johnsonpal:
Hey guys, my last post was 2months ago. it's now 4 months of being here in the UK. And I have made it a point of duty to unlearn, learn, relearn, adapt as fast as possible. of course, I'm still a JJC

Disclaimer: This post is strictly my opinion, thought, and experience so far, which of course will be different from others.

This might be a little long so I apologize in advance

so let get to it.

In my last post I talked about finance, let me buttress my point a little more. I was able to work full time during the Christmas holiday which is different from the 20hrs/weekly you can work during school term. I had a 3 weeks Christmas break and I worked 9hrs daily for 14 days. I Would have worked daily for the entire week but unfortunately, I couldn't get more shifts.

Pay was 11/hr
11 * 9hrs = 99
99 * 14 = 1367 (Not that bad yeah?)

So working full time during holidays you can average say 2,000(if you can get and pull crazy hours)

If your school has a flexible payment plan, that stretches in between holidays, then maybe you can save up to pay 50% of your tuition. I still think there is no way you can pay 100% of the school fees even with unlimited holiday hours.
Don't forget you have other bills (rent, transport, feeding, etc ).

It's no news that the UK is practically dashing out visas to EVERYONE, ok, maybe not everyone let's say 90% of the people applying for the tier 4 student visa, and remember it's not just Nigeria, Indian, Vietnam, all over! so don't for one moment think that the UK government being benevolent with its student visa is 'grace', it's simply business for them.
After Brexit, the government is trying to bring money into their country, and they have succeeded greatly with the international students' tuition fees amounting to billions of pounds being pumped into the economy. The 2 years post-graduate is just an incentive to achieve this.

Now understand that the requirement to stay on in the UK after your 2 years post-graduate for most of us lies solely on landing a job, not just any type of job, a job that will be willing and ready to apply for you to stay.

Let's talk facts.

The competition for Jobs is going to be very fierce and this is even saying it lightly. We also need to consider Covid.
To understand how many people are coming into the UK for "study" right now, check these BBC links.

Student Accommodation Scarcity in the UK

https://www.google.com/search?q=uk+student+accomodation+scarcity&rlz=1C1JZAP_enGB983GB983&oq=uk+student+accomodation+scarcity+&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i64.7052j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8



There is massive accommodation scarcity in almost all Universities cities. So what is plan B, C?? how do we stand a better chance of landing these Jobs?

1 . Research, Research: There is a job shortage list that is regularly updated, Go to jobs websites(indeed, totaljobs, Linkedin), look at what is trending for the past year, look at the skills employers are looking for and somehow align your course with it.

Don't just study anything all because you want to leave Nigeria, What are the prospect of your course in landing a job in a fiercely competitive job market?

btw, for people studying MSc law, what is exactly the plan? I genuinely mean no offense, I'm just really curious


2. Develop yourself, even studying a relevant course is not assurance. Get practical skills. The major things employers look for here are Skills and experience. Apply for that internship, build that portfolio, Volunteer. Just Do everything possible to gain that experience.

3. Please don't be mediocre, if it only excels you know thoroughly, it's better than knowing bits of everything. btw, I think everyone should learn Excel, Coursera and Udemy are offering free courses.

4. Network as much as possible, join Linkedin. attend conferences, seminars if you can, register for school job fare Register on meetup.com, there are free events around your city, attend. Don't be too busy working your temp jobs and forget to plan for what is coming.

======================

Now, Plan B, C, so after doing all these say no job is forthcoming a year after your study. *God forbid* We all know that going back to Nigeria is almost not on the table for a lot of people.


- IF you are single, then, Good for you, Find real love, legally o!!

- Startup/investor Visa, I don't know much about this, but it is worth looking into.

- Continue with your Canada Pr process, your Msc should increase your score at least. (Most of dumped this when it was taking forever)

- Look into other countries, Australia, New Zealand



Lastly, Please try to do everything in your power not to break the term of your visa, like not attending lecturers, Examination misconduct/ plagiarism( I still don't understand why some people are paying people in Nigeria to do their assignments and projects for them. How can you be paying this much tuition fee and you wouldn't want to at least learn something. The lecturers here are always ready and available to help. I understand some of us are stressed from work, and not interested in school, but abeg try to edit those assignments you get from them" Machinery".
Plagiarism/Examination Misconduct is a big deal here o.


Again, Don't work more than 20hrs during school sessions. These guys will be looking at everything with microscopic eyes when it's time because of the population.

I know I'm not experienced enough to be dishing out advice, so let's just say this is me thinking out loud and in no way am I discouraging anyone from coming.

Your Dear brother reporting live from the frontline .

meeday07:


When was your biometric ?

Dramaqueen12345:
Hi everyone. I don’t know if this has been addressed or mentioned here but i will like to get in touch with anyone who has completed their masters already and has successfully converted their student visa to graduate visa? Please reply here or send me a mail. Thank you.

DavidTheGeek:
What is the best way to send money to a UK bank account for payment of school fees?

olutop:

The use of FORM A

sweetoma:
This one ppl who did biometrics on 17th are still waiting for collection mail. What hope do those who did biometrics in January have. We 31st Jan course start dates. @justwise is it possible to get visa and not be allowed entry because of missed course start date? What would you advise a person in this situation to do ?

ck123:
Please generally, is transcript evaluation required for admission in Uk?

MrsDanex:
What’s going on, No visa alert!!!! Or the joy has not allowed them to type. Please let’s know where we are
#29th December 2021

DavidTheGeek:


Thanks. What bank is advisable?

mimilyrics:
Depends. Can take anything from 1 to 8 weeks or more.

mimilyrics:
Ask away, I might be able to help.
I know someone who applied in December and got it.

I also know of someone else who applied for it but withdrew her application before biometrics because she got her skilled worker visa COS from one of the jobs she applied to.

mimilyrics:
No one can tell you how long it will take. Just keep your fingers crossed and wait.

MrsDanex:
What’s going on, No visa alert!!!! Or the joy has not allowed them to type. Please let’s know where we are
#29th December 2021

Star19:


Same o. Abuja
Which tls did you do your biometrics?
Did mine in Abuja on the 29th, the wait is tiring

loptee:
10th December

meeday07:



I really don't think you should send mail, you can call them either.

Is it that decision hasn't been made or what ?

kennykale:


Has anyone received collection mail?

Nalai:


Please do you have their number Biometrics on the 16th ���

em7even:


I have. I'm waiting for DHL delivery.

em7even:


I have. I'm waiting for DHL delivery.

pete3000:


Congratulations

MrsDanex:
When did you do your biometrics?

ibk5891:
What is the time they close at ikeja TLS?

Collection mail just entered now!