Are DBS (Dublin Business School) degrees worth nothing?

mannequin93

Like a psychology degree?

unknown13

I would rather go to IADT to do Psychology than DBS

Jammyc

Maybe I'm missing something but, why wouldnt they be?

BrokenHeels_Ox

correct me if im wrong, but i think its because of the points difference between DBS and university

Jammyc

I assumed thats because it's fee paying?

unknown13

DBS is fee paying and the degree you get is under HETAC aswell not UCD, DCU or TCD.

straight_As

Our guidance counsellor said they're psychology and law degrees were very well respected but the fees are very expensive.

If it gets to where you want to go it can't be worth nothing.

randylonghorn

It might be nice if mannequin explained why s/he made the thread / asked the question.

Jammyc

IMO a degree is worth what you put into it.

theowen

Jammyc wrote: »

IMO a degree is worth what you put into it.

That doesn't serve to change people's opinions of it though? Actually, I've no clue of 3.5 degrees and whatnot so...

randylonghorn

Jammyc wrote: »

IMO a degree is worth what you put into it.

Very true in one way, not so true viewed from a different perspective, as owen points out.

theowen wrote: »

That doesn't serve to change people's opinions of it though? Actually, I've no clue of 3.5 degrees and whatnot so...

Em, what are 3.5 degrees?

theowen

randylonghorn wrote: »

Very true in one way, not so true viewed from a different perspective, as owen points out.

Em, what are 3.5 degrees?

2.1 Perhaps:o.Ye, I just remember you need a 2.1 degree to apply for graduate entry into medicine/something like that. How does the scoring go?

Jammyc

theowen wrote: »

2.1 Perhaps:o.Ye, I just remember you need a 2.1 degree to apply for graduate entry into medicine/something like that. How does the scoring go?

The grades go from I, a first down through 2.1, 2.2, 3 and so on.

krankykitty

mannequin93 wrote: »

Like a psychology degree?

Well, if you want to actually work as a psychologist, you're going to have to have an undergrad degree that is recognised by institutes as the PSI (Psychological Society of Ireland) and the BPS (British Psychological Society)

DBS's one is definitely recognised by PSI and also I think (but not sure) the BPS so you can take whatever value you like from that one.

Linkage: http://www.psihq.ie/training_careerGuide.asp

With any degree, or course you go to do - think about what you want to do afterwards, and ensure that that particular degree is recognised by the professional bodies of the industry you wish to work in.

randylonghorn

theowen wrote: »

2.1 Perhaps:o.Ye, I just remember you need a 2.1 degree to apply for graduate entry into medicine/something like that. How does the scoring go?

Oh ...!!

First Class Hons i.e. 1H

Second Class Hons (Upper) i.e 2H1 or 2.1

Second Class Hons (Lower) i.e. 2H2 or 2.2

Third Class Hons i.e. 3H

Then you're down to Pass ...

korpy

krankykitty wrote: »

Well, if you want to actually work as a psychologist, you're going to have to have an undergrad degree that is recognised by institutes as the PSI (Psychological Society of Ireland) and the BPS (British Psychological Society)

DBS's one is definitely recognised by PSI and also I think (but not sure) the BPS so you can take whatever value you like from that one.

Linkage: http://www.psihq.ie/training_careerGuide.asp

With any degree, or course you go to do - think about what you want to do afterwards, and ensure that that particular degree is recognised by the professional bodies of the industry you wish to work in.

Sorry to jump in to this post but I would like to ask opinions about my concern.

So here is my story, my son is doing his leaving cert this summer and he wants to do psychology. He applied to Trinity and DCU ( DCU will start a psychology course in Sept). Last week he was mentioning as a back up plan about Dublin Business School. I know that I have to pay fees but he really wants to do psychology.

I noticed that the DBS degree is reconised by PSI , but my question is what is the difference between a degree at DBS or DCU and how will affect his career in the future if he wants to work as a psychologist?

