HSMP IELTS Requirements

[rabnawaz]

Hi,

I have done Master degree from Pakistan and now living in Canada from the last three years, I have following questions regarding HSMP.

1) Do i need IELTS or not, I am doing very good job here in canada, So my english is excellent. Also my medium of instructions was english.

2) Should I apply before march 2008 or wait until the new rules come. Currently I qualify for HSMP, I am wondering whether new rules will be tough or still I can qualify.


Please let me know if someone has got knowledge about above.


Thanks

[Administrator]

.

English in a Masters program does not qualify. It must be a 4 year Bachelors degree, and you need a written letter from the university confirming it.

The Tier 1 visa in March will be more difficult than the HSMP. The details are not published yet, so we don't know how difficult.

If you qualify for HSMP but have some doubts, then apply immediately.

However, keep in mind that you will need to meet transitional arrangements later on to stay on a Tier 1 visa. Nobody knows what those transitional rules are. Yet.

In two years you may have to consider a Tier 2 visa, so research very carefully what you wish to do.

the Admin

[pantaiema]

1. Yes you still need
2. if you qualify now than better now. The new Tier system is more difficult than the current HSMP system.

Hi,

I have done Master degree from Pakistan and now living in Canada from the last three years, I have following questions regarding HSMP.

1) Do i need IELTS or not, I am doing very good job here in canada, So my english is excellent. Also my medium of instructions was english.

2) Should I apply before march 2008 or wait until the new rules come. Currently I qualify for HSMP, I am wondering whether new rules will be tough or still I can qualify.


Please let me know if someone has got knowledge about above.


Thanks

[rabnawaz]

Hi All,

Thanks a lot for reply, but my medium of instruction was totally english since my 12th Grade, considering that, Do I still need IELTS or not? Also I am doing job in Canada from the last three years where english is official langauge.

Thanks again......

[pantaiema]

In the current rule, even you were Canadian (you were born there) you still need either a letter from university mentioning that your BSachelors degree medium of instruction is english or submit IELTS of 6.0. There is already a case like this has been reported in this forum.

But it is entirely up to you if you want to play save or you want to take the chance.

Hi All,

Thanks a lot for reply, but my medium of instruction was totally english since my 12th Grade, considering that, Do I still need IELTS or not? Also I am doing job in Canada from the last three years where english is official langauge.

Thanks again......

[Administrator]

.

One more try at it :

MUST be a 4 year Bachelors degree from an accredited university (recognized equivalent to a UK university) and you MUST have a letter from that university proving that you took the courses in English.

Not to be insulting, but I teach English as a foreign language in Latvia, and have taught (in other subjects) in American universities. While your English is "fairly good," I would not use the word "excellent" to describe the sample you've provided us here.

However, your sample also shows that you likely would score what you need in IELTS (I believe 6 is currently required). Another "however" on that: it would not hurt you to study your grammar forms a bit more in preparation, to be more sure of a 6 or better.

[...] my medium of instruction was totally english since my 12th Grade, considering that, Do I still need IELTS or not? Also I am doing job in Canada from the last three years where english is official langauge.

Small correction: English and French are the official languages of Canada. Local regions might emphasize one over the other.

the Admin

[pantaiema]

Hi Administrator


Nice to hear that U are an English teacher? Are you also an IELTS examiner?
The reason why I am asking, because there was a long discussion in the past whether an IELTS minimum of 8.0 for an HSMP is justifiable.

In your opinion, is IELTS minimum of 8.0 justifiable for HSMP applicants?

In case IELTS of 8.0 is required how many current HSMP holders could re-qualify?

Regards

.

I teach English as a foreign language in Latvia, and have taught (in other subjects) in American universities. While your English is "fairly good," I would not use the word "excellent" to describe the sample you've provided us here.

However, your sample also shows that you likely would score what you need in IELTS (I believe 6 is currently required). Another "however" on that: it would not hurt you to study your grammar forms a bit more in preparation, to be more sure of a 6 or better.

the Admin

[gordon]

Re: the minimum score on IELTS for HSMP, it is currently 6.0. However, the Statement of Intent (echoing the earlier document on language-testing) indicated that the level required for Tier 1 would be CEFR C1, which Cambridge ESOL and IELTS both place between IELTS 6.0 and 7.0, and which EPFL identifies more concretely as IELTS 6.5-7.0. The IELTS score of 6.0 appears to fall into the CEFR B2 range, the minimum level to be expected of Tier 2 applicants.

So people intending to take the IELTS for Tier 1 should be mindful that the test-score equivalencies possibly adopted by the BIA for Tier 1, may evince a slight upward movement of the language bar (compared to what has hitherto been required for HSMP), such that an IELTS score of 6.0 might not serve the purpose for much longer.

AG

[Administrator]

.

I am not properly certified to (formally) teach toward IELTS (or any other) testing regime. However, my experience as a university lecturer and my native English skills allow me to teach privately and as a guest lecturer in some schools. Most often I am preparing students to take TOEFL and similar such exams for applications to universities.

It's more of a side consulting opportunity that I take up when I need money & have the time for it.


As far as my opinion regarding the "fairness" of the level being set by the government ...

Honestly, I don't speak a word of Latvian. So, if the government of Latvia set language requirements for me, I would lose my work permit, residency permit, and my private business. So, I would be pretty upset.

However, I do have to meet those language requirements when my permanent residency comes due in two more years, and I can't obtain a drivers license in Latvia .. I have to go another route for that.

At the same time, I am prevented from obtaining my German citizenship because my German isn't fluent enough (yet).

Whichever country I wish to go to, I need to respect the standards they set as conditions for the activities I wish to engage in. Anyone who wishes to move to another country faces the same concern.

Comply or don't comply. "Fair" really isn't a part of it. If I don't wish to comply, I have the right and the choice to stay home or go to another country that has different policies.

I would say that people who want the premium visa (HSMP/Tier 1) from the UK should, indeed, meet equally premium standards. Access to those visas isn't a right.

While I didn't have to meet strict language requirements to immigrate to Latvia, the path I chose was hardly easy or cheap. It was the path available to me .. and, I still have to meet the language requirements anyway. I just have a couple extra years to study to meet them.

the Admin