The increasing mobility of the European workforce in recent years can be noticed through an increase in the number of individuals applying to UK NARIC from Western Europe. In 2008, the region accounted for 8.5% of applications; in 2011, the figure had risen to 13.5%. The total number of applications from the region exceeded 5,000, similar to the total from India or Pakistan.
The number of assessments we have undertaken for applicants from these countries (plus the overall ranking) over the past four years highlights some interesting points:
Country | 2008 assmts |
2008 rank |
2009 assmts |
2009 rank |
2010 assmts |
2010 rank |
2011 assmts |
2011 rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Austria | 38 | 79th | 49 | 71st | 54 | 73rd | 40 | 77th |
Belgium | 66 | 56th | 87 | 50th | 81 | 52nd | 89 | 52nd |
Denmark | 59 | 59th | 69 | 60th | 59 | 67th | 59 | 63rd |
Finland | 46 | 70th | 47 | 72nd | 30 | 91st | 23 | 100th |
France | 850 | 11th | 941 | 10th | 944 | 10th | 831 | 11th |
Germany | 664 | 15th | 705 | 13th | 617 | 17th | 475 | 19th |
Greece | 89 | 49th | 118 | 46th | 148 | 42nd | 146 | 41st |
Iceland | – | – | – | – | 3 | 152nd | 4 | 146th |
Ireland | 297 | 26th | 356 | 25th | 525 | 21st | 442 | 22nd |
Italy | 436 | 21st | 539 | 17th | 593 | 18th | 647 | 14th |
Luxembourg | – | – | – | – | 2 | 162nd | 2 | 158th |
Malta | – | – | 20 | 103rd | 12 | 115th | 9 | 123rd |
Netherlands | 160 | 39th | 154 | 39th | 161 | 41st | 173 | 37th |
Norway | 46 | 70th | 46 | 75th | 57 | 70th | 27 | 94th |
Portugal | 237 | 32nd | 210 | 36th | 192 | 35th | 225 | 35th |
Spain | 474 | 19th | 541 | 16th | 683 | 16th | 766 | 12th |
Sweden | 118 | 43rd | 141 | 41st | 183 | 36th | 91 | 51st |
Switzerland | 67 | 55th | 80 | 53rd | 64 | 64th | 76 | 57th |
UK | – | – | 430 | 21st | 701 | 16th | 925 | 10th |
Total | 3,647 | 4,533 | 5,110 | 5,050 |
Note:
In 2009, UK NARIC began providing a comparable academic level for some UK professional qualifications, in response to the number of these awards being sent through.
Economic migration
It has been reported that the financial troubles besetting certain European economies have led increasing numbers of highly qualified individuals to seek employment outside of their own countries. These figures appear to confirm this trend. Taking a closer look at the number of individuals applying for assessments from those countries that have been hardest hit by the economic downturn better highlights the increases:
Country | 2008 | 2011 | % change | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Greece | 89 | 146 | + 64% | |
Ireland | 297 | 442 | + 48% | |
Italy | 436 | 647 | + 48% | |
Portugal | 237 | 225 | – 5% | |
Spain | 474 | 766 | + 61% | |
W. Europe Total | 3,647 | 5,050 | + 38% |
Only Portugal shows a decline while Greece, Ireland, Italy and Spain show significant increases. By contrast, applications from other major European countries such as France, Germany and Netherlands have remained steady or declined slightly.
Qualification level of migrants
Spain, Italy and Ireland are significant source countries, all of them within the top 25 in the County League table. They have all seen a significant rise in the number of applications they generate. A breakdown of the level of qualifications submitted from these countries during 2011 is shown below:
Spain (766) | Italy (647) | Ireland (442) | Global | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Qualification Level |
Examples | % | Examples | % | Examples | % | % |
Below Level 3 on the UK Qualifications Framework (QCF) | Título de Graduada en Educación Secundaria, Bachillerato Unificado y Polivalente (BUP) | 20% | Diploma di Maestro d`Arte, Attestato di Qualifica Professionale – Special- izzazione Estetista | 11% | Leaving Certificate, Junior Certificate | 27% | 23% |
A level and Sub-Degree Equivalents (QCF Levels 3, 4 and 5) | Maestra, Especialidad de Educación Musical, Técnica Superior en Información y Comercial- ización Turística | 35% | Diploma di Esame di Stato, Diploma di Infermiere Professionale (Nursing) | 35% | National Diploma in Design in Interior Architecture, Higher Certificate in Engineering | 33% | 25% |
British Bachelor level | Título de Licenciado / Título de Ingeniero / Título de Arquitecto | 23% | Laurea, Laurea in Ingegneria | 35% | Bachelor of Science, Higher Diploma in Arts | 29% | 34% |
Postgraduate | Máster en Físcia Aplicada, Máster Universitario en Profesor/a de Educación Secundaria | 2% | Diploma di Special- izzazione per L`Insegna- mento Secondario, Diploma di Specialista in Medicina Interna: Medicina d`Urgenza |
17% | Master of Science, Certificate of Membership / Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland | 5% | 10% |
No comparison available | 20% | 2% | 7% | 8% |
The distribution of enquiries for the three countries highlights that:
- Italians coming to the UK are more likely to be postgraduates than the global average
- Irish applicants are more likely to apply with school or vocational qualifications, and
- It is not possible to provide a comparison for 20% of Spanish cases because applications were not completed or because qualifications were not recognised by the education authorities in Spain (such as the Técnico Superior en Prevención de Riesgos Laborales).
Tim Buttress, August 2012
Hi,
I’m considering to be recognized as Biomedical Scientist. Giving a look at general guidelines to present an application form st the IBMS in UK, I’ve seen that it is necessary to get the BSC degree taken in Italy, compared to a Uk one, by you, and also a proof of evidence of the medium of instruction to confirm that the qualification was taught or researched in English(an MOI letter).
Now, The Italian degree that I have is taught in Italian, not in English, so I can’t ask for a comparability for non-UK qualification, at all?
Thank you for your attention.
Best Regards
Sarah
Hi Sarah,
Thank you for your comment.
As your qualification has not been taught solely in English it would not meet the requirements of our English Language Assessment service. However, we can provide a Statement of Comparability that will provide an academic comparison of your qualification a level in the UK framework. Further information can be found on our website below:
http://ecctis.co.uk/naric/individuals/
I hope this helps.
UK NARIC
Israel
Hello there,
i’m from Israel . and i have a diploma in Architecture Engineer.
i would like to know if can i work in uk whit this diploma ?
Hi Aya,
Thank you for your comment.
To have UK NARIC look into the comparison of your award to the Frameworks of the UK I would recommend that you look into our Statement of Comparability service: https://www.naric.org.uk/naric/Individuals/Compare%20Qualifications/Statement%20of%20Comparability.aspx
We would need for you to submit the documents of the award such as the Final Certificate and Transcript to allow us to begin the service.
I hope this helps.
UK NARIC