Chose to do an IT Dip. through Unisa

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DrewChan

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There's probably a few of you in here who'll know whether this was a good choice :D

Luckily I work in a company thats paying for it and will probably employ me into a relevant position once done - but besides that what is the marketability like?
 
DrewChan said:
There's probably a few of you in here who'll know whether this was a good choice :D

Luckily I work in a company thats paying for it and will probably employ me into a relevant position once done - but besides that what is the marketability like?
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Is it a 3 year diploma that can be later upgraded to 4 year degree?
 
The biggest factor to your marketability will likely be how well you internalize what you learn in your diploma, and how well you show this in an interview. That said, a degree gives you more knowledge to internalize, and will likely put you in a better place on the resume pile of potential employers. Also, it would likely open up new avenues (more software dev skills, CS theory, math, etc.). What diploma are you doing? Is it on the developer side, or the sys admin side of things?
 
DrewChan said:
There's probably a few of you in here who'll know whether this was a good choice :D

Luckily I work in a company thats paying for it and will probably employ me into a relevant position once done - but besides that what is the marketability like?
Click to expand...

The Unisa IT Dip is much alike to the BSc CS/IS degree, so you can just as well rather do the degree. The degree is only 3y anyways (no one said it's childsplay though).
 
Didn't see a degree - what is the course name of the degree - unless were talking computer science which I would have had to do a bridging course for :/

The Diploma I am doing is 3 years and includes software developement - [Well probably 4 years] as I am working full time.
 
DrewChan said:
Didn't see a degree - what is the course name of the degree - unless were talking computer science which I would have had to do a bridging course for :/

The Diploma I am doing is 3 years and includes software developement - [Well probably 4 years] as I am working full time.
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Can you not upgrade it to a degree by adding another year?

I also want to do this, then you can do the diploma take a bit of a break and then upgrade it to a degree.
 
You can do a B.Tech after you get your diploma (That's what I'm doing this year). The B.Tech is 1 year full time or 2 years part time.

Edit

...and after B.Tech you can do your masters.
 
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Silverlight said:
...and after B.Tech you can do your masters.
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M.Tech., right? Not disagreeing on the name, but i just wanted to point out that most of the world view this as approximately equivalent to an honours degree.
 
I've got a BTech and haven't experienced any 'negativity' due to the fact that its not got the word 'degree' in the title - 2013 would be the 7th year with the BTech and its served me well... Analyst Programmer (VWSA) to Business Support Specialist (SAB) to Management Information Systems Developer (SAB)... just saying :) (although I do admit that training I went on whilst at the various positions has bolstered the CV somewhat)
 
randy_mj said:
2013 would be the 7th year with the BTech and its served me well
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Randy_mj brings up a good point. I have worked at companies that have had "requirements" for BSc/BSc(hons)/MSc and even PhD degrees for certain positions. The thing is, in almost all cases, when a very experienced candidate has come along, the companies have been willing to trade off qualifications for the right type, and the right amount of experience.
 
DrewChan said:
Didn't see a degree - what is the course name of the degree - unless were talking computer science which I would have had to do a bridging course for :/

The Diploma I am doing is 3 years and includes software developement - [Well probably 4 years] as I am working full time.
Click to expand...

BSc Informatics - if you need to do a bridging year for this then you need to do one for your diploma. I looked at the diploma options to get my qualification earlier but it was so similar I stuck with the degree.

Now that I'm in my last year of studies I'm glad I did it.

Also expect to spend 5-6 years with your studies. Just because you have time this year to do 10 modules does not mean you will have the same luxury next year. You could get promoted, your could start a family, you could have a crisis in your life - all the things that have happened in the last 5 years to me.
 
randy_mj said:
I've got a BTech and haven't experienced any 'negativity' due to the fact that its not got the word 'degree' in the title - 2013 would be the 7th year with the BTech and its served me well... Analyst Programmer (VWSA) to Business Support Specialist (SAB) to Management Information Systems Developer (SAB)... just saying :) (although I do admit that training I went on whilst at the various positions has bolstered the CV somewhat)
Click to expand...

If I could start my studies over again I would have gone the BTech route. The so called stigma only exists in the minds of the uneducated. A BTech holds more value in a job interview and promotion appraisals than a BSc.
 
I have completed my Bsc Software Engineering degree through UNISA last year. Some of my mates is doing the IT Diploma through them and there is a huge difference in the subject matter. In the diploma you do not have one computer science module.
 
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