Planning to take Post Grad Studies in UK

Silverdragon102, BSN · Feb 12, 2009

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

suzanne4, RN · Feb 12, 2009

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.

Rene3 · Feb 13, 2009

"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!!!

suzanne4, RN · Feb 13, 2009

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.

burbeestar · Feb 13, 2009

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.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Feb 13, 2009

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/workingintheuk/tier1/general/

5cats · Feb 13, 2009

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

burbeestar · Feb 14, 2009

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/workingintheuk/tier1/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?

Serene_ieg · Feb 14, 2009

burbeestar, have you considered ONP ?

Silverdragon102, BSN · Feb 14, 2009

You need to check whether your courses will meet Tier 1 but in my opinion they don't and you will not be gaining nursing experience whilst studying which is what employers will be looking for. Also for tier 1 you need permission to stay which you do not always get with a student visa

suzanne4, RN · Feb 14, 2009

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.

This is exactly what we have been trying to explain to you and you are not understanding this. In order to get a visa to work there now, it must be for an area where they have a shortage and one has significant work experience in that area. Example, multiple years of experience in the NICU or the PICU.

They have had hiring freezes in place for longer than the US has had the retrogression.

The program that you are considering taking is not going to be beneficial to you in any other country as it is a certification program only, it is not a degree. It will not help you get hired in the US or any other country as well. Actually make it worse for you since you will not have much in the way of current work experience. You will have been a student while you are completing the training there and none of those hours count as work experience. You will not get any training in the areas where there is a shortage as well, nor have enough experience to qualify for one of these positions.

I would take the time to do some reading on this site, the only ones that are going to benefit are the schools, most definitely not the nurse.

Bad idea if you ask any of us here, it is not going to do what you think that it will, or what they may have promised.