Nurses Helping Nurses
allnurses Network: Central | Jobs | Books | Newsletter
allnurses: A Nursing Community for Nurses
Home General News Blogs Articles Students Region Specialty Degrees F.A.Q.
International Nursing /

Which is better: UK, Australia or New Zealand student visa?



Did You Know?
allnurses is the largest community for nurses on the web. We now have over 388,445 members! Join today to network with other nurses, laugh, share, and much more.
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >

Jun 18, 2009 01:37 AM

Which is better: UK, Australia or New Zealand student visa?


Hi!

There's a lot of buzz with this new scheme of sending out nurses to "study and work" in UK, Australia and New Zealand through student visas. But there are clouds of doubt with regards to the 'real working conditions" in those said countries are what those visa placement agencies claim them to be.

I was enticed by the program for UK. It was even on the news last night (ABS-CBN). I was skeptical since they accept even undergrads, Practical Nurses and midwives. So, if i really work there (UK) as RN, why in the world would they accept undergrads?!

A quick look over at some internet forum sites opened my eyes. In UK, going there though these student visa scheme, you wouldn't work there as a nurse, but rather as a caregiver (with paid working hours up to 20 hours/week, as this is a requirement of the course). AND with NO GUARANTEE of staying there (or even getting a permit to work) after the entire duration of the course is over.

So my question is this: Is the Australia and New Zealand student visa schemes similar to UK?
If not, how do they differ?
If yes, which is better?
I would like to solicit the advice of those Filipino nurses who are already in the UK, Australia and NZ.

An informative reply would be very much appreaciated.


Share

Search Tags
new graduate, student visa
Top

 
Advertisement
Sponsored Links
 
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
Reply
18 Comments
No. 1
Old Jun 18, 2009, 07:25 AM

Default Re: Which is better: UK, Australia or New Zealand student visa?
Moved to the International forum
Top
 
No. 2
Old Jun 18, 2009, 07:28 AM

Default Re: Which is better: UK, Australia or New Zealand student visa?
This is something that we have said for a long time. Working as a caregiver will not count as nursing experience. As a caregiver it is hard to meet work permit requirements in the UK as there really is no shortage of carers especially at the moment when the UK has a high unemployment rate. I have a friend in the UK who has just lost her job and in 1 week she has applied to over 80 jobs and isn't expecting to hear anything but needs to work, bills to pay.
Top
 
No. 3
from iamnomad
Old Jun 18, 2009, 11:54 PM

Default Re: Which is better: UK, Australia or New Zealand student visa?
With the present economic and immigration issues in the UK, it is almost impossible to convert your student visa to working visa. And being a student living in one of the world's most expensive city, a carer's salary may not be enough.

Australia has a different scenario, though. They allow an individual with student visa, after staying/studying in Australia for a period of time, to change their status from student to working visa. There are a lot of requirements to be done, but very possible.

What I've been reading is, if you are an undergrad in Nursing, or you do not have a license in your home country, then they (the agency) will enroll you to a Bachelor in Nursing (the one intended for degree holders, or with nursing degree but have no license), making you eligible to register with any nursing board in Australia. And it's quite expensive. The duration of the program is 2-3 years.

I don't have knowledge on NZ's immigration policy.

Good Luck!
Top
 
No. 4
from ladygie24
Old Jun 19, 2009, 10:57 AM

Default Re: Which is better: UK, Australia or New Zealand student visa?
Thanks Silverdragon and Iamnomad.

Silverdragon: I've read some threads on these student visa schemes, particularly UK student visa. The UK scheme i described earlier when i posted this thread pertains to acquiring an NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) certificate wherein the student will work as a caregiver in UK. However, i found out recently that ISA (International stdent advisors) offers another program called Student Work Placement Scheme, in partnership with Anglia Ruskin University and University of Hertfordshire, offering a UK degree of BSC in Health and Social Care (Anglia Ruskin University) or a BSc (Hons) International Nursing (University of Hertfordshire). I checked out the sites of these universities and they're legit.

