Please tell me how it worked out for you. Did you stay or did you go.

i cant help but notice that most of the experiences are from people who got done with school over in the UK. im about to graduate in the US and move on to masters. so i guess the problem of jobs while it is a serious problem, the US job market didnt get hit as hard as the UK. Going back to Naija yes is something i definitely want to do but after my masters im probably staying a year or 5

I have a few questions for you guys studying abroad:

1. Do you just go abroad to study any degree based on what you can afford?
2. Do you look at the economy of the country you want to go, the kind of jobs in demand in that country, the type of wages they pay, the immigration policies of that country, before you go there?

My reason for this is as follows: Education is an investment. You should consider all the stuff I wrote in (2) if you want to go and study in any country. It's not enough nowadays to just study 'abroad'. You have to consider what happens after. Your certificate alone isn't going to open doors automatically.

AjanleKoko:

I have a few questions for you guys studying abroad:

1. Do you just go abroad to study any degree based on what you can afford?
2. Do you look at the economy of the country you want to go, the kind of jobs in demand in that country, the type of wages they pay, the immigration policies of that country, before you go there?

My reason for this is as follows: Education is an investment. You should consider all the stuff I wrote in (2) if you want to go and study in any country. It's not enough nowadays to just study 'abroad'. You have to consider what happens after. Your certificate alone isn't going to open doors automatically.

straight from secondary school, i had no reason to look at the economy. just left with a dream like everybody else who went to a university. a foreign degree if utilized could do wonders for the nigerian markets. if you are referring to post graduate studies, then i would hope they do at least a little research

Egele713:

straight from secondary school, i had no reason to look at the economy. just left with a dream like everybody else who went to a university. a foreign degree if utilized could do wonders for the nigerian markets. if you are referring to post graduate studies, then i would hope they do at least a little research

Okay, fair enough.
The thing is, a foreign degree is no different than a Nigerian degree. What makes the degree is the person. I'm not too sure what you mean by 'doing wonders for the nigerian markets'. You might have studied something that has little or no practical application in Nigeria, for example solid state physics or nuclear physics. There are no reactors or semiconductor makers here.

My post was actually referring to people going abroad for postgraduate studies. My opinion is, for your study to be worth the effort, you should practise in that environment, or somewhere similar, for a few years before coming home. No point going abroad, studying something that can't help you to recoup some of your investment before coming back. For example, spending $250k on a Harvard MBA. You should recoup a bit of that in the US market before coming back. It'll be more difficult to do that in Nigeria.

Majority of people don’t do sufficient research before embarking on a post grad degree. Many simply assume that a ‘foreign degree’ will give you some form of guarantee of a job - either in the country or in Nigeria.

This is not true anymore in most cases - there is so much competition, both in Nigeria and abroad that a degree, alone, is no guarantee of anything.

@ AJ

The sheer number of Nigerians going abroad for post graduate studies is, in itself, a major impediment to getting the said experience before returning. I’ll give an example - there are so many Nigerians studying courses with ‘petroleum’ and ‘oil and gas’ titles in the UK that half to three quarters of the intake for many of these courses is Nigerian.

Now if you consider those kinds of numbers, why would a UK based company recruit say 10 Nigerians out of a total of 20 positions? The Nigerians would have to be immensely outstanding for this to happen, and the UK/other foreign students significantly underperforming. This is obviously not the case (though the most exceptional ones will likely get offers) so the ‘majority’ cannot obtain this foreign experience that is so desirable.

Secondly, due to intense competition for places at the best schools and financial constraints, people often ‘settle’ for a school that is affordable and will offer a place. The near desperation of people to leave Nigeria in many cases means places most wouldn’t normally consider as educational destinations become attractive due to lower costs or ease of entry compared to the ‘top’ destinations like the US, UK, Canada and the likes.

In my opinion, it all depends on your aim. If you went to get a post grad degree to get yourself a job with Exxon in Nigeria, then you have no need to spend time abroad recouping the investment - you will likely do that quicker in Nigeria.

As always, every move in life involves an element of risk. There are no guarantees.

debosky:

Majority of people don’t do sufficient research before embarking on a post grad degree. Many simply assume that a ‘foreign degree’ will give you some form of guarantee of a job - either in the country or in Nigeria.

This is not true anymore in most cases - there is so much competition, both in Nigeria and abroad that a degree, alone, is no guarantee of anything.

