Job Discussion Forums

[scot47]

Difficult to get this info from Saudi. Within Britain there is a network of information providers. Best is an independent Welfare Rights Centre. Citizens' Advice Bureaux (CAB) can be good but some of them are amazingly incompetent.

There certainly was a time not long ago when people in Bigelow's position would be refused benefit on the grounds that they had no real link with the United Kingdom.

Maybe you should stay where you are and do an MA by Distance Learning ?

[basiltherat]

Scott
It is still true now but once you start being employed this rule becomes irelevant.
rgrds
basil

[scot47]

This shows the importance of getting accurate and recent information. Crucial in this field.

Get it wrong and you will get no benefit !

[Jim Bigelow]

Distance MA:

Yes I did consider that and would have been my first choice but from what I could find they would all take 2 years to complete...that's just too long to carry on with what's on offer right now!

Do you know of any MA that can be done by distance in 12 months...i feel a new thread coming on...

[shmooj]

Distance MAs in 12 months were not available when I scouted for mine back in 2000.

I was also contemplating getting it ASAP back int he UK and realised all the hurdles I'd have to cross. Hurdles which you are now facing. I also did my sums. Doing an MA by distance over 2 years while holding down a job left me immeasurably better off financially than quitting my job and heading back to the UK for 1 year's MA, even if I immediately got a higher paying job for the second year i.e. the year after my MA. When I looked at it that way, it just made so much sense to go for distance. The only drawback to this really was that there was no teaching experience component of my MA but then only a few employers are stuffy about that.

The benefits of an MA over two years by distance are that a) you can work at your own pace and delay the course for a time if you really need to b) you still have an income c) you can get much more into depth in what you study than if you were residential as you spend more time on each component d) you can tailor make the course to your present work.

That's just my experience of having considered what you are now facing and having chosen the MA by distance learning route (Leicester Uni). Thought that would give you some more background on the topic.

[Jim Bigelow]

Shmooj:
Thanks alot.
I've been browsing the web for most of the night and I've now found a few MAs that are distance and can be completed in 1 year. They all happen to be Australian but I don't believe that to be a negative thing....correct me if I'm wrong.

It would mean having to devote as much time as full time study in order to complete in the 12 months but compared to all the mega headaches of coming home to sit the full time MA, it does seem the better option....

So far the University of New England seems the best option and the fees are not too bad (about 4000 pounds/7000 us$) that's the money I would have to spend on tickets flying the whole family back to the UK....

Anyone know more about this University or others like it?

[sojourner]

Jim,

Smooj has made some good points.

You certainly are adamant that you want to complete a Master's degree in 12 months - while working ft ! Most people who are working ft would take at least 2 years to complete it.

I am currently enrolled in UNE's online MA (Applied Linguistics) programme.I would certainly recommend it - please refer to my earlier postings re UNE,especially those to Dave's Teacher Training Forum.Yes ,it would be cheaper than doing a similar programme through a US or UK uni;although,the recent appreciation in the value of the A$ would,of course,need to be considered when comparing the fees charged by various unis around the world.

UNE is quite flexible in many ways.eg they usually allow students to enrol in a couple of units from other disciplines which have some bearing upon Applied Linguistics.They also allow one to enrol in a couple of units being offered by other universities,under cross-institutional arrangements.This year, I'll be enrolling in a unit called "Language for Specific Purposes",being offered by Macquarie University,as I'm hoping eventually to get into the field of EAP.

I suppose that you COULD complete UNE's MA programme in 12 months (two semesters),by doing four units in each semester - but it would be really exhausting if you are also working ft ! How about 18 months (three semesters) ?

Some students,I'd image, might find UNE's MA(Applied Linguistics) programme a bit too theoretical.An alternative would be UNE's M.Ed programme in TESOL - but check the website v.carefully,as not all units may be available online or by the more traditional distance education mode.I believe that with the M.Ed there may be a practicum involved. Also,with the MA(Applied Linguistics) programme,not all units listed will be available every year.So plan carefully - and early !

