Masters degree holder going for degree!

Kaybenson

Hi Guys,

My Pal jump from HND to masters degree and these were self funded.

While looking for work, its very difficult to get job because they insist on seeing first degree certificate.

Now, the Pal rang the student finance who after enquiries says there cant be student loan for the program because he has masters already.

What can he do?

Dunroamin

He could self fund a couple of units with the OU to top his HND up to a first degree. What field is he in that the combination of an HND and Masters isn't sufficient?

awayinchina

HI,

your mate could do a degree top up from HND, but regardless the Masters is the higher qualification. All he needs to do is show his HND and masters certificate (plus transcript).
It is more than likely the employer expects to pay the higher end of the pay scale for a masters qualified individual.
As long as he can show work experience between the HND and MASTERS (as most universities count 2-10 years work experience within a given area as equivalent to a degree). It sounds like the HR departments of the employers are clueless.
But waht he can say is HND and his grade in the HND and work experience in the eyes of the university showed he was capable and the fact he has A masters slams the door in the face of presenting a degree certificate.
its like asking a PhD student to present a masters degree certificate (not all need to do a masters to do a PhD).

I would say to your mate use a university lecturer as a reference when applying for further jobs and secondly point out clearly at the interview to refer to the application in regards qualifications (idiots).

agrinnall

I suspect the problem is due to the tick box culture of many HR people, when the job description states 1st degree they can't tick that box, despite the OP's pal having a higher degree, and the application goes in the bin.

Kaybenson

Thanks folks.

It is ridicoulous.

1) At one time, he need to do graduate diploma in law(a conversion for other degree). Even though he has Msc, most university says he cannot because the requirement is first degree. He was asked to contact Solicitor regulation authority(SRA) to get a letter of academic standing. Isnt that an insult?

2) He now decided that he intend to do a top up. The student finance says he cant qualify for loan.

dizzyrascal

If it is the intention of the OP's friend to do the GDL then you must have a first degree. You can't swop the degree for a masters in this case unless it is a qualifying masters such as an LLM. It is a requirement of the professional body that says you must have a qualifying degree.

mynameistallulah

Kaybenson wrote: »

Thanks folks.

It is ridicoulous.

1) At one time, he need to do graduate diploma in law(a conversion for other degree). Even though he has Msc, most university says he cannot because the requirement is first degree. He was asked to contact Solicitor regulation authority(SRA) to get a letter of academic standing. Isnt that an insult?

2) He now decided that he intend to do a top up. The student finance says he cant qualify for loan.

Not ridiculous at all - a QLD requires a certain level of knowledge, that your "pal" will not have from either the HND or the Masters.

What is it that they eventually wish to achieve?

Kaybenson

mynameistallulah wrote: »

Not ridiculous at all - a QLD requires a certain level of knowledge, that your "pal" will not have from either the HND or the Masters.

The thread is going in a different direction.

If i may ask, what is the knowledge that a first degree have that a masters degree dont? I will like to know it

mynameistallulah

Kaybenson wrote: »

The thread is going in a different direction.

If i may ask, what is the knowledge that a first degree have that a masters degree dont? I will like to know it

A QLD covers the fundamentals of the law. A (taught) Masters tends to focus on a more specific area, but in far more detail. They also use different skill sets - the undergrad focuses on learning facts with some level of analysis, the Masters focuses on independent research and a much higher level of analysis.

Kaybenson

mynameistallulah wrote: »

A QLD covers the fundamentals of the law. A (taught) Masters tends to focus on a more specific area, but in far more detail. They also use different skill sets - the undergrad focuses on learning facts with some level of analysis, the Masters focuses on independent research and a much higher level of analysis.

The requirement of getting into GDL is ANY degree even if it is Bsc Mathematics. I mean ANY. It will then in GDL proper that those 7 major courses of law will be done.

dizzyrascal

Kaybenson wrote: »

The requirement of getting into GDL is ANY degree even if it is Bsc Mathematics. I mean ANY. It will then in GDL proper that those 7 major courses of law will be done.

Yes any undergraduate honours degree not a HND and as the masters you mentioned in earlier posts is a MSc then it is unlikely to be in a related subject. Even so there are plenty of different masters degrees in law that are not qualifying degrees so even if your friend had a law masters it still would not help.