@ AJ

The sheer number of Nigerians going abroad for post graduate studies is, in itself, a major impediment to getting the said experience before returning. I’ll give an example - there are so many Nigerians studying courses with ‘petroleum’ and ‘oil and gas’ titles in the UK that half to three quarters of the intake for many of these courses is Nigerian.

Now if you consider those kinds of numbers, why would a UK based company recruit say 10 Nigerians out of a total of 20 positions? The Nigerians would have to be immensely outstanding for this to happen, and the UK/other foreign students significantly underperforming. This is obviously not the case (though the most exceptional ones will likely get offers) so the ‘majority’ cannot obtain this foreign experience that is so desirable.

Secondly, due to intense competition for places at the best schools and financial constraints, people often ‘settle’ for a school that is affordable and will offer a place. The near desperation of people to leave Nigeria in many cases means places most wouldn’t normally consider as educational destinations become attractive due to lower costs or ease of entry compared to the ‘top’ destinations like the US, UK, Canada and the likes.

In my opinion, it all depends on your aim. If you went to get a post grad degree to get yourself a job with Exxon in Nigeria, then you have no need to spend time abroad recouping the investment - you will likely do that quicker in Nigeria.

As always, every move in life involves an element of risk. There are no guarantees.

You have it right on all points. One troubling thing though. You don't even need a masters to get a job with Exxon in Nigeria. Just take the trouble to get a good degree from Nigeria. You'll still get in.

Also, I lean towards the 'experience before coming back' school of thought for the following reason: What is the point of going abroad to spend millions of naira for a degree, only to come back to compete with Nigerians at home for the same jobs? You still have to take and pass the same aptitude tests, and perform at the interviews, to get the same jobs.

Though they say that Nigerian graduates are poor, but remember you will be competing - at an Exxon - with the guys who graduated at the top of their class from Unilag, OAU, and all those schools. Those guys are anything but poor, and will probably outperform you at the tests or interviews, cos they have more than enough experience mastering the various test formats, while you were busy getting your masters. They might even have actual industry experience working for servicing companies locally - problem number two. lastly, the jobs that you will compete for won't necessarily require a postgraduate degree - remember the job is in Nigeria, and will likely be some sort of near-entry-level position.

Unless in cases where 'repats' are specifically requested, as Total did some years back, you'll find quickly that, after your millions spent abroad, you are fully back to Square One. My final submission is, getting a masters abroad should not just be seen as some kind of quick win, or time spent getting a pali that you can use to negotiate some job somewhere, but your overall career goals should be taken into account. Nigerians should stop looking for quick wins or leverage, but focus more on building a career.

AjanleKoko:


The thing is, a foreign degree is no different than a Nigerian degree. What makes the degree is the person. I'm not too sure what you mean by 'doing wonders for the nigerian markets'.

You took that straight out of my mouth.   

AjanleKoko:

I have a few questions for you guys studying abroad:

1. Do you just go abroad to study any degree based on what you can afford?
2. Do you look at the economy of the country you want to go, the kind of jobs in demand in that country, the type of wages they pay, the immigration policies of that country, before you go there?

My reason for this is as follows: Education is an investment. You should consider all the stuff I wrote in (2) if you want to go and study in any country. It's not enough nowadays to just study 'abroad'. You have to consider what happens after. Your certificate alone isn't going to open doors automatically.

Awayan M.Sc degrees are most times over-rated. Post graduate degrees (be it local or awayan) isn't meant for everybody/career.

The value of an M.Sc lies in what you learnt from getting it, how you use it is up to you. whether it pays off by giving you that added advantage over the local folks or pays off in salary is not always clear. I think what is key before anybody jumps on the foreign M.Sc ship is to ask pertinent questions of the industry/company you intend working in, whether they value it and why.

It's very important to ask the ultimate customer of education'' what education they value and how this allign with your business plan i.e. your career.

P.S. Employers that knows their business are interested in what you've got up there and how you can use this to positively impact their bottomline, and not a fancy ''piece of paper'' worth 15K pounds.

AjanleKoko:

You have it right on all points. One troubling thing though. You don't even need a masters to get a job with Exxon in Nigeria. Just take the trouble to get a good degree from Nigeria. You'll still get in.