Just one other thing.Smooj mentioned Leicester Uni.Many students have commented quite favourably on that institution.However,I recall some time back (early in 2003 ? - not sure) there were a couple of negative postings about Leicester Uni.One person said that he found the faculty bureaucracy and degree regulations quite inflexible.Check the archives, on Leicester Uni, at Dave's Teacher Training Forum.

PM me should you have any further queries re UNE,etc.

Regards,

Peter

[Jim Bigelow]

Thanks Peter,

I think that if I embark on a the MA with the UNE then I will stop working full time. I think that I really would need to be spending a good 5 5-6 hours per day on the course so maybe I'll stick to some private work in the evenings and use my money saved on tickets to help me through the year...may even leave Saudi and hop over to Egypt where my meagre savings plus a little work on the side would make for a nice relaxing year....

[Jim Bigelow]

Forgot to mention that as I'm from the UK and had to take a 2 year option (if I had to work full time & being realistic about work load) then it would be cheaper for me to take an MA from a British Uni. I was surprised by the price of UNE in that I think it's 11'200 (AUD) which is about 4000 GBP. I did expect it to be cheaper than that actually...in saying that, if I can obtain the MA in 12 months then it's well worth it as I'd like to be ready for employment in Summer 2005

[sojourner]

Jim,

Studying ft and working pt,in the Middle East, sounds great - much better than returning to a miserable place such as the UK, and agonising over every penny of any paltry government benefit that you MIGHT be entitled to !

Regards,

Peter

[sojourner]

Jim,

Apart from UNE,and other Australian unis,you might also want to consider the University of South Africa (Unisa),located in Pretoria. Unisa has been involved with distant education for many years.I'd imagine that the fees would probably be lower than those charged by UNE,etc.

I don't recall whether many of "Dave's regulars" have commented much about Unisa's Applied Linguistics/TESOL programmes,although I vaguely recall that someone once said that he/she found that it took ages for Unisa to reply to queries.Again,check the archives at Dave's Teacher Training Forum.

Regards,

Peter

[sojourner]

Jim,

Apart from UNE,and other Australian unis,you might also want to consider the University of South Africa (Unisa),located in Pretoria. Unisa has been involved with distant education for many years.I'd imagine that the fees would probably be lower than those charged by UNE,etc.

I don't recall whether many of "Dave's regulars" have commented much about Unisa's Applied Linguistics/TESOL programmes,although I vaguely recall that someone once said that he/she found that it took ages for Unisa to reply to queries.Again,check the archives at Dave's Teacher Training Forum.

Regards,

Peter

[Jim Bigelow]

Well I've was rejected by UNE for not having a BA so I'd returned to the original idea of heading back to the UK for a full time MA...until I read tonight that I am now considered an International Student!!!

Some posters had mentioned this could be the case with regards seeking benefit assistance from the Government but I didn't know it applied to the University Fees..This is what is found on all University Websites:

How is my Fee assessed?
If you are entering the University for the first time you will need to complete a Fee Assessment Form to determine your fee status i.e. your eligibility to be charged home tuition fees.

Who qualifies for home student status?
You may qualify for home fee status based on the following:

A. that you were settled in the United Kingdom within the meaning of the Immigration Act 1971 on the relevant date (refer to UKCOSA manual/website); and
B. you have been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and Islands for a specified three year period preceding your course; and
C. that no part of the period of residence in (B) above was wholly or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education.

For further information, details and exceptions visit UKCOSA or DfES:

www.ukcosa.org.uk
www.dfes.gov.uk
If you do not meet the criteria for classification as a �home� student you will be classed as an international student and charged the appropriate fee.

What the hell is that about??? It's disgusting..my MA fees have now jumped from 2900 to 6900 Great British Pounds!! What's so great about dat?

[shmooj]

As this is relevant to the OP, I'd like to ask it. Have you been paying Class 2 or 3 NI contributions while out of the UK? This will seriously affect what other benefits you are/n't entitled to.

[Jim Bigelow]

Sorry to say that I haven't been paying any contributions!!! The situation is trully wrecked!!!