Bsc Degree

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kalevra

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I've been working for almost ten years and have two diplomas - IT related (I'm a Java developer)

I've recently started working at a new company - during my interviewing I realised how beneficial a degree is in terms of opening doors (employment opportunities), developing your career and also making opportunities abroad more easily accessible.

So my question is how to choose an institution to study at? I was thinking perhaps UNISA which has a 3 year full time course (there are no lectures so you just need to complete projects and write exams) perfect with me working full time - I have a mate doing this and he says the work load is manageable.

My concern is how well recognised UNISA is in the industry - how far will it get me compared to a degree obtained through Wits or UJ... ?

Any ideas?

Obviously other factors are involved incl. how many years to complete/ full-time or part-time course availability/ cost per year/ is it necessary to attend lectures?
 
Not sure where in the country you are kalevra, but if in the Joburg area then Wits has a very good program going through one of their IT organisations (JCSE) where you do an 18month part-time / evening class modules which then gives you acess to their masters programme. The programme is specifically targeted at people with 5years+ IT work experience and no formal degree qualification.
Google the JCSE and take a look at the CPD programme. Not cheap, but well worth consideration
 
McSack said:
Not sure where in the country you are kalevra, but if in the Joburg area then Wits has a very good program going through one of their IT organisations (JCSE) where you do an 18month part-time / evening class modules which then gives you acess to their masters programme. The programme is specifically targeted at people with 5years+ IT work experience and no formal degree qualification.
Google the JCSE and take a look at the CPD programme. Not cheap, but well worth consideration
Click to expand...

I'm in JHB...

Kewl found the site having a look now... Seems like an awesome shortcut - nice!

Thanks a mill!

Have you done the course? How do you know about?
 
kalevra said:
I've been working for almost ten years and have two diplomas - IT related (I'm a Java developer)

I've recently started working at a new company - during my interviewing I realised how beneficial a degree is in terms of opening doors (employment opportunities), developing your career and also making opportunities abroad more easily accessible.

So my question is how to choose an institution to study at? I was thinking perhaps UNISA which has a 3 year full time course (there are no lectures so you just need to complete projects and write exams) perfect with me working full time - I have a mate doing this and he says the work load is manageable.

My concern is how well recognised UNISA is in the industry - how far will it get me compared to a degree obtained through Wits or UJ... ?

Any ideas?

Obviously other factors are involved incl. how many years to complete/ full-time or part-time course availability/ cost per year/ is it necessary to attend lectures?
Click to expand...

You have quite a bit of experience. Instead of going a BSc degree, you can actually do your Masters.
I know a guy, that doesn't have any qualifications but +10 years experience. He was accepted at the university of liverpool to do his masters because of his extensive experience. I suggest you go this route. Msc is better than a BSc :)
 
VG008 said:
You have quite a bit of experience. Instead of going a BSc degree, you can actually do your Masters.
I know a guy, that doesn't have any qualifications but +10 years experience. He was accepted at the university of liverpool to do his masters because of his extensive experience. I suggest you go this route. Msc is better than a BSc :)
Click to expand...

Let me clarify - I've been out of school for 10 years... Been in the field for now 5 years ... but thanks I didn't realise that was an option... Looking into it now!
 
kalevra said:
I'm in JHB...

Kewl found the site having a look now... Seems like an awesome shortcut - nice!

Thanks a mill!

Have you done the course? How do you know about?
Click to expand...
I have one technical module to go which I do in April.
I did an engineering degree but like 20years ago and didn't want to have to go through all the BSc subjects for no real benefit so this was defintely the route for me
Quite a bit of work to get through the projects, but it's been great working with people from other industries and learning different ways of doing things
 
I don't suppose there's anything in cape town like the JCSE program you guys mentioned?
 
Wow, didn't know about the JCSE program. I've been trying to get into UNISA (Their registration process is a miserable failure) to do my honours so that I can do my M.Sc but hell, if this is an option, I'll rather wait another year for me to satisfy their experience requirement and then skip directly to my M.
 
Messugga said:
Wow, didn't know about the JCSE program. I've been trying to get into UNISA (Their registration process is a miserable failure) to do my honours so that I can do my M.Sc but hell, if this is an option, I'll rather wait another year for me to satisfy their experience requirement and then skip directly to my M.
Click to expand...

Thats what I was thinking but Im looking for places in Cape Town that offer this type of program.
 
VG008 said:
You have quite a bit of experience. Instead of going a BSc degree, you can actually do your Masters.
I know a guy, that doesn't have any qualifications but +10 years experience. He was accepted at the university of liverpool to do his masters because of his extensive experience. I suggest you go this route. Msc is better than a BSc :)
Click to expand...

Sounds fishy to me - like the degree that the former rector of the Tshwane University of Technology has...

Sent from my U20i using Tapatalk
 
kalevra said:
I've been working for almost ten years and have two diplomas - IT related (I'm a Java developer)

I've recently started working at a new company - during my interviewing I realised how beneficial a degree is in terms of opening doors (employment opportunities), developing your career and also making opportunities abroad more easily accessible.

So my question is how to choose an institution to study at? I was thinking perhaps UNISA which has a 3 year full time course (there are no lectures so you just need to complete projects and write exams) perfect with me working full time - I have a mate doing this and he says the work load is manageable.

My concern is how well recognised UNISA is in the industry - how far will it get me compared to a degree obtained through Wits or UJ... ?

Any ideas?

Obviously other factors are involved incl. how many years to complete/ full-time or part-time course availability/ cost per year/ is it necessary to attend lectures?
Click to expand...

First, good on you that you want to study. Education is the one thing nobody can take away from you!

I'm a 37yr old PHP developer going into my 6th year now and also a UNISA BSc student. It will take you at least 5yrs to study through UNISA unless your some superhuman recluse that has no life.

UNISA is very well respected in the industry and any HR that tells you otherwise will also not recognize any other noteworthy degree and is worth telling to sod off.

Getting a degree is about setting the foundations and trust me, even with 5yrs experience you will be suprised how much you missed out on.

While its still better to go for a full time uni, its not always possible and that is where UNISA comes in. Please be cautious of UK based degrees, most, but not all are worthless. Do your homework first. There are certain legal requirements in both South Africa and UK when it comes to the number of years study and you cannot get a legal BSc in less than 3yrs. (<-- EDIT: This is a go at places like CTi that mislead their students)

Its true that some universities will give you credits for prior learning/experience but its usually only a few modules (or not worth the effort). So do not bargin on it.
 
I'm contemplating a Masters or Bsc too... I'm only a certified IT engineer and am going to do an HTML and design basics course in Feb... But since I'll be turning 30 I would like some sort of degree, maybe management... what would be the best part time option in cape town... UNISA?
 
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