That's if you got it right the first time. . . .a couple of people I know were 'forced' to do Masters because they didn't make 2:1 degrees, just to get that entry level shot at the multinationals. Besides, even with your 'good degree' you're competing against thousands, hence people feel a need to differentiate themselves somewhat. . . whether it works or not is open to debate.

Also, I lean towards the 'experience before coming back' school of thought for the following reason: What is the point of going abroad to spend millions of naira for a degree, only to come back to compete with Nigerians at home for the same jobs? You still have to take and pass the same aptitude tests, and perform at the interviews, to get the same jobs.

I agree about the competition bit, but only if you have to pass through the same recruitment processes. As in the case above, if you wouldn't even be considered prior to your masters, it opens up an opportunity you didn't even have without the masters.

Agreed - the reality however, is that there often aren't sufficient jobs in these countries to provide the experience for the majority of Nigerians who go to study abroad - there are just too many candidates. The recession and its effect on jobs and the tightening immigration requirements make things even more difficult.

Though they say that Nigerian graduates are poor, but remember you will be competing - at an Exxon - with the guys who graduated at the top of their class from Unilag, OAU, and all those schools. Those guys are anything but poor, and will probably outperform you at the tests or interviews, cos they have more than enough experience mastering the various test formats, while you were busy getting your masters. They might even have actual industry experience working for servicing companies locally - problem number two. lastly, the jobs that you will compete for won't necessarily require a postgraduate degree - remember the job is in Nigeria, and will likely be some sort of near-entry-level position.

The funny thing is, this is the same situation abroad in most cases - so often times with your 'masters' you are competing with undergraduates who are US/UK trained. These undergrads often have internship experience and other connections with the companies while you are an 'unknown' with 'only' a masters degree as your selling point.

In fact, in some countries, you are disadvantaged by having a Masters in competing for many (but not all) of such jobs - something Nigerians are often unaware of before embarking on their studies in the first place.

The advantage comes in when the recruiter holds test sessions abroad to recruit either through career fairs or targeted campaigns which do happen from time to time. Again, the sheer number of people abroad as well means only the most outstanding (e.g petroleum engineering from London Southbank vs petroleum engineering Imperial College) are likely to get the slots.

ok, when i say it could do wonders for the Nigerian market, im referring to the people with majors like economics, international business etc. not everybody studied engineering. those majors learnt in a foreign country make you look at Nigeria from a foreign perspective, all that is wrong and all that is beautifully right. policys that worked in other countries and why they didn't, couldn't or should work over there. there are way too many engineers trying to get jobs, work in oil while the problem is the economy. the way i feel, fix that and Nigeria is on the fast track because we really do have everything else. also business majors aren't as expensive as engineering majors. so in the long run will be worth every kobo/penny etc

well, people who study here finds it more difficult because of the other factors which are not acedemic

AjanleKoko:

I have a few questions for you guys studying abroad:

1. Do you just go abroad to study any degree based on what you can afford?
2. Do you look at the economy of the country you want to go, the kind of jobs in demand in that country, the type of wages they pay, the immigration policies of that country, before you go there?

My reason for this is as follows: Education is an investment. You should consider all the stuff I wrote in (2) if you want to go and study in any country. It's not enough nowadays to just study 'abroad'. You have to consider what happens after. Your certificate alone isn't going to open doors automatically.

I believe this si a valid analysis for anyone going abroad to get any graduate degree. If you intedn to stay, the immigration policies of teh country is very critical.

Fromwhat I know today of both the states, Canada and Uk. Its generally better to study in Canada, there are more choices post studying and the immigration policies are better than the other 2 countries. This is a country where you can get P.R after working as a nanny for 2 years.
That being said, getting admission into a Canadian university is tougher than US or Uk. There are fewer universities here and the best especially in Ontario and Alberta are fiercely competitive and they don't care for your money either. It becomes tougher if you are applying for a top course, engineering, medicine, Pharmacy law etc. I mean I am a resident and my husband was rejected for a Msc in Electronics at a 3rd tier university with his Second class upper. They were looking for 1st Class.

AjanleKoko:

Okay, fair enough.
[b]The thing is, a foreign degree is no different than a Nigerian degree. What makes the degree is the person. I'm not too sure what you mean by 'doing wonders for the nigerian markets'. You might have studied something that has little or no practical application in Nigeria, for example solid state physics or nuclear physics. There are no reactors or semiconductor makers here.[/b]My post was actually referring to people going abroad for postgraduate studies. My opinion is, for your study to be worth the effort, you should practise in that environment, or somewhere similar, for a few years before coming home. No point going abroad, studying something that can't help you to recoup some of your investment before coming back. For example, spending $250k on a Harvard MBA. You should recoup a bit of that in the US market before coming back. It'll be more difficult to do that in Nigeria.