XxMCRxBabyxX

korpy wrote: »

I noticed that the DBS degree is reconised by PSI , but my question is what is the difference between a degree at DBS or DCU and how will affect his career in the future if he wants to work as a psychologist?

The only issue really is that fee paying schools tend to be looked down on as opposed to the Universities but I can't say specifically what the case is for a psychology degree!

Has your son looked at NUIM or Psychology thorough Arts in NUIM or UCD (I think they do it too!) as other options as well?

Oasis44

I went to DBS and found the standard of the course to be excellent

However there is definitely a snobbery thing about private colleges that employers dont like i.e. they think you just 'paid' for your qualification instead of actually working for it which is of course total BS.

I found my employment opps limited after DBS but when I went on to do a masters at DIT things changed and i started getting places

My advice? Try and get into a university - if you dont get the points first time round - re-sit the leaving and make sure you get them next time

Fad

A point was made to me recently, that while the students that get into these colleges mightnt be great (The type that tend to do law in Griffith etc are general students who couldnt get in anywhere else) the colleges themselves (In terms of lecturers) are excellent.

Because the colleges are fee paying, they must be uber-competitive, so as a result, they have excellent lecturers.

I would still try and go to a university/IT/whatever over one of those colleges for a variety of reasons (Being a student isnt just about academics....)

stainluss

Fad wrote: »

A point was made to me recently, that while the students that get into these colleges mightnt be great (The type that tend to do law in Griffith etc are general students who couldnt get in anywhere else) the colleges themselves (In terms of lecturers) are excellent.

Because the colleges are fee paying, they must be uber-competitive, so as a result, they have excellent lecturers.

I would still try and go to a university/IT/whatever over one of those colleges for a variety of reasons (Being a student isnt just about academics....)

So basically, you get a better education, probably dont deserve it as much as the people who worked to get the points, and employers will think you got a **** education. Oh well!

unknown13

XxMCRxBabyxX wrote: »

Has your son looked at NUIM or Psychology thorough Arts in NUIM or UCD (I think they do it too!) as other options as well?

You cannot major in psychology through Arts in UCD, you can only minor in it and there is very little places if you want to minor in it.

NUIM have entry requirements for second psychology through Arts but they offer psychology through science aswell.

IADT offer a psychology degree which is recognised by the Irish body and is in around 325 points.

XxMCRxBabyxX

unknown13 wrote: »

NUIM have entry requirements for second psychology through Arts but they offer psychology through science aswell.

Yea, you need to be in the top 30 in the class to proceed into 2nd year psychology which is then a full psych degree as you can also do straight in NUIM.

They still don't hurt as back up ideas though!

Fad

stainluss wrote: »

So basically, you get a better education, probably dont deserve it as much as the people who worked to get the points, and employers will think you got a **** education. Oh well!

Not nessecarily, private college having excellent lecturers does not mean they are better lecturers. They can sometimes be better, sometimes they mightnt.

It varies I assume.

I am not in a private college, so I dont speak from experience.

Muse007

Hi, hope this thread is still active.

I'd like to know if anyone has experience in applying for a master in an other EU country with a DBS BA(Hons) Level 8 Degree - accredited by LJMU (Liverpool John Moores University).
I finished with my part-time business studies at DBS. On my transcript of result sheet I have a total number of 90 CP (Credit Points).

I am planning to do a MA in Germany and found out that a minimum of 180 ECTS-credits is required. It seems that CP and ECTS credits are the same.

So that brings me back to the original question... Are DBS degrees worth nothing? Of course DBS told me that I have a full Hons degree and that I can apply anywhere. So what's with this low number of 90 CPs?
Thx!

randylonghorn

Muse007 wrote: »

Hi, hope this thread is still active.

I'd like to know if anyone has experience in applying for a master in an other EU country with a DBS BA(Hons) Level 8 Degree - accredited by LJMU (Liverpool John Moores University).
I finished with my part-time business studies at DBS. On my transcript of result sheet I have a total number of 90 CP (Credit Points).

