Evaluation of International Qualifications Lynn Bannon Michelle Nelson Marita Foster

1. Evaluation of International Qualifications Lynn Bannon Michelle Nelson Marita Foster

2. University College Cork Admitted first students in 1849 Now admit approximately 6,000 full-time students per year In the region of: 3,600 EU undergraduate students 2,200 EU Postgraduate students 350 Non-EU Full Degree International students

3. University College Cork EU Undergraduate Students Applications Lynn Bannon Admissions Office

4. EU Undergraduate Degree Students Who applies as an EU Undergraduate Student? • School Leavers • Mature applicants • Students with FETAC qualifications (apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO))

5. EU Undergraduate Degree Students Applications are received from every EU country in both the School Leaver and Mature category • Approximately 550 per year

6. Criteria for selection, decisions and offers • School Leavers: minimum subjects and conversion of school leaving examination results to Leaving Certificate equivalent points (not all exams recognised (Cyprus) and some only to 500 points) • IB and EU Bacc also recognised • Mature students: preparation and experience • No specific quota for non Irish EU

7. Criteria for selection, decisions and offers How are results converted? UK NARIC NUI Guideline EU Entry Requirements

8. Criteria for selection, decisions and offers Difficulties: • Graduate Medicine – 2H1 equivalent? • What is Honours and what is pass level? • Difference between French Bacc and French Bacc with Option International? • Keeping up-to-date with country changes

9. University College Cork EU Postgraduate Students Michelle Nelson Graduate Studies Office

10. EU Postgraduate Degree Students • Who applies as an EU Postgraduate Student? • Students interested in taught programmes • Students interested in research programmes – MPhil, MSc, PhD These students are UCC graduates, graduates from other Irish universities and from universities outside Ireland • Students apply on-line to www.pac.ie and submit copies of transcripts with certified translations

11. Criteria for selection, decisions and offers • Minimum Entry Requirements by level of award and by programme • Programme Co-ordinator reviews applications, offers applicants according to quotas and ranks eligible applicants on waitlist • The role of the Graduate Studies Office is to provide advice to co-ordinators to ensure all applicants are treated fairly • All offers subject to verification of documentation and English language

12. Non-Irish Qualifications • 5,345 postgraduate applications for 2008/09 • 669 of these applications had Non-Irish qualifications • Top 6 countries were Poland, Italy, Germany, Spain, The Netherlands and Nigeria

13. Assessing Non-Irish Qualifications Advice provided from Graduate Studies to each programme co-ordinator in the following areas: • International Comparison in relation to the type of award (eg Licenciado in Spain is comparable to an Honours Bachelor Degree) • Confirmation that the Institution attended is on the UK NARIC recognised list (eg Universidad de Murcia) • The Grading System used in the country (eg the 10 point system used in Spain and how this is comparable to the Irish system)

14. Challenges in Assessing Non-Irish Qualifications • Grade descriptors (example of Italy 66 – 110 with average mark at 104) • Students from countries we don’t have experience of • Assessing Transcripts where the final grade is not clearly stated • UK NARIC vs NQAI database (eg Bachelors Degree in Nigeria is comparable to an ordinary degree on UK NARIC vs Honours degree on NQAI database)

15. Non-EU Students Marita Foster International Education Office University College Cork

16. Non- EU Degree Students • Who applies as an Non-EU Undergraduate Student - Students living outside the EU - Students living within the EU but who do not qualify for EU status • Who applies as an Non-EU Postgraduate Student - Students living outside the EU - Students living within the EU but who do not qualify for EU status • How do they apply - First Year non-EU admissions – at the undergraduate level students apply directly to the International Education Office; at postgraduate level the same system applies. Moving to PAC for 2009-2010 for Non-EU taught Masters programmes

17. Non- EU Degree Students • Approximately 1000 non-EU undergraduate and postgraduate applications are received each year • Main countries: Canada, China, India, Malaysia, Nigeria, United States

18. Criteria for selection, decisions and offers • Non-EU Undergraduate: Secondary school qualification which is considered equivalent to the Irish Leaving Certificate; Decision taken by International Education Office in consultation with faculties/colleges to agreed quotas • Non-EU Postgraduate: Undergraduate degree and grades which meet the entry requirements; Decisions taken by programme coordinators in consultation with International Education Office to agreed quotas • Decisions in relation to PhDs: at department and faculty level and noted by Graduate Studies Committee

19. Non- EU Degree Students • How are qualifications evaluated? • UK NARIC • NOOSR • Consultation with other Irish universities

20. Non- EU Degree Students • Difficulties • Fraudulent documentation i.e. transcripts, degree parchments, English language certificates • Incomplete applications - What constitutes an honours degree in non-EU countries • Academic standing of universities - Keeping up-to-date with changes in education systems

21. University College Cork Questions?