Ajanlekoko, I would say it difefrently. It depends. I think the main thing is the purpoe of getteing the degree. Theer some situations where the foreign degree is superior than Nigerian degree. It alld epends on the context.

I do agree though that most of us do not really think thorugh about the foreign degree thing. Even MBA sometime is overrated. I mean MBA at a top rated school is mainly for the connectiosn and networking that may open you up to better career opportunities, but if you are not leaggly able to work in that country then its a moot point and you could bever get the value of it by working in Nigeria except you get a very senior position which is almost impossible if you dont have connections or comparable prior experience.

The funny thing is that here, MSc is considered academic, except in some fields like econonmics, and specific areas in engineering where you need a graduate degree to be even considered suitable. But MSc typically doesnt guarantee you a better job or better pay.

But like someone said earlier, different strokes for different folks. Its always getting the first job, if you can break that barrier it becomes easier to get something else.

^^
@yodi,
There was a reason why I said that.
My company in Nigeria has tons and tons of foreign MBA grads: in fact Wharton, Columbia, and Kellog, etc., MBA grads. They look and speak right, but seem to not be making any headway work-wise. Generally they fall into two categories: The ones who feel their MBAs say it all, and they don't need to learn anything on the job, and the others that don't seem to have any clue at all.

In fact the only returnees that seem to know anything are the ones who trained locally and have industry experience before leaving the country. The rest are mostly rich kids who squeezed their way in via influence. They are usually characterized by their very casual attitude to the job, which belies their top-rated education. But they always want to be taken serious, surprisingly.

My company also has exceptional Nigerian-trained people, who have the right attitude and approach to the job, and are very effective, far more effective than the returnees, or 'repats', as we like to call them in my sector. These are the OAU 1st class and Msc Finance with Distinction grads, 1st prize in ICAN, etc. These guys in fact seem to rise far higher than the returnees, and are always valued much more. They never have any problem of discrimination when they're looking for any job in Nigeria.

Don't get me wrong, I don't advocate local over foreign; in fact I am planning to get a globally-rated MBA myself. But don't blame me when I say the degree doesn't make the person. People seem to think a certificate on its own can open doors. To me, it doesn't seem to look that way, when at the end of the day it is still up to you to defend that pali.

Hi guys,

I think its better to come back to Nigeria after MSc because life abroad is not as rosy as people think. When you come back to Nigeria, you will have an advantage over so many others in terms of your CV , so finding a job will be easier. But if u stay abroad, recruiters would rather consider their nationals and many others who have similar CVs , before considering you.

Also, in UK for instance, tax is about 40%, so you must really have a wonderful job to be living life. Dont forget the fact that the 'average' car abroad is a big car in Nigeria.

Its better to enjoy in your homeland.

I think its better to come back to Nigeria after MSc because life abroad is not as rosy as people think. When you come back to Nigeria, you will have an advantage over so many others in terms of your CV , so finding a job will be easier. But if u stay abroad, recruiters would rather consider their nationals and many others who have similar CVs , before considering you.
.

This is not universally true, and must be properly qualified. In the UK for instance (particularly in financial services), you find that competition for talent is fierce - irrespective of race or creed. Capable people who are good communicators will likely get in and ahead.

It's important that this is projected in the context of Value-Add!. Have a  keen awareness / appreciation of the underlying value proposition wherever you are. How much of the knowledge can you internalize and deploy?. Are you able to successfully leverage concepts and models, day in, day out. How much can you influence the bottom line? How entrepreneural is your mindset?. These are the most desirable qualities that 21st century challenges demand. A certificate, wherever it may come from and wherever you find yourself, can only get you so far!

adegoke11:

Hi guys,

I think its better to come back to Nigeria after MSc because life abroad is not as rosy as people think. When you come back to Nigeria, you will have an advantage over so many others in terms of your CV , so finding a job will be easier. But if u stay abroad, recruiters would rather consider their nationals and many others who have similar CVs , before considering you.

Also, in UK for instance, tax is about 40%, so you must really have a wonderful job to be living life. Dont forget the fact that the 'average' car abroad is a big car in Nigeria.

