What classification is my degree?
Discussion
Hi Folks
A friend of mine obtained his degree about 20 years ago. However, he ended up doing various no graduate level jobs.
He now wants to go back into education and wants to find out the degree classification which he gained in the early 1990s.
On the certificate, it says 'Awarded the Bachelor Of Science degree having followed an approved Honours programme'.
He is confused as to which class he achieved or whether he just passed an ordinary degree, without the honours.
Can someone kindly advice?
Where else an he go to clarify this?
Thanks in advance
A friend of mine obtained his degree about 20 years ago. However, he ended up doing various no graduate level jobs.
He now wants to go back into education and wants to find out the degree classification which he gained in the early 1990s.
On the certificate, it says 'Awarded the Bachelor Of Science degree having followed an approved Honours programme'.
He is confused as to which class he achieved or whether he just passed an ordinary degree, without the honours.
Can someone kindly advice?
Where else an he go to clarify this?
Thanks in advance
blue_haddock said:
I know my degree from the late 90's mentions my 2:ii - aka a desmond!
Likewise! Desmond in Politics, '99, DMU. Though I think it was only apparent from a letter that came with or prior to my certificate. I'd have to go into the loft and dig out my old Record of Achievement file - remember those?!
geek84 said:
Hi Folks
A friend of mine obtained his degree about 20 years ago. However, he ended up doing various no graduate level jobs.
He now wants to go back into education and wants to find out the degree classification which he gained in the early 1990s.
On the certificate, it says 'Awarded the Bachelor Of Science degree having followed an approved Honours programme'.
He is confused as to which class he achieved or whether he just passed an ordinary degree, without the honours.
Can someone kindly advice?
Where else an he go to clarify this?
Thanks in advance
Now let's be clear, was it you or your friend who got the degree? A friend of mine obtained his degree about 20 years ago. However, he ended up doing various no graduate level jobs.
He now wants to go back into education and wants to find out the degree classification which he gained in the early 1990s.
On the certificate, it says 'Awarded the Bachelor Of Science degree having followed an approved Honours programme'.
He is confused as to which class he achieved or whether he just passed an ordinary degree, without the honours.
Can someone kindly advice?
Where else an he go to clarify this?
Thanks in advance
Its an "ordinary" Batchelor of Science degree without honours. Basically he barely scraped a pass.
Higher grades were/are considered passing with honours - the honours are then classified as 3rd, Lower 2nd (2.ii/2.2), Upper 2nd (2.i/2.1) or 1st.
If it does not state the honours grade (even a 3rd will state the grade) then it is not an honours degree.
Basically what the certificate is saying is that he did a course which was eligible for honours classification (most of them are) but didn't get a high enough grade to get the "honours"
That's the difference between saying B.Sc. or B.Sc(Hon).
IIRC from my uni days, it was something like:
1st >= 70%
2.1 60% - 69.9%
2.2 50% - 59.9%
3rd 40% - 49.9%
Ordinary 35% - 39.9%
Fail < 35%
There were some special courses that did not have honours but were just a pass/fail but it does not sound like one of these from the description of the certificate.
Higher grades were/are considered passing with honours - the honours are then classified as 3rd, Lower 2nd (2.ii/2.2), Upper 2nd (2.i/2.1) or 1st.
If it does not state the honours grade (even a 3rd will state the grade) then it is not an honours degree.
Basically what the certificate is saying is that he did a course which was eligible for honours classification (most of them are) but didn't get a high enough grade to get the "honours"
That's the difference between saying B.Sc. or B.Sc(Hon).
IIRC from my uni days, it was something like:
1st >= 70%
2.1 60% - 69.9%
2.2 50% - 59.9%
3rd 40% - 49.9%
Ordinary 35% - 39.9%
Fail < 35%
There were some special courses that did not have honours but were just a pass/fail but it does not sound like one of these from the description of the certificate.
Edited by TriumphStag3.0V8 on Thursday 28th March 13:44
Edited by TriumphStag3.0V8 on Thursday 28th March 13:45
Sounds to me like your friend only obtained a pass degree. As mentioned, scrapping the barrel somewhat.
Depending on what your friend wants to study, his previous qualifications from that long ago will only be as good as the paper they're written on, and may need to do some form of top up or relevant prerequisite studies prior to the desired qualification.
Easy steps here are firstly contact the institution that awarded his degree to clarify exactly what his award was, then contact the admissions department(or relevant admin people) at the new learning provider about required qualifications for the desired course.
Depending on what your friend wants to study, his previous qualifications from that long ago will only be as good as the paper they're written on, and may need to do some form of top up or relevant prerequisite studies prior to the desired qualification.
Easy steps here are firstly contact the institution that awarded his degree to clarify exactly what his award was, then contact the admissions department(or relevant admin people) at the new learning provider about required qualifications for the desired course.
Depends on the institution. My degree certificate just says 'admitted to the degree of bachelor of arts', with no mention of either honours or degree class - and yes, it was definitely an honours course, and yes I definitely graduated with honours. It's just that the University declines to actually award degrees with classes.
What does your friend want to do next? A post grad certificate, post grad diploma, a masters or something else?
It would be unusal, but I acknowledge not impossible, for any next step in academia to be interested in the classification of his first degree. A copy of the certificate is usually sufficient.
Where it may be, any academic and professional qualifications or industrial experience he may have are normally taken into account, and in some cases form an integral part of the entrance requirement.
The course prospectus will give clear instructions.
It would be unusal, but I acknowledge not impossible, for any next step in academia to be interested in the classification of his first degree. A copy of the certificate is usually sufficient.
Where it may be, any academic and professional qualifications or industrial experience he may have are normally taken into account, and in some cases form an integral part of the entrance requirement.
The course prospectus will give clear instructions.
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