How do British qualifications translate?

[Big Papa Zone 93]

I took AP tests and entered college with about a semesters worth of credit, though I know of people who had more.

I entered college in the U.S. with jack sh!t, having left school in the UK with nothing at age 16. How? Because they saw the colour of my "international student rate" money, is how.

[Kirsten UK 2]

I believe A-Levels are assesed similar to what US schools refer to as "advanced placement" tests in American high schools, which are tests you take as a high school student that can give you college credit. I took AP tests and entered college with about a semesters worth of credit, though I know of people who had more.

I don't think the UK BS/BA=US Masters since Masters degrees are 2 year courses in the US compared to typically one year course in the UK.

I think UK Masters (at least mine) was a minimum of 18 months for the first 2/3 of the course (up to Postgraduate Diploma level) and then you have up to 2 years to complete the dissertation, so its a minimum of 2.5 years. An English BSc/BA is typically 3 years here, sometimes 4, and some degrees have recently squished a 4 year degree into 3 years to attract more students, hence the long academic year (start early September and finsh at end of July). This is where the transcripts come in handy as it states the required minimum amount of hours etc along with the credits.

I took AP tests and entered college with about a semesters worth of credit, though I know of people who had more.

I entered college in the U.S. with jack sh!t, having left school in the UK with nothing at age 16. How? Because they saw the colour of my "international student rate" money, is how.

And thats exactly how it works here too

[Laura+Tom 2]

If I went onto do a Masters it would have been one year (full time) or three years (part time). My BSc was 3 years (full time, PT was 5yrs) however if you didn't have any scientific backgound (i.e a science based A'level) you had to take the one year science foundation course for a year therefore making your BSc four years in total. I suppose it just depends on what course you did.

[KAT&Allie 0]

I hope they don't, no doubt the university would charge for that! I have the transcripts here plus my certificates.

They do charge for transcripts. I misplaced my first one and of course as soon as the copies arrived I found the originals.

Even though I need to have a professional licence to be able to work in my field at the same level as I do here, I wasn't planning to have anything transcribed. Didn’t think it was necessary… Obviously wrong… but I just can't stress about that as well at the moment. One thing at the time... NOA2 first and maybe somewhere along the line, if I really need it... I suppose I'm hoping that if I were to find a job in my field, the employer should recognise at least one of the Unis I went to . I'll have to wait and see how that goes . But I'm looking forward to my US government imposed "sabbatical" for a few months .

[Kirsten UK 2]

Thats right, I had forgotten I was part-time! But then I had to complete a certain amount of working hours in placement as well, so maybe it wasn't....now i'm confused

Once I get my translation back, i'll hopefully be able to shed a little light on it. I just want a job out there!

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I should qualify my statement by saying "typically." Obviously depends on how long to do the dissertation, degree course etc etc.

I suppose it depends on your circumstances as to whether you need your degree assessed. I know plenty of people who have never needed to have it done, particularly those who don't need professional certification and have work experience already.

[Kirsten UK 2]

I hope they don't, no doubt the university would charge for that! I have the transcripts here plus my certificates.

They do charge for transcripts. I misplaced my first one and of course as soon as the copies arrived I found the originals.

Even though I need to have a professional licence to be able to work in my field at the same level as I do here, I wasn't planning to have anything transcribed. Didn’t think it was necessary… Obviously wrong… but I just can't stress about that as well at the moment. One thing at the time... NOA2 first and maybe somewhere along the line, if I really need it... I suppose I'm hoping that if I were to find a job in my field, the employer should recognise at least one of the Unis I went to . I'll have to wait and see how that goes . But I'm looking forward to my US government imposed "sabbatical" for a few months .

haha, I swing from relishing the prospect to enforced time off work to worrying about the loss of income etc. I'm only getting mine translated by the way as the 'society' I have to join for licensing requires it, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered. Once this is done I then have to apply to join the society and this requires my CURRENT boss filling out forms and all sorts, so I have no choice but to get the ball rolling now.

Edited February 8, 2009 by Kirsten UK

[Peikko 1,575]

The OP seems to be asking about non-professional qualifications - GCE/O/A level. If that's the case, I can't see there being any need for a 'translation' of qualifications. If the OP has worked recently in the UK, that will have a greater importance anyway and these things will be taken into consideration, even if they don't go ahead and actually seek references - although they very well might if you can produce an email address for your previous boss.

