₦airaland Forum

Iboyx:
Hi guys,
So I'll keep this as short as possible hoping to get your advice.

So I landed a software engineer role in one of the most popular fintechs in Africa, a remote role and it pays about 200k for a start.

I also have a fully funded scholarship to the UK(biological sciences) with stipends of about 900£ monthly but you must come back to Ng if at the end of the programme you do not already have a job.

I know that all things being equal in the software job in a couple of years say 3 years I should be able to triple that amount, I know guys that have done similar.

The risk of going to the UK is being stranded at the end of the programme. Worst part is the msc is not in the I.T industry. I know guys that have picked up second msc degrees cause of no job and they don't want to come back

I'm very passionate about the IT industry, I literally thought my self

What do you guys advice.ooking forward to your input. Thank you

OP, I’ll advice as a software engineer currently based in the UK.

Take the scholarship in the UK. 900£ will sustain you as a student per month if you spend within your limit.

During your Masters, keep working on projects and pick up Data Structures and algorithms(Use Leetcode)

You’ve brought yourself this far and can keep pushing.

6 months before the end of your studies, start applying to software engineering companies that offer sponsorship. Do your research and have a list of companies handy.
Target companies like Bloomberg, GoCardless, JPMorgan etc. Network with Nigerians working at these companies on LinkedIn.
And keep interviewing.

If you do all these, you’ll most likely have a job before the end of your graduation.

I love your resilience!

CoolAura:
My CIMA Story

I started reading about express entry last year after I met someone who had gotten his COPR and was leaving the next month. I had only a BSc. and he explained that I would need an additional certificate. He recommended NACETEM, but I started researching on my own and realised there were other options. CIMA and BCS seemed the shortest options at that time and I won’t have to worry about the Nigerian school system affecting it. I researched about both and promptly opted for CIMA(though the cost was going to be more) because that computer thing eh......naaaa.

While researching, I stumbled on this thread, thank you @Perra for starting it, it helped me know I wasn’t alone on this journey....and you had a science degree like me. @dexterousOne and @subalinga really gingered me with their progress reports.

With a BSc. in Medical Sciences(no accounting background), I knew it would involve a lot of work and reading but I said, shebi na book, we go read am(I never expected B2 wahala). I started scanning through the materials on Ashranti as recommended by people on the thread (easy to understand) but the notes were quite bulky!!! This was November 2019, with the plan to take at least 2 papers before 2020...but work and life didn’t give me time to read.

I officially started reading (Ashranti) in January 2020, registered on the site and paid for B1. Took and passed B1 in the last week of January. On to B2.....I wanted to take them in order even though I had read that B2 was the toughest!

That B2 eh.....I saw shege, B2 had its own special timeline o. Registered a little over 2 weeks later(Feb) and sat for the exam. Failed !!...91!! I encouraged myself to retake but the pain was much, time which wasn’t so available and money had been wasted. Paid for it again 2 weeks after, .....and failed again!... Though this time I scored better, 97! But still not up to 100(pass mark). At this point I decided to take a break and reconsider my decision, I knew I had understood the material better the 2nd time I wrote the exam(I’m sure i had read that Ashranti material front to back like 7 times!) than the 1st time I wrote it. I also wished I had someone to at least explain a few things to me, because that B2 was like German.

While on a break from the exam, Covid 19 happened, I had more time and CIMA announced that online exams will start in May, so I started studying. So in May, I registered for B2 again, took the exam at home and guess what? I FAILED AGAIN!! 90 something. At this point, I couldn’t believe it anymore, I had studied for that exam more than needed and yet! If the scores were really low, I guess I may have felt better but 3 times I was short of between 3 to 9 marks! So I decided I was done ...no more waste of time and money. I stayed on that decision for some days till I couldn’t find the answer for my future self when I wonder why I gave up. I changed my mind and decided to write one last time. I remembered that in the last exam I didn’t know some answers because I had never seen them in the notes, and my science background cannot know accounting! Someone on the thread has said Kaplan materials were good, someone even posted a link to download sometime ago...I downloaded them. Oh boy!, I thought Ashranti materials were bulky....that Kaplan was a trailer load. I started reading Kaplan and I saw the answers to the questions I didn’t know in the previous exam. I read for about 2 weeks (day and night) and registered again. The last time I had booked my online exam for 10pm, this time I did 8am, I wanted everything fresh in my head...lol. This time God showed up for me...the dance no be small....107! Finally!!!!

