in the UK on a recognised degree course at either a United Kingdom publicly funded further or higher education institution or a bona fide United Kingdom private education institution which maintains satisfactory records of enrolment and attendance; and have the written consent of their official sponsor to remain as a highly skilled migrant if they are a member of a government or international scholarship agency sponsorship and that sponsorship is either ongoing or has recently come to an end at the time of the requested extension;
Hope this helps.
PP