As to whether any of this will place one 'down the queue' as it were in terms of a prospective employer, it might, then again being English might put one at the top of the queue, it's hard to say and is very dependent on the field one works in.

It seems to me that the most important thing to get right is the resume you send out. Keep it brief, one page if possible don't call it a CV, put most emphasis on the employment history and specific merits that would lead one to be good at the job applied for and much less on the 'personality' stuff.

One last thing, you may have to start in a position that is lower than that which you held in the UK but that's ok because employers don't expect 'loyalty' to a particular company so once you have a foot in the door, don't be afraid to look around for a better position as necessary.

Edited February 8, 2009 by Madame Cleo

[Kirsten UK 2]

1 page resume??

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

I believe A-Levels are assesed similar to what US schools refer to as "advanced placement" tests in American high schools, which are tests you take as a high school student that can give you college credit. I took AP tests and entered college with about a semesters worth of credit, though I know of people who had more.

I don't think the UK BS/BA=US Masters since Masters degrees are 2 year courses in the US compared to typically one year course in the UK.

Agreed on that. I think if you tried to claim a British BSc was equivalent to having an MS (or MSc) over here in the US you would be far off. There is a lot of practical, hands-on and focused training in a masters-level course of study (be it in arts, sciences or otherwise) that is just not available in an undergraduate education. Also, just as an aside, when I was trying to translate my US education over in the UK, my AP exams were in general considered to be like A-levels, with a 5=A, 4=B, etc etc.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I definitely think A-levels=Advanced Placement. Like Advanced Placement, your results would assessed individually by the university you were attending. Probably not worth getting assessed by an outside organization, unless you were planning to commence an undergraduate degree when you got here.

[Barry and Jackie 0]

I definitely think A-levels=Advanced Placement. Like Advanced Placement, your results would assessed individually by the university you were attending. Probably not worth getting assessed by an outside organization, unless you were planning to commence an undergraduate degree when you got here.

Yes you are right about the A-levels = Advanced Placement, at least thats the way the Universities see it. However, I do think that Universities in the UK cram far more into a students timetable. Which I think explains the difference in the time lengths. My wife is currently studying to become a teacher and will be qualified soon but I know from looking at her schedule that I had far more lectures when I was at University, oh and yes she is full-time.

[Barry and Jackie 0]

Sorry but all my post did not appear!!!! (Darn it!)

I definitely think A-levels=Advanced Placement. Like Advanced Placement, your results would assessed individually by the university you were attending. Probably not worth getting assessed by an outside organization, unless you were planning to commence an undergraduate degree when you got here.

Yes you are right about the A-levels = Advanced Placement, at least thats the way the Universities see it. However, I do think that Universities in the UK cram far more into a students timetable. Which I think explains the difference in the time lengths. My wife is currently studying to become a teacher and will be qualified soon but I know from looking at her schedule that I had far more lectures when I was at University, oh and yes she is full-time. I am talking of similar courses and obviously it does not apply to every course you do! There also seems to be a difference in the type of course in that most British Universities require you to major in something straight away from your freshman year, whereas over here in the US you can change. You would have to basically start over in the UK. I like the way they are taught over here in the US, where the lecturers seem more willing to help.

Edited February 10, 2009 by Barry and Jackie

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I think the big difference between an English bachelor degree and an America bachelors is the English BA/BS is more specialized in one subject than it is in the US, which starts out with 2 years of more general study, and then specializing in the "major" in the next 2 years.

The 4-year degree from a Scottish University is probably more similar to the US system, although you come out with Masters at the end.

[Barry and Jackie 0]

I think the big difference between an English bachelor degree and an America bachelors is the English BA/BS is more specialized in one subject than it is in the US, which starts out with 2 years of more general study, and then specializing in the "major" in the next 2 years.

The 4-year degree from a Scottish University is probably more similar to the US system, although you come out with Masters at the end.

Yes definitely, you have to basically know what you are going to major in from the off when going to a UK Uni. There are none of the so-called filler courses which you can do until you make your mind up. In the end though they are equal to each other because general study does not apply in the UK, its major right away! I was never sure I had chosen the right subject in the UK and would have liked the chance to think about it a bit more.