NDINL -> Btech/ BSc

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DrewChan

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I am pretty new to the whole university thing - first year [Working & Studying]
I am kinda bummed I couldn't do a Bsc but needed HG Maths - Which I wasn't going to waste a year bridging.

How hard is it to convert a Dip to a Degree?
I have also heard rumour you can go from B.tech to Masters is this true?

I basically don't just want an NQF 6 - would like to study as far as possible in the shortest possible time
 
As far as i know a b.tech eng is NQF 7

Converting from a diploma to a degree does not give you much credit as far as I'm aware, you would be better of doing a 1yr bridging course as that would be less of a 'waste of time'.
 
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From what I understand its Diploma-> B.tech->Honours(?)-> Masters. Will check with my father a little later on as he works at a varsity
 
You with Unisa? Recommend you doing the bridging course rather then do the Diploma though.
Will either PM you later or post in thread :)
 
lol Phoenix too late - first semester paid for I am doing NDINL - question is where too from here - Although still have 3 theoretical years left
 
If your aiming for a BTech then do it and don't focus on a degree. If I could restart my studies I would rather have done a BTech as a lot more prospective employers wanted BTech over BSc but only by a ball hair.

Also you can get a Phd by doing the BTech route, my ex boss got his Phd last year through this route.

But just remember, employers don't care what you studied as long as you did study - its only ignorant corporate HR departments that think otherwise.

EDIT: Even though I'm a final year BSc student, I've only got a National Certificate in Datameterics to my name yet I only got turned down by 4 companies in Cape Town who insisted on only taking BSc graduates.
 
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cbrunsdonza said:
If your aiming for a BTech then do it and don't focus on a degree.
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+1

Wanting to go from a NDINL to a BSc is gonna take a lot longer, you will only get credits for a few of the first year courses so you will still have to do the rest of the BSc years.

Going from a NDINL to a BTech will take you a extra year and give you a NQF 7 qualification. If you still wanna study more then MTech (12-18 months) NQF 8 and then a DTech (minimum 24 months) are always options.
 
I strongly suggest a bridging course (or just doing/redoing the matric subjects). I did this, and then got a Ph.D. eventually. Whatever the NQF levels say, the .tech degrees are just not as highly thought of - especially internationally. If you're planning to study for 6+ (Masters) or 9+(Doctorate) years, the extra year is just a drop in the bucket, and will hopefully get you a running head start.
 
There are multiple ways to look at it and it really depends on where you want to go with your career..

1. www.ecsa.co.za
Converting from a Btech to BSc(hons) eng != BSc(eng). Basically you have to find a conversion course like the one at UCT(2 yr, so Ndip + Conversion = 3+2 yrs) and that can be done from Ndip level provided your results are good. Basically ECSA won't recognise you as a professional engineer without the BSc/BEng. Does this matter? Depends on where you want to go with career.. further up you go the more it will hit you as a limiting factor.

2. MBA programs..
You need to have a degree to complete else have to do a bridge course like MAP/AIM

3. Companies..
If you look at senior positions, you will start noticing that they now require degrees and MBA. What I find is that in CPT, the entry requirements are set high like BSc but here in Jhb they still willing to consider without. How long this will remain is questionable as saturation is occurring due to market being smaller than the peak in 2008 i.e. more grads on offer

For some eng it's still possible to get really great jobs like e.g. sister doing civil eng via a technikon but again.. it does mean later she will have to do a conversion. From what i recall when i was at tech long ago, BTech = BSc but universities are hesitant to let you do MSc(eng) without conversion, in the end I just went to university and finished there.

The tech thing is awesome due to hands on exposure but it is easier to do and companies are under no illusion about this. Personality counts though so if you prepared to put in effort and coast through it i'd suggest going NDip -> conversion BSc as you lose the least time that way(Most engineers take 4.5-5yrs unless they really clever albeit a 4yr program) while getting an excellent bridge between school & varsity, laying the foundation for engineerin and still getting the benefit of BSc with thesis work too.

ECSA kicks in for international jobs and moving abroad with the Washington Accord.. essentially tech qualifications aren;t held in the same rank as degrees so yah it kills an alternative.
 
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Thanks everyone for replies - seems like I messed up taking on NDINL over Bsc - oh well can't go back now - works paying
 
I know quite a few Pr. Techs. Don't think it's stopped them from working.
 
cbrunsdonza said:
But just remember, employers don't care what you studied as long as you did study - its only ignorant corporate HR departments that think otherwise.
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Nope. Not in South Africa. Maybe in the USA they think like this but only before they got bogged down in their credit crunch.

These days it's not what your country can do for you, but rather what you can do for your country.
 
DrewChan said:
Thanks everyone for replies - seems like I messed up taking on NDINL over Bsc - oh well can't go back now - works paying
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I don't think you have unless you are struggling with it. Most companies see it as a huge bonus if you have both as it shows you pragmatic and combo with working while studying you will have experience. 2ndly when I went to varsity what I learnt in 1 year, the varsity guys learnt over 2 years with more calculus but less practicality which was fascinating as i knew hwere it was going, how to use it while they got the as new material but without as much practical.

In the end I can do more things while still appreciate the theory side compared to the graduate trap of struggling to go from varsity work to actual, like a analysis paralysis with prac work.

Like I said, it works if you don't take it easy.. I know people at tech who struggled to complete/didn't complete and end up doing project management etc. but are limited within company due to graduate options for promotions up the order.
 
NDINL -> BTech -> MTech -> DTech
BSc -> Honours -> Masters -> Doctorate

It's all the same thing at the end of the day just with different focus. National Diplomas and BTech's seem more practical where BSc and Honours are more theoretical. Personally I'd hire someone with an NDINL over a BSc anyday just because NDINL students get more practical experience that is actually useful rather than that of a BSc student.

Busy with my BTech now and definitely worth it :) Employers love BTech!
 
Thanks vampire - makes me feel like i'm not completely wasting my time - although I'll only be done at 31 with Diploma - damn you age
 
DrewChan said:
Thanks vampire - makes me feel like i'm not completely wasting my time - although I'll only be done at 31 with Diploma - damn you age
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Well it's never to late to start. 31 is still pretty young compared to people I know who only got there at 40, 50, 60 etc. Don't let age be a deciding factor for you. Learning is a lifelong quest imho.
 
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