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Parenting

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Original poster

Is a third-class honours degree worth the paper it's written on?

23 replies

HumanBehaviour · 09/06/2011 14:27

I am studying with the OU, taking two 60 pointers to top up my previous studies to an honours degree. So far I have handed in two TMAs, on the first one I got a score of 66 and the second one 60. So not great.

I've still got a long way to go until I'm finished so might have time to "save" my degree classification but at the moment I'm looking at a 3rd or 2:2.

Will it be worth it? Do employers look at the classification and if so, would the take on someone with a third class degree?

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KatyMac · 09/06/2011 18:44

Well I'd employ you with an OU 3rd; but then I am studying with the OU too & know how hard it is

Surely you would get credit for "get up & go" and "making an effort"

(but what do I know )

twinklypearls · 09/06/2011 18:46

I don't think learning is ever wasted, I am not sure it will do much for your employability though.

It depends what you wnt to do.

Concordia · 09/06/2011 18:48

yes i'm sure a third is fine for lots of things actually, although i guess some things, e.g. academia, would be very difficult with a third class degree or even 2.2. maybe you will do better in the exams?
i would be careful though because several people i know were on for a certain grade with the ou and then on their very last assessment suddenly got a really low mark for no apparent reason, and dropped a level ie 1st to 2.1 or 2.1 to 2.2 despite doing well prior to that.
(wonder if they have quotas or something).

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aliceliddell · 09/06/2011 19:02

they don't have quotas as such; there's such a thing as 'exit velocity' so marks in your 3rd yr affect the final grade more than 2nd yr. If that's when you get the low mark, it's more likely to take your 1st to 2.1 than if it's in the 2nd yr, going up in the last yr.

Chipotle · 09/06/2011 19:16

It really depends on what the degree is in and what you want to do with it. And no matter what classification you get you're always going to be competing against people with higher or better qualifications/experience. Continue if you're enjoying it. If you hate it though and are heading for a third I'm not sure it's worth the financial commitment.

Original poster

HumanBehaviour · 09/06/2011 19:30

Gosh, I really should get my act together then. I've still got four TMAs and one EMA to go on this course and then another 60-pointer after this one so will have time to sort the situation out if I just try a bit harder.

(As I've done a credit transfer my grades from the first two years don't count.)

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Anniek · 11/06/2011 19:28

I just got a 2:2 in Business Studies, and got a better paid job, within 6 months
I was worried about whether to even put my grade on my CV, as I'd read some pretty negative comments on here about that grade, but my new employer just wanted a degree, didn't even seem to really care what it was in or what grade
But do agree with the other comments, my tutors told me to deduct 10 marks from my TMA average to give an indication of my final score, and so if that was going to be bad I should put more effort in.

voodoomunkee · 11/06/2011 19:34

I know people that got a 3rd, they still got better jobs because for all those jobs that required a degree they were able to apply. My brother got a 2:2 and it has not hampered him in the slightest and now has a very good job! I got a 1st, it doesnt appear to stand me in any different stead to a 2:1, only when applying for Masters or for my dream job in academia it may help. Saying that I know of 2 lecturers, who are highly respected and extrememly talented who got 2:2's...

I think the fact that you are trying to acheive to degree level and are putting in time, effort and financial commitment is what shines through to employers to be honest. Good luck with it all am sure you will do just fine! :)

Concordia · 12/06/2011 23:32

agree voodoomunkee i have a first and no one has ever bothered about it all!

rainbowtoenails · 22/06/2011 11:26

It is much better than not having a degree at all, but you will be disadvantaged in academia and other top professions.

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 22/06/2011 11:36

60 + is 2:1 territory isn't it?

Oakmaiden · 22/06/2011 23:07

Jenai - depends on the uni. OU and some others (Bath Spa, for example I think) have 60-69 as 2:2 and 80+ as a first.

winnybella · 22/06/2011 23:11

OU has 55-69 as 2:2, 70-84 as 2:1 and 85+ as first.

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 23/06/2011 10:26

Oh I see, winny.

Oakmaiden · 23/06/2011 12:32

It does make a lot more sense that way. I don't really understand why most uni's have 70+ as a first, but rarely ever give marks above 79... what is the point in having the higher scores there if you can't actually get them?

HumptyDumpty1 · 01/07/2011 21:53

We get told that the degree class is just a filter, and it's more what's on your cv..so a third with a quality cv is better than a first and no cv...

cherrypez · 17/07/2011 18:59

one of my lecturers said that too humpty.

ant3nna · 17/07/2011 19:05

I have a 2:2 and although its taken me a while to get a job, I have a good one in a career that I love and my boss cared more about my personality when he hired me than my degree classification. Everyone I have interviewed for has been more impressed with the extracurricular stuff I did at uni and my previous work experience than academics anyway.

adamstorm · 24/07/2011 12:09

Depending on the subject, a 3rd is still "worth the paper its written on". So dont worry.

If you are worried about getting a job, one of the things that also can boost your chances is by having 2 years of experience in the industry that you are going for. A 3rd degree and 2 years of experience will be better than a 1st degree and no experience.

You can also build up your CV with volunteer work (even if it is for a short time, like 1 or 2 weeks) or something like that.

I think now employees are looking at the whole person and not just the qualification, but a good qualification can be icing on the cake.

scarlettsmummy2 · 24/07/2011 12:12

If it makes you feel any better Tony Blair got a third in law.

SauvignonBlanche · 24/07/2011 12:13

God I hope so!

Susy38 · 17/06/2013 14:22

I got a third through OU and have felt inferior to others who have achieved Firsts and 2:1 through traditional unis. I am a full time mum of 2 and I put in so many hours of study, so I can safely say I was not lazy at all. In my last module I got 95%, 93%, 90%,92% for my TMAs and was really chuffed but unfortunately my exam which required a lot of learning Latin vocab by heart, as well as the already very complex grammatical rules, wasn't great and I got 51%. I was devastated to find out at the end that I was awarded a grade4 pass as in order to have a first I would have had to achieve the same result as the average of my TMAs.
This brought down my average to a third :(.
I have read in some places that a third is equivalent to a "fail" but this doesn't make any sense. Surely if you "fail" you don't get awarded an honors degree or any degree actually. It has really just added to my feeling of inferiority.
What are your thoughts?

slug · 17/06/2013 16:06

Carol Vordaman has a third.

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