Post secondary credentials - what counts as a second qualification

[kryt0n]

Hi y'all.

So I have my degree converted to a 4 year bachelor's by WES.

I, don't judge me, have recently found a 1 year 'Diploma in professional practice' issues by my university which was obtained during my mid degree work internship.

I have never thought much of this however whilst recently grasping at points it has dawned on me that this could be my ita ticket.

I have contacted my university and am waiting to see if they have an official transcript of the modules completed.

My question is, what does CIC count as an additional POST SECONDARY credential? Is it only a masters? I know they require one to be at least a 3 year degree. Will my one year Diploma count?

If I receive a transcript I will be converting it with WES. Thoughts?

 

[DelPiero07]

My understanding is that like you said one of the two has to be a 3 year degree (which you have). The other one can be a two year or a one year certificate or diploma.

That would be 7 extra points to you plus whatever you score on your IETLS could give you a chance.

That being said, hopefully someone can shed light if the diploma counts.

Cheers

Edit: it is 8 points, dunno what I was smoking

 

[kryt0n]

Cheers bro.

Yea it was one of those things we made fun of at the time. It's on my resume because, you know, but I never saw it as much. It is a diploma though...

If it is converted as a 1 year Diploma, do WES issue a joint certificate with my existing degree or just a single conversion for this one? (I.e. do they print a 'kryt0n has a 4 year free and a 1 year diploma's on one ECA?

 

[kryt0n]

So when listing a second qualification, the CRS score chart says this:

Two or more certificates, diplomas, or degrees. One must be for a program of three or more years

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/express-entry/grid-crs.asp

However, the policy for ircc staff say this:

Two or more post-secondary program credentials, at least one of which must have been issued on completion of a post-secondary program of three years or longer

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/perm/econ/fsw/education.asp

So is it that two can be submitted but that it has to be after the 3 year one? It's a bit sneaky of them if that's not 100% clear to applicants. Thoughts??

 

[kryt0n]

Well I think I found it.

My diploma was obtained during my degree. Not post, so not sure it counts.

Designated organizations assessment outcomes

A three-year or longer post-secondary credential in combination with any of the post secondary educational credentials listed below. This excludes secondary school credentials.

Post-secondary educational credentials could also include post-baccalaureate or post-graduate credentials as follows:

Post-bachelor’s certificate
Post-undergraduate certificate
Post-bachelor’s diploma
Post-undergraduate diploma
Graduate certificate
Graduate certificate with a focus in [area of concentration]
Postgraduate certificate
Postgraduate diploma
Graduate diploma with a focus in [area of concentration]
Graduate diploma
Two-year postgraduate diploma, specializing in [name of discipline]
Two-year bachelor’s degree after a degree with a focus in [area of concentration]
One-year postgraduate certificate in [name of discipline]
One-year of graduate study with a focus in [area of concentration]
Study toward a master’s degree

 

[Alexios07]

Was your diploma earned from a separate program or was it a part of your degree? Because in some technical universities, when you attend a four-year program for Bachelor degree, they will award you a Diploma after you complete your first two years, and this Diploma cannot be used as a second degree.

However, your Diploma doesn't need to be a post-diploma to be counted as a second degree. It can be a one year Diploma.

 

[kryt0n]

Was your diploma earned from a separate program or was it a part of your degree? Because in some technical universities, when you attend a four-year program for Bachelor degree, they will award you a Diploma after you complete your first two years, and this Diploma cannot be used as a second degree.

However, your Diploma doesn't need to be a post-diploma to be counted as a second degree. It can be a one year Diploma.

Mine was awarded by the university after 2 years. So I did 2 years of study, 1 year work placement/industrial, and 1 year study. My degree and ECA is 4 year degree.

The diploma was earned during year 3 while working (half of the diploma was the work, the other half course work).

So
2004-2006 study
2006-2007 diploma/placement
2007-2008 degree

The link above lists all as POSTgraduate. I'm willing to get it converted as it's only $80 extra through WES, but I don't want to claim for it if it isnt going to count.

 

[Alexios07]

Mine was awarded by the university after 2 years. So I did 2 years of study, 1 year work placement/industrial, and 1 year study. My degree and ECA is 4 year degree.

The diploma was earned during year 3 while working (half of the diploma was the work, the other half course work).

So
2004-2006 study
2006-2007 diploma/placement
2007-2008 degree

The link above lists all as POSTgraduate. I'm willing to get it converted as it's only $80 extra through WES, but I don't want to claim for it if it isnt going to count.

So from my understanding, your Diploma will not be counted as a second degree because it was earned as part of your degree, like my example.

However, in the ECA page, those post-grad diploma are just a part of the "Two or more certs, diplomas" option.

As it clearly says:

ECA assessment results:

A three-year or more certificate, diploma, or degree

PLUS any of the results in the sections below (not including secondary/high school), or:

so the sections below are: Bachelor's degree, Two-year Degree and Diploma and One-year Degree and Diploma

and the or is for those post-grad diploma list.

It means if you have a one-year undergrad Diploma degree earned BEFORE you start your Bachelor degree. You can still count them as two degrees.

 

[kryt0n]

So from my understanding, your Diploma will not be counted as a second degree because it was earned as part of your degree, like my example.

