university degrees

[JENNY WREN]

my niece tells me she got a 2+ or she may have said 2 pass is it quite a low degree i think it is is there such a pass?

[lisaj]

The classes of degree (in this country anyway) are :
A First (70%+)
An Upper Second, or 2:1 (60-70%)
A Lower Second, or 2:2 (50-60%)
A Third (40-50%)
And, if the University's pass mark is less than 40%, A Pass (Pass%-40%).

These percentages are guides too, and change in different establishments. From what you've said, I reckon she means a 2:1

[lisaj]

Oh, and with regards to being "quite a low degree", it really depends on the establishment. A First from Loughbrough "University" is not held as high as a 2:2 from Oxford or Cambridge I would have thought.

[nigidivitch]

Successful candidates in Honours degrees are placed in different classes: Class I (a 'first'); Class II, Division 1 (an 'upper second'); Class II, Division 2 (a 'lower second'); Class III (a 'third'). An indication of the range of classes is shown below: Class Range of Marks First 70-100% Upper second 60-69% Lower second 50-59% Third 40-49% Pass 35-39% Fail Below 35% Hope this helps!

[hal]

I'll bet she got a 2.1. Its an excellent degree. (Yes its what I got so I'm biased

[brawburd]

Is it not also true that much depends on type of subject studied, i.e. you are less likely to get a first class in non-scientific subjects (e.g. sociology) as you are with subjects which are less subjective (e.g. physics)?

[lisaj]

Einstein, of course not: given 5 years of commercial experience alongside a degree, it might be regarded differently... But solely on the basis of a degree, I'm well aware how much more work I had to do at a top Uni and how much higher a standard it needed to be than for my counterparts at ex-polys. I would hope an employer would recognise that also.

[nykkieberry]

surely assessment is standardised across the county? All final exam papers are the same and coursework is moderated therefore a 2:1 is a 2:1 from any establishment? it's just the reputation of the institution that affects the perception of the all-round academic experience of the individual rather than the grade? correct me if i am wrong?

[Andromeda]

Nykkieberry - absolutely not. Why bother going to a University if everybody is doing the same course??? I mean that an Engineering degree from, say Birmingham, generally has a lot more practical input (e.g. more time out on site) than a degree from say, Imperial (which is very theoretical). Very difficult to standardise there. If you then were to standardise the courses so everyone who did Chem Eng (say) did exactly the same course, the course would be so broad that it would be bog all use to anyone. I'm all for diversification and the like, I'm afraid.