If anyone here in the Allnurses community who know someone who had undergone the course (ISA's Student Work Placement Scheme) , or perhaps, had undergone it themselves, and could help me shed some light on this matter, it would be very much appreciated.
Top
 
No. 5
Old Jun 19, 2009, 11:46 AM

Default Re: Which is better: UK, Australia or New Zealand student visa?
But even as a student it will not count as nurse experience and will not meet UK work permit requirements. Jobs are supposed to go to UK then EU before the rest of the world and I know that jobs t the moment is hard in the UK and have heard from several family members and friends that they are struggling
Top

1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
No. 6
from Aelith
Old Jun 19, 2009, 01:03 PM

Default Re: Which is better: UK, Australia or New Zealand student visa?
Actually, what you have to take into consideration is not just what you're going to study while you're there but more importantly, what will happen to you after you study the said courses. In UK, it is very hard to change your status after you have studied - My friend is doing her Master's degree and she showed me how points are computed for her to be eligible to change her visa to working (it seems like those with higher degrees and/or with specialties stand a good chance). She also said caregivers don't earn much and it will be very hard for them to budget their money with the daily expenses as everything is really expensive.

In Australia, if you are going to study for at least 2 years (esp if it's an RN course), then you are eligible for a PR visa or a Skilled Graduate (temporary) visa after you have finished your course. In addition, you are also for the Temporary visas for Skilled Workers (457) which will enable you to apply for PR status also after a year or two. Also, the cost of living is far more better compared to UK.

I am not so sure how it goes with NZ.

I suggest you do a lot of research in what they offer. Remember, these agencies will do whatever they can to convince people that things will really be good in the end - just be very careful.
Top

1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
No. 7
Old Jun 19, 2009, 05:43 PM

Default Re: Which is better: UK, Australia or New Zealand student visa?
The UK are looking for skilled workers and carers do not come under that umbrella. Anyone can say they are legit but they have no control over work permits that it at the discretion of the government
Top
 
No. 8
from 5cats
Old Jun 20, 2009, 04:14 PM

Default Re: Which is better: UK, Australia or New Zealand student visa?
The sites might be legit, but in my opinion the program is rubbish, doesn't get you anywhere, a useless degree. What they try to do is getting people in to earn money with them, and use them a cheap carers under the "student umbrella".
And as everybody here is saying, carers do earn nothing in the UK. So be careful what you get yourself into.
5cats
Top
 
No. 9
from ladygie24
Old Jun 21, 2009, 01:54 AM

Default Re: Which is better: UK, Australia or New Zealand student visa?
thanks again
Aelith, thanks for the informative reply. I guess, i now have to set off my sights someplace else - Australia, perhaps - where there's a guarantee that i'll be working as as RN after 2 yrs study.
Top
 
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
Reply




Thread Tools


Who's Online
324 members
3,758 guests
4,082

2

Interesting article on ThedaCare's Collaborative Care Model

7

Possible breakthrough regarding MS

63

16th Philly area hospital to stop delivering babies: Mercy...

10

Really interesting article on Indian open hearts

6

High-Tech Pump Does What Her Heart Can't

4

Air Force RN Found Not Guilty

7

California Imposes Stricter Rules Regarding Drug Abuse In...

49

Are older nurses being forced out of the profession?

3

An outlook in California?

8

Australian surgeons successfully separate conjoined twins



1

Society Needs Care Too

12

Why am I doing this, anyway?

2

Nurse Heal Thyself

9

My Papa, why I am the nurse I am today.

17

I made it through

11

An angel's gaze

16

A Sister Never Forgets

16

Ruby's Marbles

37

What Do Operating Room Nurses Do?

14

My Little Old Jedi

20

I love this job......

23

"I hear voices"

19

Preventing FRUTI (Foley Related Urinary Tract Infection) in...

24

Error and Attitude

10

It's Just a Shower





Sponsored Links

Currently Reading This Page: 1 (0 members & 1 guests)

Interested in the hottest topics of the week? Subscribe to the Nurse-zine Newsletter.
Enter email address: