Bridging Mathematics for Bsc Degree

[BokkieC]

Hi all,

So interesting predicament. When I was younger (I am over 30 now) I was a typical teen prioritizing hanging out with friends and playing PC games over doing well in school. This never really held me back though. I went into Network engineering and self studied some Cisco certs and racked up very good experience in the Networking and Security space. Currently I earn really really well but I did this without a degree/diploma to my name which I guess for most would be considered just fine.

I am now working in the Cloud space still in a networking capacity but also get to do some coding here and there. Based on this I wanted to do a degree in something like Computing or Computer Science as I have a aptitude for it and years of XP in the IT field. However, my Math marks doesn't make the cut here. Ideally I'd like some degree that I can study fully online as I may have the option to emigrate to EU and wanted to go with UNISA but naturally I don't meet the requirements and I tried to apply for the Higher certificate in Maths and Statistics as well to try and bridge this gap, however, somehow they say I still do not meet the requirements to do this although I have no clue which requirement I am missing or how to bridge it to get entry into the program.

So I am in a bit of a pickle and wonder if anyone else has had this previously and how they bridged that gap to get into a Bsc program like UNISA...If there is any guidance on how else I can do a gap Maths certificate that would qualify me for Bsc that would be great as well! I don't know of any other proper distance learning options in ZA that I can try go get into more Software Dev type stuff and as a personal goal I do want a degree.

Tx

 

[cguy]

You may want to ask here as well:
https://mybroadband.co.za/forum/threads/the-unisa-thread.546473/page-274

For myself, the early 90’s I just rewrote matric maths.

BTW, for emigration purposes the extra year for honours often has a fair amount of import when it comes to degree equivalency.

Best of luck.

 

[r4nd0m]

BSc Computer Science

Get prepared for an exciting career in tech. Master in-demand programming, mathematical and computing skills through hands-on, project-based modules.

london.ac.uk

Pass Programming I and Discrete Mathematics and you can attempt the rest of the 24 modules.

You still need an 'in' so I hope you can justify it with either an existing related career or proof of aptitude. Next programme starts in April '21.

Pricing wise, it's about GBP 420 per module.

 

[Ancalagon]

BSc Computer Science

Get prepared for an exciting career in tech. Master in-demand programming, mathematical and computing skills through hands-on, project-based modules.

london.ac.uk

Pass Programming I and Discrete Mathematics and you can attempt the rest of the 24 modules.

You still need an 'in' so I hope you can justify it with either an existing related career or proof of aptitude. Next programme starts in April '21.

Pricing wise, it's about GBP 420 per module.

I was going to say, try the university of London. There is also the Open University, which is based in the UK.

Especially for students over 30, universities tend to be more lenient in admissions. They know that if you fail, its your own money, so you are more motivated to work hard.

You do have to write a motivation when you apply, so make it a good one, but my guess would be that either the Open University of university of London would take you.

 

[cguy]

My suggestion is that regardless of where you study, you try to get your maths up to scratch first - university maths is hard, but also one of the most worthwhile parts of the degree (my undergrad ended up having 2x more maths than CS ).

 

[BokkieC]

Thanks guys! I did see UOL course a while back but at that time the price tag in pounds seemed steep when compared to UNISA which is why I was trying that path and sadly there are no other part time online courses in ZA which is a REAL bummer :/.

I will likely have to go down the international route if I cannot effectively find out how to bridge the Math gap on paper that would satisfy UNISA since it looks like they do not look at performance/experience in career at all which is also extremely dissappointing.

 

[Nerhzelok]

Thanks guys! I did see UOL course a while back but at that time the price tag in pounds seemed steep when compared to UNISA which is why I was trying that path and sadly there are no other part time online courses in ZA which is a REAL bummer :/.

I will likely have to go down the international route if I cannot effectively find out how to bridge the Math gap on paper that would satisfy UNISA since it looks like they do not look at performance/experience in career at all which is also extremely dissappointing.

I’m with university of London at the moment.
If you want to get in with them, better be soon because they hike their prices something like 5% a year if I’m not mistaken.

But if you have any questions regarding them feel free to DM me.

 

[Gnome]

I completed a BSc in CS and now work for a pretty large international software company.

In terms of moving within the company, nobody cares what my degree is, it isn't even brought up.
Nor is it really that big of a problem when I've applied to other companies (ie. Google, Facebook).
They didn't ask for it before I interviewed.

Once you have the right kind of experience, a degree really means nothing.

Education in SA has dropped a lot in CS, or I'm unlucky.
I do roughly 100-150 interviews per year and I must say I'm very disappointed in the fundamentals knowledge of fresh graduates.
Doesn't really matter the university, I've gotten as many terrible candidates from UCT and Unisa, etc.

