Job Discussion Forums

macka · Joined: 11 May 2007 Posts: 45 Location: uk

what are the rules regarding having an MA and not a BA in obtaining teaching licence and work permit?

helpful answers only please....none of that 'well how can you have an MA without a BA ' stuff!!!

thanks

taikibansei · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Posts: 811 Location: Japan

macka · Joined: 11 May 2007 Posts: 45 Location: uk

MA from Leeds Metropolitan University

NOT an 'experience degree'

Maybe times have changed........ IT IS NOW POSSIBLE TO DO AN MA
WITHOUT DOING A BA............in many academic fields also.

I know someone who is doing an MA in education....NO BA ........JUST 10 YEARS EXPERIENCE!!!!!

THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY

regards

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Certain British Universities are prepared to take 'experience' as a pre-qualificationf for a post-graduate degree. This has rather a lot to do with the amount of fees they can charge for post-graduate courses.

Few if any other countries indulge in this bizarre practice, and you are likely to have lots of problems with the education authorities and immigration in those countries as a result.

macka · Joined: 11 May 2007 Posts: 45 Location: uk

Certain British Universities are prepared to take 'experience' as a pre-qualificationf for a post-graduate degree. This has rather a lot to do with the amount of fees they can charge for post-graduate courses.

Few if any other countries indulge in this bizarre practice, and you are likely to have lots of problems with the education authorities and immigration in those countries as a result.

THATS A STRANGE RESPONSE IF I EVER SAW ONE!!!!

FOR A START, MY FEES FOR THE MA ARE THE MINIMUM THAT CAN BE CHARGED IN THE UK.....THERE IS NO HUGE PROFIT BEING MADE THERE.

A BIZARRE PRACTICE.........I DON'T REALLY THINK SO ....DO YOU???? REALLY!!!!

PROBLEMS WITH EDUCATION AUTHORITIES AND IMMIGRATION AS A RESULT!!!!.........PLEASE EXPAND!!

macka · Joined: 11 May 2007 Posts: 45 Location: uk

so lets me honest now........which qualification suggests a higher academic achievement...a BA or an MA ???

most people who do a BA are probably in the age group of 18 - 24 years old....first time away from home.....little or no life experience.

so universities are giving opportunities for mature students to study at a much higher level....therefore not wasting anybodies time.......and THIS IS BEING CALLED A BIZARRE PRACTICE!!

The reasons you say this are beyond me!!

THis is also possible to do in Australia and many other eauropean countries....NOT just the uk

i am interested to hear more from you

Gipkik · Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Posts: 2

Ideally, an MA that follows on and builds on a BA is the most desireable qualification route. It indicates real expertise IME. That said, it all depends on what your MA qualification is and how relevant it is to the TESOL world and to your particular background. I'm starting to see more and more MAs that are great professional qualifications in their own right, but don't seem to follow from a BA foundation. I wonder if another postgraduate name for this type of MA would be more accurate. Just my thoughts.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

What is bizarre is having a post-graduate degree when there is no first degree to be 'post'. You may be correct about Australia allowing this but I know of no EU country, or American University where this would happen.

The practice originally started with people getting other non-degree courses accepted as the equivalence of a degree. Qualifications in Art and Music, or teaching certificates prior to 1975 when a degree became obligatory for teaching. Gradually however the practice came in of accepting other 'experience' and in order to keep the fees and get the courses viable, many UK universities started the sharp practice of letting in candidates, especially overseas candidates, who did not have the necessary English, or even on occasion the necessary academic knowledge, to do post-graduate courses (the more scrupulous universities forced those with insufficient English or other background to make it up or withdraw from the course, whilst others simply lowered the standards of the qualification).

There are few other countries I know off where a Masters Degree without a Bachelors would allow you to teach in a school or college. The situation in Thailand is fluid at present, but you haven't chosen the best time to stretch the rules.

Leeds Metropolitan comes from 82-90/106-119 in the various ranking tables for UK universities. Now this means little as far as your speciality goes since some universities can be excellent in some specialities but hopeless in others.

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

What is your specific MA? Field? Specialisation?

Is it in "Visual Arts"??

Areut · Joined: 17 May 2006 Posts: 48

LOL! Like i said on ajarn if you have to question if you can do it then you know your MA is questionable. But good luck!

Areut · Joined: 17 May 2006 Posts: 48

taikibansei · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Posts: 811 Location: Japan

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

tedkarma · Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 1:49 am Post subject:

macka also needs to know, in the midst of her/his unhappiness about having to explain it all - that hiring authorities, ministries of education, immigration officials, colleagues, etc etc will be asking the same question.

Personally, If I saw it on a resume I would have strong reservations about the degree, where it came from and the person presenting it to me.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

The other problem macka may have is the work permit one. Whilst it is obvious why an institution may need to hire a foreigner to teach languages, it is not so clear that they need to hire one to teach photography; immigration in many countries may well say they have qualified nationals to do the job.

If macka has the reputation to get hired by an Art college in Thailand or elswhere then they will know how to deal with immigration. He's probably asking on the wrong forum though. He would do better to ask other photographers living in the countries he intends to work in (he has asked about work in many places, including the Middle East job boards).