I am planning to do a MA in Germany and found out that a minimum of 180 ECTS-credits is required. It seems that CP and ECTS credits are the same.

So that brings me back to the original question... Are DBS degrees worth nothing? Of course DBS told me that I have a full Hons degree and that I can apply anywhere. So what's with this low number of 90 CPs?
Thx!

Hi Muse,

you wouldn't have qualified for an honours Level 8 degree with 90 ECTS credits, there's no way DBS would be getting away with that.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and take a guess ... as it's a part-time degree, I'm guessing it may have been completed in stages i.e. perhaps a diploma stage worth 90 credits and a second stage for degree also worth 90 credits? That might explain why only 90 credits are showing on your transcript of results for the actual degree?

Muse007

Well, there was no diploma stage.
The structure is as follows:
6 Subjects with 5 CPs (Year 1)
5 Subjects with 6 CPs (Year 2)
5 Subjects with 6 CPs (Year 3)

The whole part-time BA programe is designed for 4 Years (2 Evenings per week) I was working full time during these years.
So maybe job experience counts as well - but it is really an additional 90CP? It doesn't say anywhere on the official documents.
There are too many maybe's and but's around this topic...frustrating :mad:

randylonghorn

Muse007 wrote: »

Well, there was no diploma stage.
The structure is as follows:
6 Subjects with 5 CPs (Year 1)
5 Subjects with 6 CPs (Year 2)
5 Subjects with 6 CPs (Year 3)

The whole part-time BA programe is designed for 4 Years (2 Evenings per week) I was working full time during these years.
So maybe job experience counts as well - but it is really an additional 90CP? It doesn't say anywhere on the official documents.
There are too many maybe's and but's around this topic...frustrating :mad:

Job experience wouldn't count, unless there was assessment related to it ... it's the *learning* garnered from the experience which counts, not the experience itself.

I think you need to contact DBS directly. Something is odd if, as you say, 1 CP = 1 ECTS.

Muse007

Hi,
I hope someone can help.
Just received the info from a private university that I have not enough CPs with my BA (hons) in business that I made with DBS. 180 CPs are required, I still have 90 CPs.
They are not able to count in any work experiences or previous education I obtained.

So my dilemma is, that I basically have to jump into the 4th term and spend another 1 1/2 years to get my real bachelor degree which then gives me the opportunity to do a master.

That is again time and money that I have literally wasted with DBS.

Does anybody know specific EU related websites that state specifically how many CP (or ECTS) points are required to have a proper bachelor degree?

Where do I get professional legal help in Ireland for this matter?

Thank you !

randylonghorn

Have you contacted DBS directly about this as previously advised?

What did they say?

Chuchoter

I would get onto DBS and see what they have to say very quickly, it may just be a misunderstanding but I would hope they haven't misrepresented the course to you.

In terms of the private degrees in general, the only thing my teacher said to watch out for is that they don't come from University of Dublin, they can come from University of Middle of Nowhere in England and sometimes employers can question what kind of qualification you have.

Gordon Gecko

Employer is faced with two candidates for a job: Mr. A has 2.1H Degree X from Trinity, Mr. B has 1H degree X from DBS. Mr. A gets the job 100% of the time. You can debate whether or not that's fair etc. but it's reality so deal with it.

psycho-hope

im a student in dbs at the mo studying psychology. The psychology degrees are accredited by the Irish psychology society and as a result by the british one they have an agreement between each other.As other people have said you get back what you put into your course, Two of my friends graduated last year and have both found jobs that will give them the work experience that they need for there masters, it seems that employers are starting to realise just because you have paid to attend college it dosent mean your degree is worth as much as one form the likes of TCD/UCD etc, the only problem might be european companies who would only have heard of the main universities here

randylonghorn

Gordon Gecko wrote: »

Employer is faced with two candidates for a job: Mr. A has 2.1H Degree X from Trinity, Mr. B has 1H degree X from DBS. Mr. A gets the job 100% of the time. You can debate whether or not that's fair etc. but it's reality so deal with it.

