Appealing Masters Result

[IndianaJones2021]

Hi my son achieved a merit today in his university degree*. His overall grade was a 69.61 he's gutted he wasn't awarded a distinction.
Has anyone had similar and appealed.
Thanks in advance 😀

*MNHQ removed identifying info at request of OP

He's already been awarded unfortunately.

• [Image removed for privacy reasons]

Hi, yes he wants to do a PHD that's why the extra quarter of a percent was so important.

That's just his dissertation mark as far as I can see, not his overall classification.

It wouldn't even occur to me to appeal a master's classification. Even fewer people care about your classification for a master's than care about a bachelor's degree! It's an incredible achievement whatever the classification. If the uni was rubbish, just be pleased it's done and find somewhere else to do his doctorate.

Ignore me, it shows the module but does seem to say over-all mark.

It's all well and good saying it doesn't matter and he's done amazingly - but the OP mentions her son is autistic. I'm also autistic and there can be a HUGE sense of black and white unfairness that goes on with some ways the condition manifests itself. I was doubly irked as it was a second degree and first time around I was 2% off a First (that one was my own fault from too much time in bar) and this time I was 1% off and not for my own fault - so the universe was really taking the piss on this front!

I had a job lined up and no one cared about the class of the degree - but I possibly want to go on to future study and therefore wanted the first if I was entitled to it, and I also knew it was going to be something that really niggled at me for years if I didn't give the challenge process the chance.

Keep it factual, grab email trails of any issues with the lost marks etc while he still has easy access to uni email accounts, and I talked it all through with my personal tutor who basically signposted me to the areas I had really solid grounds to contest things on. Then the uni dragged their feet massively with the process (so I had to graduate with the wrong degree class - made worse by being seated next to the course drama queen who had had exactly the same average mark and been rounded up and wouldn't shut up about it) and I had to remind them gently of their stated timescales for reviewing these appeals and bring in the student union to prod this along a bit - before they reviewed it and reissued everything. I'm glad I did it - because I'd earnt the disputed mark - but it was not an easy process and took a lot out of me mentally.

It being already awarded shouldn't be an issue - like I say - I had graduated and flung hats around and everything before my review was actually dealt with and it still got overturned - I had to return my old certificate by registered post and all that lark before they'd reissue it. I was, however in a foul mood on graduation day and I'll never get that back really - I pretty much stomped across the stage after an hour sat next to the peer going on and on about her first and it being absolutely filthy hot and humid in a daft hat and gown as well!

Why can’t he find out for himself ? Seems strange his mummy needs to go on a forum about parenting to seek this information. Could he not simply ask the uni?

OP, gently, you've put some extremely identifying details here, given that you've listed your son's mark to two decimal places and provided the university and the course name. You may want to ask to have some of these details removed. Even just removing the course name would make him much less easy to identify, and wouldn't change the advice you are getting.

Yes I see what you mean. How do I remove the photo.

Report that post and MN will delete it for you on request.

Tbf the classification of your Bachelors degree definitely does matter when it comes to applying for graduate roles. They often only want candidates with a 2:1 or higher so those with a 2:2 can’t even apply for some positions

Nothing helpful to add, but good luck! My uni ended up being what felt like generous with awards because of how they calculated degree marks. Nothing counted from first year, and then I think it was your best X amount of credits from second year and everything from third, including dissertation which was double credits. So you could get a stinker in second year (I got a 40%, had issues with the tutor) and still do well.

On the other hand, I got a 2:2, went on to do a MSc and several other post grad qualifications and am working in a relevant career. It’s not all about the qualifications - character, volunteer work and all sorts factor into it.

Thank you for all the comments.

I've tried to remove this post, as I'm concerned about the photo but it seems impossible to remove, I've contacted Mumsnet the email doesn't exist. 😩

Just click the report button under the post and say why you want it deleted.

Thank you I'll do that.

Of course people can do great with a 2:2, no ones disputing that, but some companies won’t even let candidates with a 2:2 apply.

People can do great without any degree at all!

I was just watching the instagram of an english woman called danni de kock. She has my ideal job.

She is a social media manager for world rugby. She follows the rugby teams around and makes social media content.

She made a video recently abiut how she got this job without any University degree.

She dropped out of uni, then she got an entry level job in marketing, then she applied for the job.

It annoys me that she has a better job than me and i spent 4 years in uni. Sometimes i wish that i hadnt gone to uni, and that i had went straight into work. I think uni can be a bit of a con sometimes.

They convince people that they will fail if they dont get a degree. They are just there to take money from people

He cannot appeal unless he can show a misapplication of process. Appeals cannot be made about academic judgements.

And the situation he's in - set at 69.61% - will already have been subject to intense scrutiny at an exam board, as it is a borderline case. I know, because I've been in these sorts of meetings for 30 years or so.

You mention that if they removed his two lowest marks, his overall score would have been 72%. This assumes he was working at the level of 72%. BUt he wasn't - he had marks much lower, which pulled down his overall mark.

Different universities will have different regulations (and you can find those degree regulations on his university's website), but at my place, and in a borderline case like this, we would look at what is called "preponderance."

That is - how many module/assignment marks are in the Distinction grade (70%+), how may are in the Merit grade, and how many are in the Pass grade.

It may be that there were not enough marks (ie a preponderance) in the Distinction grade.

This is called "preponderance."

And why should a university round up marks? We express our marks as 60.00 - so those two decimal points are used.

Why is 70% and up , set so rigidly and uniformly as "distinction".

Its a bit of s strange system.

Some of the comments on this thread 😐

As someone who has worked in a university for many years, you’ll get a lot of incorrect advice as no one will know an individual university’s study regulations unless they work there.

Indeed.

@IndianaJones2021 the degree regulations will be published on your DS's university website - in the Teaching Quality Assurance Handbook, or the Handbook for Taught Postgraduate degrees - something like that. You need to look for the regs his graduating year - 2025.

He should do any appeal via the Student Union or Guild - they will be very experienced at looking at the regs and his academic record to see if there have been irregularities of process. He cannot appeal academic judgements.

He should do the digging & getting the information, not you.

On what grounds is it strange? The First Class in an undergrad degree starts at 70% so Distinction at Masters maps onto that.

I just think that the whole University system is a con and a scam to be honest.
And that is my opinion after previous experience of working in them.

I've worked in Uni's in the past.

The primary focus above anything else, is on money. The focus is on the university making money.

They talk about students like they are products.

So they make students work for free for three years. That is a scam. Then they also take huge amounts of money off the students. Then they also tell students that they have to get a 70 percent mark, or they will fail at life.

Its a load of bullshit