Its better to enjoy in your homeland.

But how much jobs is there really?

40%, Really?

Dis Guy:


But how much jobs is there really?

40%, Really?

Theer are jobs, you need to look in teh right places and nothing beats networking. This may be difficult if you dont have the right to work though.

As per tax, thats not accurate. Anyone with an effective tax rate of 40% is in the 5% to earners either in the Uk, canda or US. Period.

Tax rate is progressive, most people pay must less than that because they earn average pay.

Now if you talk about sales tax or VAt, that's an additional burden but it's consumer tax. You only pay when you consume an eligible service.

yodiyokun:

Theer are jobs, you need to look in teh right places and nothing beats networking. This may be difficult if you dont have the right to work though.

I was talking about jobs in Nigeria.  .  .apart from commissioned based marketing, the economy is growing though but not absorbing that much

I think its better to come back to Nigeria after MSc because life abroad is not as rosy as people think. When you come back to Nigeria, you will have an advantage over so many others in terms of your CV , so finding a job will be easier. But if u stay abroad, recruiters would rather consider their nationals and many others who have similar CVs , before considering you.

adegoke11:

Hi guys,

I think its better to come back to Nigeria after MSc because life abroad is not as rosy as people think. When you come back to Nigeria, you will have an advantage over so many others in terms of your CV , so finding a job will be easier. But if u stay abroad, recruiters would rather consider their nationals and many others who have similar CVs , before considering you.

Also, in UK for instance, tax is about 40%, so you must really have a wonderful job to be living life. Dont forget the fact that the 'average' car abroad is a big car in Nigeria.

Its better to enjoy in your homeland.

Sounds like the sort of thing you would hear at a beer parlour in Isale Eko.

I think the answer to this question should be somewhat available to an individual even before he makes application for admission into a foreign school.

This answer can become progressively elaborated as circumstances unfold. Hence, it will always have a bearing to the initial goal even if it needs to be modified.

Hun! I am more than grateful to everyone who has contributed to this topic. At thesame time, am really confused and scared as I am just about making my move for the uk, I got through with my NYSC Program feb,2010 and ever since getting a job has been had and I have resolved to take a PMP certification, done with the training and studying for the exam, my PMP training experience and study has however developed my interest in the management field and I av concluded on elevating this by taking an MSc in Management from a UK institutin, I already have an admission offer from the University of Northampton. Recently I have resolved for an. MBA(general/international), as I think this will speed up my career interest in d management field and as such I av requested a change of course to an MBA. Am set to pay my tuition and make a move by sept to the uk for the program, while am also of the believe that I will get a good job there during my study as part time and equally stay back after my study there for a while before coming back to naija, Pls am yet to move out of naija for this and with all these stories and experiences shared, am scared already, people pls am I on a right track and what are ur opinions?
Thank you.

hi guys this discussion is very interesting. i took the decision to move back to nija from the uk even with a very good job with one of the formost telecoms coys in the uk.within a week on my relocation, i av been able to secure an interview with one of the nija telecoms coy.i av done 3 interviews already with d telecoms coy and am just awaiting the next step.so i believe nija is not that bad people, make u na show o, there aint no point in some1 with a msc or mba still doing some menial jobs in jay-d town, come back home o.

I came abroad for masters to upgrade my qualifications, I am almost rounding up without being able to secure a job. What's on my mind is NAIJA! no going

back on this decision except GOD makes me to do so.


I believe GOD will work it out for me down in Naija. That is my earnest and sincere prayer

m

m

It is all the same, it will all come back to luck. Whether you stay Abroad or come back to Naija, results will always be similar. No jobs, unemployment and so on. But if i was told to choose one, i would come back to naija where employers will place more value on my degree

,I remember diz thread,it's bin agez man!

Any update guys??

I am also thinking of returning to Nigeria even though I have a good job here in the UK.

The problem is I am nott sure I am going about it the right way.

Any valuable tips would be appreciated

I'm happy I landed in this thread, iv gained a lot. I'm on the verge of goin for my masters in US. I did computer science here in naija. Any personal advice for me?I'l aprec8.

I returned to Nigeria. I stayed for a little over 3 years, and It was not a pleasant experience....went for another masters degree in Canada, done with that and now working with a multinational Investment mgt company. Awaiting my Canadian permanent residency.

Nigeria fails her youths daily.