You can also debate whether it's reality.

For example, I sat on an interview panel fairly recently which chose an Irish Institute of Technology graduate over graduates from Trinity, UCD, St. Andrew's and a host of other universities, despite what would probably be the perception of 'reality' out there.

Yes, some colleges might be seen to have a slight edge over others, depending on the discipline, and some colleges have a certain snob factor associated with them, but there are a large number of factors which influence employers' decisions, and tbh "which college" is usually pretty far down the line these days. The candidate, their relevant experience, and the impression they leave with the interviewers on issues like commitment, interest, competence, flexibility, communication skills, etc. etc. certainly count for a hell of a lot more in 99% of cases.

randylonghorn wrote: »

Have you contacted DBS directly about this as previously advised?

What did they say?

I'm still hoping for an answer from Muse007 re: this ... *something* about this isn't adding up correctly.

Muse007

Hi,
that's what they said..

"I can confirm that your award from Dublin Business School attracts 180 ECTS credits at level 8 in the Irish Framework of Qualifications. The reason that it shows as 90 credits in your Diploma Supplement is that the award is from a UK university that uses the UK system of credits.

The following link shows the comparison between the UK and Ireland.

http://www.qualificationsrecognition.ie/recognition/int_qual_databse/uk/documents/CrossBoundaries.pdf"


I have contacted the uni in Liverpool, they said I have to talk to DBS (which is pretty lame, since it is a LJMU accreditation)


Then I contacted the NARIC in UK:
"UK NARIC is the National Agency responsible for providing information and advice about vocational, academic and professional skills and qualifications from all over the world. We provide information about the equivalency of qualifications and skills from overseas to the UK's national qualifications frameworks.

Unfortunately we are unable to assist with your query below."

They advised to contact the Country NARIC I want to my master in.

Well basically I already know the answer.


I need a comparison of Irish/UK and the rest of the EU.
Anyway... 90 CP (or ECTS) is 90 CP on the transcript of the result ! You can say whatever you want, as long there are no 180 CP in total the degree is not valid... or you guys have other information?


So back to where I was.


Any suggestions?


@Gordon
I am not looking for a job, but you might be right that the reputation is not the best in Ireland. However in other markets work experience counts more and often (if it is not in a scientific degree such as in medicine, chemistry or law) a degree with a good result just shows that you are smart enough to start and finish a degree and adapt theory into a realistic context.

randylonghorn

Aaaaahhhh ... I think I'm beginning to suspect what has gone wrong!

DBS *have* I suspect made an error in your documentation ... but by the looks of it your degree is valid, it's simply that someone in there has the ECTS / CATS (UK credit system) conversion backwards.

Muse, long boring post to follow when I get a chance!

(p.s. I now suspect that the 90 credits figure is applicable ONLY to your final year results!)

Muse007

Well we'll see about that :P

Tbh I don't think it's that simple... but I will let you know what kind of document I will end up with :-)

Funny enough the NQAI (National Qualifications Authority of Ireland) told me that I only have 45 ECTS thus 2 credit points are equal to 1 ECTS.

Isn't that great how competent every one is in their subject matter?!

---> RE p.s. NO ! Honestly I can count all my CPs together and trust me, it's 90 !

rainbowtrout

crayolastereo wrote: »

I would get onto DBS and see what they have to say very quickly, it may just be a misunderstanding but I would hope they haven't misrepresented the course to you.

In terms of the private degrees in general, the only thing my teacher said to watch out for is that they don't come from University of Dublin, they can come from University of Middle of Nowhere in England and sometimes employers can question what kind of qualification you have.

I get the point your teacher was trying to make, 'don't get a degree from a makey-up college'....but.... The University of Dublin is the proper name of Trinity College.....

