by burbeestar

Hi!

This is my first time to make a post here in allnurses.com. I've been reading a lot of threads here for months now and it really helped me in making sound decisions in my nursing career.

I graduated last August and took the local licensure exam last November. After a month, my relatives based in UK told me to enrol in a post grad course in UK so that I'd be eligible to apply for a student visa. I've been attending orientations of consultancy firms/agencies offering assistance, however, I found that it wasn't really that hard to file a student visa for as long as one could comply with the requirements of the UK home office and of course the british embassy.

Now, I'm choosing between two post grad courses:

1) PG Course in Int'l Health Mgt. (18 mos. program with the last 9 mos. for work placement)
http://www.st-patricks.ac.uk/index.p...d=58&Itemid=79
2) PG Course in Nursing Mgt. (13 mos. program with 6-9 mos. work placement)
http://www.wlc.ac.uk/wlc/leafile.asp?p_kc=L71091

Will taking a PG Course enhance my career as a professional nurse?

Although the results of the local licensure exams have not yet been released, I'm optimistic to make it with God's grace and of course, the hardwork and perseverance I placed in it.

Re: Planning to take Post Grad Studies in UK

You do realise on a student visa you may have issues finding a employer willing to let you work as a RN? That is after you have meet all NMC requirements plus once you have completed the courses it doesn't give leave for you to stay and work longer than the requirements are. Immigration have stated they are going to make it harder for foreign workers to work in the UK and post course you can work for I think up to 2 years but after that it is expected that you will leave

Re: Planning to take Post Grad Studies in UK

Both of those programs are only certifications, they are not degrees. They will not assist you with getting a job in any other country. Actually will probably make it harder since you will not have any current RN experience.

Also be aware that going thru one of these programs is not going to make it easier for you to get a visa to work in the UK when you are done with it. You may be able to remain and work for one year after your training, but nothing more than that. Unless you have significant work experience in an area where they have a posted shortage, you are not going to be able get a visa to work there. Does not matter what anyone is promising to you, but this is what is actually happening.

Neither of these courses will do one thing to make you more marketable to any employer. They are trainings and nothing more than that. Employers are going to be looking for those with actual experience, and full-time experience.

Not sure why your relatives mentioned this program. It is not going to help you in one way at all.

Re: Planning to take Post Grad Studies in UK

"Will taking a PG Course enhance my career as a professional nurse?"

burbeestar you are asking the right questions. Yes , a post graduate course can enhance your knowledge as well as skills set. It can provide you with the needed exposure in a globalized world. Europe is promoting itself as an alternative to the US in education. I guess your relatives in the UK can help you in your transition. Just make sure you are fully qualified for the program. If not, then work for it until you met the qualifications. Try to do away with the "middlemen" . Try to contact the school you wish to enroll. If you succeed on this, you will be better prepared than your peers in the long run. Make good in your schooling, your instructors will be evaluating you.If you were a cut above the rest, oppurtunity will present itself. good luck!!!

Re: Planning to take Post Grad Studies in UK

The certificate program that is offered and that is being discussed here will not aide you in getting a job in another country, and that includes the UK when you are done with it. Same holds true for the rest of the EU as well and that is the point that we are trying to make.

When you are in school, any work that you do during that time will be considered as clinical hours and will not count as current work experience. The entire EU has also had a hiring freeze in place over the past couple of years. Unless one has significant work experience in an area where they have a shortage, one is not going to get hired and be able to obtain a visa to work there.

Much has already been written on these programs, you can also find threads on the UK forum and that have multiple postings to them by nurses that are currently working in the UK and are managers there as well.

I suggest that you have a look at those before doing one thing. One will never ever get hired in a management position on a unit without having actual paid working experience in a country.

Re: Planning to take Post Grad Studies in UK

Thanks for giving me your insights in my plans for further studies.

I know it would be difficult to find an employer who would offer assistance for a work permit. However, what I'm really after is to gain experience in a UK health setting right after I finish my PG course and adaptation program via student visa.

After that, I'll apply for a Tier 1 post-study work visa which will be valid for 2 years. Will that make things easier for me to find a job (since I would be allowed to work legally without limitations) after I finish my studies there? If I cannot extend my stay there, I'm open to work in another country to expand my experience as a nurse.

Re: Planning to take Post Grad Studies in UK

Originally Posted by burbeestar

Thanks for giving me your insights in my plans for further studies.

I know it would be difficult to find an employer who would offer assistance for a work permit. However, what I'm really after is to gain experience in a UK health setting right after I finish my PG course and adaptation program via student visa.

After that, I'll apply for a Tier 1 post-study work visa which will be valid for 2 years. Will that make things easier for me to find a job (since I would be allowed to work legally without limitations) after I finish my studies there? If I cannot extend my stay there, I'm open to work in another country to expand my experience as a nurse.

Tier 1 may not be as easy to get as you think. Looking at it my interpretation is a highly skilled worker who has leave to remain in the UK (student visa I don't think gives this) Already a skilled worker in the UK and want to extend your permission to stay in the category you are in the UK with, In the UK on a highly skilled migrant program or applying under the highly skilled workers category, the course you are looking at doing doesn't meet this criteria.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/wo...tier1/general/

Re: Planning to take Post Grad Studies in UK

Just to add my 2 cents....
What we need are nurses with clinical experience if we are ever allowed to hire again, absolutly nobody is interested in a nurse who does nothing then studying, sorry, but nobody in his normal mind will hire you. And those studies won't help you at all, get some clinical experience first then think about what you want to study to enhance your career.
To study to get a visa is nonsense. And btw who's paying for all this, are you that rich???

5cats

Re: Planning to take Post Grad Studies in UK

There are different sub-categories under Tier 1, I think I might qualify for a post-study work permit.

For as long as I meet these points in the following categories:

• United Kingdom qualification;
• studied at United Kingdom institution;
• immigration status during United Kingdom study and/or research;
• date of award of qualification;
• English language;
• maintenance (£800 in available funds if applying inside UK; £2,800 if outside UK)

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/wo...er1/poststudy/

In case I become a holder of a Tier 1 Post-study work visa, will I still have difficulties getting employed in the UK?

Re: Planning to take Post Grad Studies in UK

burbeestar, have you considered ONP ?