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Higher education

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Original poster

Honours Degrees ?

19 replies

cyclingmum67 · 22/10/2024 20:19

DS is in his 2nd year at Bristol studying Economics and is currently applying for internships.

This week, 2 firms he has applied to have contacted him to check whether his Degree is an Honours degree or not.

He/I had just assumed it was - however, looking on the Bristol website there's nothing to say it is. None of their other degrees state this either.

We then had a look at a few other universities - Exeter, Warwick and Durham don't state that their degrees are Honours, whereas Bath does.

Will it be the case that some of these RG universities don't do Honours degrees any more or is it just something missing from their websites ? And is there even a difference between Honours and non Honours any more ?

He's a bit uncertain what to reply as doesn't want to rule himself out by saying "No, not an Honours"

OP posts:
Owmyelbow · 22/10/2024 20:31

Lots of year 13s are looking to apply now. Just get him to contact admissions and ask the question

frijolito · 22/10/2024 20:33

It will be an honours degree but almost all ‘standard’ degrees are so it’s a bit of an unusual question tbh

For reference, Bristol website lists their courses as single honours or joint honours https://www.bristol.ac.uk/economics/study/undergraduate/
and Bristol don’t award ordinary degrees for low marks, below a third it’s just a fail https://www.bristol.ac.uk/academic-quality/degree-outcomes-statement/degree-classification-guide/

Singleandproud · 22/10/2024 20:33

Honours means you've done a thesis / dissertation in the final year. An Ordinary degree is 300 credits, an Honours degree will have 360. Most universities only do Honours but when a student leaves the course early they may be eligible for an Ordinary degree if they have enough credits

Original poster
cyclingmum67 · 22/10/2024 20:34

@Owmyelbow - he's already at university.

Yes, have told him to ask his tutor, but just curious as to others input

OP posts:
titchy · 22/10/2024 20:38

They're all honours degrees! If they're classified, they're honours.

Newwindows · 22/10/2024 20:43

Is it possible that they are asking if it a BSC honours or a masters degree? Lots of degrees are now 4 years and straight to masters level.Especially if it a 4 year course. Your son would know that though I would have thought.

HundredMilesAnHour · 22/10/2024 20:44

Singleandproud · 22/10/2024 20:33

Honours means you've done a thesis / dissertation in the final year. An Ordinary degree is 300 credits, an Honours degree will have 360. Most universities only do Honours but when a student leaves the course early they may be eligible for an Ordinary degree if they have enough credits

Edited

Er no, it doesn't have anything to do with a thesis or dissertation other than they may form part of the overall mark used for the degree classification. Plenty of honours degrees don't require thesis or dissertations.

PhotoDad · 22/10/2024 20:47

Singleandproud · 22/10/2024 20:33

Honours means you've done a thesis / dissertation in the final year. An Ordinary degree is 300 credits, an Honours degree will have 360. Most universities only do Honours but when a student leaves the course early they may be eligible for an Ordinary degree if they have enough credits

Edited

Wait, what?

Moonlaserbearwolf · 22/10/2024 20:48

Is he applying to US firms? That might be why they are asking - as the system is different for US universities.
His degree from Bristol will definitely be the honours. The only reason someone might not graduate with honours in the UK is if they failed a particular part of the course.

Singleandproud · 22/10/2024 20:57

Ordinary Degree (Bachelors without Honours)

  • Students unable to meet the requirements for a Bachelors with Honours may be eligible for an Ordinary Degree (Bachelors without Honours). The minimum requirements for an Ordinary Degree are at least 300 credits with a maximum of 150 credits at Level 4 and a minimum of 60 credits at Level 6.
  • UCL only offers the Ordinary Degree as an Interim Qualification.

UCL the same is true of the OU, if you don't complete all the credits which often means the last 60 credits, which is often graded via a thesis, dissertation or other project unit you can graduate with an Ordinary degree

Original poster
cyclingmum67 · 22/10/2024 21:05

@MMoonlaserbearwolf - EY was one of the firms who queried it, so a large enough UK presence. The other was a US bank

OP posts:
PhotoDad · 22/10/2024 21:14

@Singleandproud There isn't one universal rule for what counts as an "ordinary degree" across all universities. As for the other part of your post, one of my undergraduate degrees required a dissertation, true... but the other one didn't.

But it's an odd question to ask to a second-year student, as the Honours are only awarded (or not) after final exams!

Moonlaserbearwolf · 22/10/2024 21:16

I think that’s the answer - makes sense to me that a US bank might ask (as honours means something in the US). Who knows about EY - maybe just a standard question they ask around the world.

PhotoDad · 22/10/2024 21:19

Moonlaserbearwolf · 22/10/2024 21:16

I think that’s the answer - makes sense to me that a US bank might ask (as honours means something in the US). Who knows about EY - maybe just a standard question they ask around the world.

Agreed, they probably have one global form. The US grading system is completely different.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 22/10/2024 22:07

cyclingmum67 · 22/10/2024 21:05

@MMoonlaserbearwolf - EY was one of the firms who queried it, so a large enough UK presence. The other was a US bank

EY UK or EY US though (or elsewhere)?

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 22/10/2024 22:09

Moonlaserbearwolf · 22/10/2024 21:16

I think that’s the answer - makes sense to me that a US bank might ask (as honours means something in the US). Who knows about EY - maybe just a standard question they ask around the world.

I would expect the recruitment to be very different in the different countries, so no standard form. The country being applied to will make a big difference though so could be explained if it’s not the uk firm

DoctorDoctor · 22/10/2024 22:22

Singleandproud · 22/10/2024 20:33

Honours means you've done a thesis / dissertation in the final year. An Ordinary degree is 300 credits, an Honours degree will have 360. Most universities only do Honours but when a student leaves the course early they may be eligible for an Ordinary degree if they have enough credits

Edited

Not so. Not a blanket rule at any rate. Most common approach is any completed undergraduate degree will be with honours, unless in some instances where you've barely scraped though.

YellowAsteroid · 23/10/2024 08:21

It’ll be very clear from his degree course regulations that he’s doing an Honours degree. They’re standard.

Of course if he’s not passing modules, then he’s not achieving the Honours standard.

TizerorFizz · 23/10/2024 19:39

If he’s looking for a EY internship he’s doing well and of course he’s studying for an honours degree! Hope he does well.

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