Look at the banner

http://psychology.tcd.ie/

randylonghorn

Muse007 wrote: »

Hi,
that's what they said..

"I can confirm that your award from Dublin Business School attracts 180 ECTS credits at level 8 in the Irish Framework of Qualifications.

This is the bit you need to know for your own peace of mind. If they're making this statement, they must be prepared to stand over it.

The problem is with the documentation somewhere.

Muse007 wrote: »

(quoting DBS)The reason that it shows as 90 credits in your Diploma Supplement is that the award is from a UK university that uses the UK system of credits.

This does not make sense.

The UK uses CATS credits ... to convert from CATS to ECTS divide by 2 (as the NQAI are doing).

So a UK degree is 360 CATS credits, equivalent to 180 ECTS credits here (and in much of Europe).

A full degree can not be 90 credits in either system.

If they are "confirming that your award from DBS attracts 180 ECTS credits at level 8 in the Irish Framework of Qualifications" then something is wrong in the documentation somewhere.

Either the 90 credits represents the final year result of a 4 year part-time degree (which you seem to be saying is not the case) ...

... or it represents a top-up of 90 (CATS) credits to reach degree level, perhaps on the basis of entering the course at advanced standing due to either transfer of credits from a previous (lower-level) award or / and Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning

... or LJMU have a system of their own of "Credit Points" which is different again from CATS

... or DBS are just lying through their teeth to you, and to be honest I really doubt that, because you could take them to the cleaners, and they're not that stupid!!


NARIC are irrelevant to your core issue ... though I'm surprised LJMU weren't more helpful, tbh.

Chuchoter

rainbowtrout wrote: »

I get the point your teacher was trying to make, 'don't get a degree from a makey-up college'....but.... The University of Dublin is the proper name of Trinity College.....

Look at the banner

http://psychology.tcd.ie/

I thought it was like, all the universities are from University of Dublin, then UCD and TCD are colleges...or something? I could be completely wrong now but thats what I got from what she was saying, but she's been known to be wrong.

Edit: Nevermind, wikipedia says you're right :P

rainbowtrout

crayolastereo wrote: »

I thought it was like, all the universities are from University of Dublin, then UCD and TCD are colleges...or something? I could be completely wrong now but thats what I got from what she was saying, but she's been known to be wrong.

Edit: Nevermind, wikipedia says you're right :P

University of Dublin only has one college, Trinity College.
University of Limerick and Dublin City University are also stand alone universities.

National University of Ireland has four colleges, Cork, Galway, Maynooth and Dublin.

Hence the old names UCC, UCG, UCD, Maynooth College. The name was changed from University College...... about 15 years ago and NUIG and NUIM changed their names accordingly, but UCC and UCD retained their old names.

Edit: God bless Wikipedia, where would we be without it?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_University_of_Ireland

randylonghorn

Randy says she's right too!!!! :P

Joking aside, the University of Dublin is TCD for all practical purposes ... it's a slightly strange paradox which has its roots in history. Theoretically, the University of Dublin could one day have other colleges, just as the University of Oxford (on which its modeled) has a number of colleges, but practically it will probably never happen now.

UCD, UCC, UCG / NUIG and NUIM were / are part of the National University of Ireland (hence the NUI in some of the names), but this is more a loose federal arrangement since 1997 than anything else.

theowen

TCD loves refering to itself as The University...

Also, LOVES referring to itself as College. Not even the college, or TCD college. Just College. Narcissistic much?

rainbowtrout

randylonghorn wrote: »

Randy says she's right too!!!! :P

Joking aside, the University of Dublin is TCD for all practical purposes ... it's a slightly strange paradox which has its roots in history. Theoretically, the University of Dublin could one day have other colleges, just as the University of Oxford (on which its modeled) has a number of colleges, but practically it will probably never happen now.