B3 and B4 were the easiest for me and had the highest scores too (B3 especially). B3 in June and B4 in July. I had earlier evaluated my BSc. so I paid WES for another credential and sent CIMA an email to send transcripts and letter of good standing to WES. They responded 2 days later and sent to WES some days after. Evaluation was ready as one year college diploma 3/4 days after CIMA sent to them (I didn’t have to send certificate to WES, I believe the letter of good standing was what WES used)

This thread has been really helpful, thank you to everyone that answered questions or shared their progress, materials, how to fill WES form and all. God bless you.

I hope this encourages everyone especially those with no accounting background...It’s possible if you decide to get it done, and truth is, it may be way easier for you than it was for me!

May the rest of our journey be easy and smooth. And may the odds be in our favour.

yr2020:
Hello house,
Please who else has been in this kind of situation. I was sent the below now after they already said my evaluation report will Be completed by April 1st, 2020.

Academic Transcript | Incomplete

Reason: The document received only contains a partial record of your study program. Subjects taken and grades earned for part of the study were not included. We are missing information on study completed during the 4th year of your program

Instructions: Please ask your institution to send WES a complete document that lists all subjects taken and grades earned for each year of the program according to the requirements for your country of education. This document should be sent in a sealed envelope that is stamped or signed on the back flap by the appropriate official.

Yes I was in your situation before.

For me, my 100level record was not sent to WES.

My school had to resend the transcript again.

Thankfully, I had someone who was there physically to process the transcripts for me.

That would help. Either show up in person or get someone who can physically stand in for you.

It makes the process faster.

lordfredrick:
Good morning people, please I would love to know the easiest way to make payments for the cima exams... For those who have written, how did you make payments.

Login to cimaglobal.com as a student.

Click on my exams

It will show you the list of papers you can write and redirect you to a pearsonvue page where you pick your centre and make payment.

I paid with GTB card.

iamhistreasure:
Can someone without accounting background take the CIMA exams?

Yes

lezi:
what does it mean to be flying

It means you are on the upper bunk

Rachie97:
Alumni hall, block 1, Room 106, bed 6.... upper bunk


How is the block...?

Alumni hall is very neat and nice. You'll like it

horladeemayjee:
don't think there is a word worthy enough to qualify skye bank's inefficiency.. Went to four different branches.. Each time, I was told to check another branch.. After enduring so much frustration, I went ahead to print new payment slips(diamond bank).. I walked into one of their branches sited at Akowonjo.. I was told to fill the bank teller..I paid in... The funny aspect was that the cashier that attended to me was clueless about wah to do next after she received the cash.. I had to orientate her... After much admonition and workshops, she was okay.. In summary sha.. I got the payment slips stamped.. She issued me a receipt and dt was all. Any stalite with an idea of how long this confirmation process is gonna keep us
waiting??

Payment can be confirmed within few hours or could take up to a week, depending on how fast and efficient the bank is. Last year, FirstBank was one of the fastest. Keep calm and pray you'll be confirmed on time.

mikeczay:
is it available to buy on campus or we go bring am from haus?

You can buy a mattress in Ife. All you need to do is take a 40-naira bus from campus to Lagere. There you'll get a mattress of your choice. You could even get carpets/rug if you need them too.

mikeczay:
is it available to buy on campus or we go bring am from haus?

You can buy a mattress in Ife. All you need to do is take a 40-naira bus to Lagere. There you'll get a mattress of your choice. You could even get carpets/rug if you need them too.

Dammytrager:
Are you sure about that?

Esp. those related to the department

#TeamComputerScience/Engineering. If you have any question, you are free to ask me. I'll be ready to answer...Welcome to Great Ife