Options after failing 3rd year Physics at Glasgow University

[LongtimeLurker123]

My son has just received an email saying that he has not met the requirements to proceed to Level 4 of the BSc Hons Physics programme at Glasgow. He has been told that he can take some resits in August and graduate with a 'designated' degree. He has his heart set on an honours degree. Does anyone here have any experience of this situation and can you offer advice? My son is also trying to contact his Adviser of Studies but they seem to be on holiday for a few weeks.

Does anyone know if Glasgow might possibly admit him back into Level 4 if he does well in his resits? Or might it be possible for him to transfer to another university (ideally, Strathclyde or Heriot-Watt, because we are in Scotland) and complete his 4th year there? Do any universities offer 'top-up' degrees in Physics to upgrade a designated degree to honours? Are there any other options?

Many thanks in advance for any advice or stories.

Thank you for sharing your experience, DeedlessIndeed. And I share your view about the postgrad job market, and I do agree that my son may eventually need to let go of his current goal and take a broader view as you suggest. But right now (and it is early days) he wants to explore his options for getting an honours degree, and I want to support him in that quest. Your post is very helpful.

Good to hear that it doesn't have to be the end of the world, Baaliali! I know that myself, of course, but it is good to have some backup as I try to reassure him. Hopefully he will have a similar story to look back at someday.

I believe that the main reason my son has been struggling is that the course at Glasgow is very difficult. I think that he might do better at a different university,

I am sure you are right OP and I feel so sorry for your son. This is where I think Mumsnet often gives duff advice - namely, to aim for the most prestigious university you can get to (even via clearing). All degrees are NOT equal.

A friend did this twenty odd years ago and now is on I’d reckon €250k ish in a top tech company so that worked out just fine.

In the UK education has changed a lot over the last 20+ yrs. VERY few people graduate with an ordinary degree now and lots of graduates are now having to do a masters to get into their chosen field

did he have to do resits i. order to get on to year 2? and year 3?

That is true, the landscape is very different but STEM has lots of roles at ordinary degree level. I’m an academic in STEM albeit in Ireland not the UK. Construction as one example has multiple lab based technical jobs that would be thrilled to take someone on an ordinary degree and you can prove yourself and work up and as I said with RPL you can get a masters level degree after a period of time.

you did read that that example was from decades ago OP?

Sorry as far as I’m aware, even if he passes the resits, they won’t admit him into the honours 4th year.
It happened with my friend when he finished our third year in Glasgow. The uni said that they provided him with support if he was to need it and he didn’t accept.
He passed his resit and graduated with a basic degree in our area. No other unis accepted him into 4th year as they either didn’t have space or he didn’t meet the grade requirements.

Just to say it would be usual to indicate a contact email if you are out of the office on a research trip or away for a length of time, particularly if you won't be contactable by email.

you are a science lecturer op

surely you can see that your son is not up to this and should do the alternative

You're assuming he's failing because it's Glasgow rather than accepting that it is probably mostly him.

Having been there I'd assume it's partly the uni. They are very large and hands off.

Being 'hands off' doesn't mean a University is failing a student. It's not ruddy secondary school.

Of course but in some cases it ruddy does.

I loved it there as I was happy being anonymous and getting by, but my brother has a poor experience from his department just not bothering with their students and his project supervisor just disappearing off on field work.

Physics is hard everywhere. It sounds like he isn't capable of getting the degree he wants to he needs to see if he can change to a degree he will do well in or accept he won't get a degree with honours.

Physics is a challenging degree and your DS's exam performance has been very poor. Blaming Glasgow is a nonsense.

There is no point flogging a dead horse. There is more to life than a PhD and you need to let go of your dream of your DS being a high-flying academic.

There are other areas to consider that are not quite so challenging as physics and have significantly better career prospects.

My experience with Glasgow yonks ago and my DS2s 3 years ago (not physics but related sciences) were similar to @PrimalLass ie very hands off. Suited us but both of us have friends who would have done better elsewhere. My DDs friend who has switched to OU says feedback really good and tutor really wants to help her succeed whereas old uni she was a nuisance

I still remember my department having a drinks reception at graduation and my advisor of studies not knowing me (he even said "remind me how you know me" to which I replied "you have been my personal tutor for 4 years and I did your x and y courses").