UCD, UCC, UCG / NUIG and NUIM were / are part of the National University of Ireland (hence the NUI in some of the names), but this is more a loose federal arrangement since 1997 than anything else.

I'm glad to see that bloody 'History of Education' module I had to study 13 years ago has finally had some use!!!

Edit: I referred to NUIG as UCG last week in class when one of my students asked about a course there - he interrupted me to ask me what UCG was! Felt very old having to explain the name change!

theowen wrote: »

TCD loves refering to itself as The University...

Also, LOVES referring to itself as College. Not even the college, or TCD college. Just College. Narcissistic much?

That 'The' just screams out to be put in italics :pac:

Michelle_H

hi Muse 007 did you get your credits sorted in the end? I was thinking of doing the same course in DBS & came across your posts here. How many modules is there per year? Would you reccomend the school?

randylonghorn

Michelle_H wrote: »

hi Muse 007 did you get your credits sorted in the end? I was thinking of doing the same course in DBS & came across your posts here. How many modules is there per year? Would you reccomend the school?

Hi Michelle,

I don't think Muse has been on Boards in a long time, but I can confirm that she did get her credits sorted ... as I suspected, it was a combination of confusion between CATS / ECTS credits, getting all the information on the one document, and general lack of clarity.

I can't speak to your other questions though; I'm totally unfamiliar with DBS courses.

Muse007

Michelle_H wrote: »

hi Muse 007 did you get your credits sorted in the end? I was thinking of doing the same course in DBS & came across your posts here. How many modules is there per year? Would you reccomend the school?

Hi Michelle,

I was running after the correction of my CP/ECTS more than 3 months.
Studying part-time for a bachelor entitles you for 180 CP/ECTS. So make sure that you get the correct amount, better talk to the registrar office.
My problem was solved thanks to 'randylonghorn', he helped me with a convincing note.
Apart from that the organisation of DBS is sometimes a bit confusing. However the lectures were most of the time very interesting and I enjoyed it, most of the lecturer worked in the private or public sector so it was not all grey theory.
DBS will tell you to complete 4 courses in a year because of the workload you are facing. Depending on how good you are on your time management I'd stick to that if I were you. The first courses are mandatory and focus on theory retrieval. If you go further the demand of theory application into real life scenario will increase. Business & Psychology was quite a new course and the modules business and psy were taught separately except organizational behaviour. I know though that DBS has changed some of the courses so both areas interlink better with each other
I'd recommend the Bachelor especially if you have an affinity for both areas. I have just started my Master in Busi.Psy now.
For more information check their website or visit one of their 'open door' nights. You will get most of your questions answered there.
Good Luck !

learnado99

hi muse,first of all congratulations on starting your masters.i am new here and am very intrigued with the honors degree in psychology but my problem is i don't know what doors it will open in the future. does it depend on results in final exam? also i could possibly pay myself which is about 5200 but if i was to apply for a student grant how much would they give? thanks in advance i am limited with information about this subject

Muse007

Hi Learnado, sorry for the late reply. I didn't receive the follow thread notification...
If you mean Business Psy your specialization could be Industrial+Organizational Psy, or advertising and marketing psy. That all depends on the college or university. IO Psy will open the door to all HR and Union related jobs as well as Training and Coaching ...just check for example "jobs.ie" and choose HR or Marketing - there are different job directions to choose from. Can't tell you anything about for a student grant, I was working full-time and financed it that way.
I'd say the final result is not that important... relevant is that you get work experience asap.

Here is a good overview for I/O
http://books.google.de/books?id=TgE7zklRjHgC&printsec=frontcover&dq=organizational+psychology&hl=de&sa=X&ei=F78YT63MH8PAtAavpbypDA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=organizational%20psychology&f=false

BOHtox

A level 6/7/8 degree is recognised all over Europe. It's only education snobs who belittle them. So yeah they are worth getting if there is a course there that you really like. However, there are the same courses in non-fee paying colleges. I'd say take these ones instead purely because they're cheaper