Post
by zeke » Tue Jan 11, 2005 6:16 pm
The message boards of immigrationboards.com are rich with information from users, may of whom are from your home country, who are grappling with the issue of transferability of their degrees to the UK. If I were you, I would do a search for "NARIC" and you will be greeted with many posts on this subject. (Apparently NARIC is an organization which conducts degree comparability studies; apparently the HSMP evaluation team uses NARIC's services).
In order to be granted HSMP credit for the 10 years of experience, you (with the help of your employer) must show that the ten years were in graduate level positions, in other words, positions which required a degree which would be recognized in the UK ( I think that HSMP is looking for the position to require at the least a "first level" degree (I think that's what they call it -- check the HSMP guidance notes for more detail). However, it is not enough to simply state that the position requires a degree; HSMP wants detail about why the position requires a degree. What is it about the job that makes a degree a necessity? Why would a person without a degree not be able do this job?
HSMp defines a "specialist" position as one which involves a high level of technical (or artistic) skill. Just because the employer defines it as a specialist positon or because you took a test in order to get the position does not necessarily mean that HSMP will see it as specialist for purposes of HSMP. Again, see guidance notes for more detail; you may also do a search on these boards for "specialist". In making your case for being awarded points for a specialist position, you may want to consider the following issues: How have you demonstrated in the position through your job activities, duties and responsibilites that you are using a sophisticated level of skill and knowledge? In my letter describing my specialist position, 5 or so examples of projects which demonstrate sophisticated knowledge and judgement are included; also, my specialist position was the only one of its kind in the entire company.
In my opinion, the category of "specialist position" is the most vaguely defined in the whole HSMP application -- very little detail is given. Therefore, my philosophy is to provide as much detail as possible and to clearly state my case for being awarded the points.
I hope this helps! This is merely my opinion based on what little I know -- there may be others out there with other ideas for you.
Be Well!