However, in the ECA page, those post-grad diploma are just a part of the "Two or more certs, diplomas" option.

As it clearly says:

so the sections below are: Bachelor's degree, Two-year Degree and Diploma and One-year Degree and Diploma

and the or is for those post-grad diploma list.

It means if you have a one-year undergrad Diploma degree earned BEFORE you start your Bachelor degree. You can still count them as two degrees.

Thank you, trying to understand the phrasing used.

So I have 2 credentials, one is a 4 year degree (ECA obtained) the second is a 1 year post secondary University diploma obtained during my 4 year degree.

It's the same as obtaining a trade qualification alongside a degree, surely?

A three-year or longer post-secondary credential in combination with any of the post secondary educational credentials listed below. This excludes secondary school credentials.

College certificate
Completion of college-level certificate
University certificate
University diploma
One-year certificate in [name of discipline]
Post-secondary certificate with a focus in [area of concentration]
One-year post-secondary certificate with a focus in [area of concentration]
One-year certificate

 

[kryt0n]

So the ECA page you linked two says this for two post secondary credentials:

Important notice: One must be for a program of three or more years.
ECA assessment results:

A three-year or more certificate, diploma, or degree

PLUS any of the results in the sections below (not including secondary/high school), or:

Post-Bachelor's Certificate
Post-undergraduate certificate
Post-Bachelor's Diploma
Post-undergraduate diploma
Graduate Certificate
Graduate Certificate with a focus in [area of concentration]
Postgraduate certificate
Postgraduate Diploma
Graduate Diploma with a focus in [area of concentration]
Graduate diploma
two-year Postgraduate Diploma, specializing in [name of discipline]
two-year Bachelor’s after degree with a focus in [area of concentration]
one-year Postgraduate Certificate in [name of discipline]
one-year of graduate study with a focus in [area of concentration]
Dual Bachelor’s degree (four years)

The sections below are the one year degree, diploma etc or a two year degree/diploma or another three or more year degree.

It doesn't say anywhere that the diploma has to be obtained after or before the degree. And the diploma didn't count t towards credits for my degree, it was a separate qualification.

 

[Alexios07]

So I have 2 credentials, one is a 4 year degree (ECA obtained) the second is a 1 year post secondary University diploma obtained during my 4 year degree.

It's the same as obtaining a trade qualification alongside a degree, surely?

IMO, you can only use your bachelor degree since your diploma is obtained during your degree.

So choose the "Bachelor's degree or other programs" option.

Keep in mind that this is based solely from my understanding. It's best that you call and check with an IRCC agent.

 

[kryt0n]

IMO, you can only use your bachelor degree since your diploma is obtained during your degree.

So choose the "Bachelor's degree or other programs" option.

Keep in mind that this is based solely from my understanding. It's best that you call and check with an IRCC agent.

Thanks mate. At the money I do just have one degree listed and converted. I was just hoping that this counts. It is listed on my university website as a SEPARATE qualification you can earn during your degree...

I have both my degree certificate and the diploma certificate, but I was never given the transcripts (when I applied to WES the uni sent them straight to them) so I don't know if they have separate qualifications.

I don't really trust calling ircc as, well, they are a bit angry at times. I'll wait and see if my uni confirms it's a separate qualification with transcript. If it does, I'll send it to WES linking it to my degree and I'll let them decide if it counts on its own merit.

 

[kryt0n]

Last one, this ISN'T my degree, but a different degree with the explanation of what I'm talking about:

You'll study a total of 120 credits per year. This will be made up of single or double modules.

Stage one

You'll study modules such as:

Making it: Materials and Manufacturing Processes
Product Design Studies
Innovation
Computer Aided Product Design
Design Evaluation
Context: Being a Product Designer

Stage two

You'll study modules such as:

Design Project Concept
Innovation Applications and Personal Development Planning
Design Project Development
Design Context
Industrial Design
Eco Design
Furniture Design

Diploma in Professional Practice (optional)

You'll study modules such as:

Contemporary Issues in Professional Practice
Applied Professional Practice

Stage three

You'll study modules such as:

Major Project Research
Major Project (double module)
Advanced Industrial Design
Design Management and Personal Development Planning
Advanced Eco Design
Advanced Furniture Design

 

[Alexios07]

Last one, this ISN'T my degree, but a different degree with the explanation of what I'm talking about:

It's pretty much the same thing as my university/polytechnic back home. If you take the Computer Systems bachelor program, after the first two years, they will award you a Diploma in Computer Systems. At this point you can choose either to stop studying and find a job, or keep going on the third year and fourth year to complete the Bachelor. So an undergrad from this program will have two pieces of degrees, one Diploma and one Bachelor, but we consider the Diploma is a part of the Bachelor program.

 

[kryt0n]

It's pretty much the same thing as my university/polytechnic back home. If you take the Computer Systems bachelor program, after the first two years, they will award you a Diploma in Computer Systems. At this point you can choose either to stop studying and find a job, or keep going on the third year and fourth year to complete the Bachelor. So an undergrad from this program will have two pieces of degrees, one Diploma and one Bachelor, but we consider the Diploma is a part of the Bachelor program.

But i got it after completing my third year, so after doing extra work during my placement. It was always separate from my degree. Ugh. My degree transcripts don't include it.