 

[Nerhzelok]

I completed a BSc in CS and now work for a pretty large international software company.

In terms of moving within the company, nobody cares what my degree is, it isn't even brought up.
Nor is it really that big of a problem when I've applied to other companies (ie. Google, Facebook).
They didn't ask for it before I interviewed.

Once you have the right kind of experience, a degree really means nothing.

Education in SA has dropped a lot in CS, or I'm unlucky.
I do roughly 100-150 interviews per year and I must say I'm very disappointed in the fundamentals knowledge of fresh graduates.
Doesn't really matter the university, I've gotten as many terrible candidates from UCT and Unisa, etc.

This is true to my experience as well, but likely a symptom of the individuals chasing after degrees for the money as opposed to the knowledge and skills, I'm not sure if it's the University's fault.

For any university, I'd imagine, you get out what you put in, they're not meant to hold your hand all the way.

 

[cguy]

I completed a BSc in CS and now work for a pretty large international software company.

In terms of moving within the company, nobody cares what my degree is, it isn't even brought up.
Nor is it really that big of a problem when I've applied to other companies (ie. Google, Facebook).
They didn't ask for it before I interviewed.

You interviewed before you gave them your resume or before they looked at your LinkedIn? Do you now work for FB or Google?

Once you have the right kind of experience, a degree really means nothing.

It’s really hard to get the right kind of experience without it.

 

[cguy]

Education in SA has dropped a lot in CS, or I'm unlucky.
I do roughly 100-150 interviews per year and I must say I'm very disappointed in the fundamentals knowledge of fresh graduates.
Doesn't really matter the university, I've gotten as many terrible candidates from UCT and Unisa, etc.

Just wanted to mention that interviewing in SA has inherent selection bias too. Especially if you’re not Amazon.

 

[Gnome]

Just wanted to mention that interviewing in SA has inherent selection bias too. Especially if you’re not Amazon.

What do you mean?

You interviewed before you gave them your resume or before they looked at your LinkedIn? Do you now work for FB or Google?

I submitted a resume in one case another was a referral. I'd rather not say where I work

 

[cguy]

What do you mean?

The people you’re interviewing are the ones who either wouldn’t or couldn’t work overseas or Amazon locally. If they’re part of the couldn’t group, the best candidates have already been selected out.

Almost my entire honours year went overseas either immediately, or after finishing further postgrad studies. Most of those few that stayed were the weakest students of the year. There were of course one or two really great graduates who stayed for family reasons and such. Same happened the year before and they year after. Amazon seems to have claimed quite a few of they smart guys who decided to stay in SA.

I submitted a resume in one case another was a referral. I'd rather not say where I work

Well, in both cases they would have likely known you had a degree then, surely?

 

[vic777]

Thanks guys! I did see UOL course a while back but at that time the price tag in pounds seemed steep when compared to UNISA which is why I was trying that path and sadly there are no other part time online courses in ZA which is a REAL bummer :/.

I will likely have to go down the international route if I cannot effectively find out how to bridge the Math gap on paper that would satisfy UNISA since it looks like they do not look at performance/experience in career at all which is also extremely dissappointing.

UNISA used to have a module called MAT0511 for this purpose. Also, a few years ago the introduced the "extended " programme for applicants who don't meet the maths criteria.

The degree is important, especially if you are considering working overseas.

Good luck

 

[randomcat]

UNISA used to have a module called MAT0511 for this purpose. Also, a few years ago the introduced the "extended " programme for applicants who don't meet the maths criteria.

The degree is important, especially if you are considering working overseas.

Good luck

They are phasing out the extended programme. The only option now is to redo matric or apply for an exemption based on your work experience.

 

[vic777]

They are phasing out the extended programme. The only option now is to redo matric or apply for an exemption based on your work experience.

Ok, interesting.

The "recognition of prior learning" route will not get you away from the mathematics requirement in my experience, and honestly, it is better to get rusty maths skills up to date since you do linear algebra in your first year, statistics as well as discrete maths until your third year of study.

 

[randomcat]

Ok, interesting.

The "recognition of prior learning" route will not get you away from the mathematics requirement in my experience, and honestly, it is better to get rusty maths skills up to date since you do linear algebra in your first year, statistics as well as discrete maths until your third year of study.

The only option now is to redo matric and apply for an exemption based on your work experience.

My bad I put or instead of and. Yeah the maths is really important for entry. The exemption is just to make you a more appealing candidate and maybe give you some credit for easy modules.