Difference between Honours and Ordinary Course?

Nazca · 22 Sep 2006 at 15:18

My housemate got a letter from the University this morning saying that his place in his course has been terminated and he'll be transferred from Joint Honours to Ordinary. He's pretty confused at the moment. He doesn't know what the difference is. He's just starting his second year in Biochemistry.

Spacky · 22 Sep 2006 at 15:20

He would have got 'BSc (Hons)' he will now only get 'BSc', to put after his name. As far as an ordinary degree is concerned.

If hes in second year, who knows ask registry.

Trifid · 22 Sep 2006 at 15:22

doesn't hons have 1st, 2.1 etc whereas normal is just pass/fail?

ArmyofHarmony · 22 Sep 2006 at 15:23

joint honours is like "Computing with Physics", "Maths with Business" etc...

so he probably got too low grades to stick on that course, and has been switched down to just a plain computing degree or whatever?

Nazca · 22 Sep 2006 at 15:24

So it's just a lable? I've been scouring the uni website and there seems to be no difference in the course itself. Weird.

Although now I've just checked Wiki.

Most universities award a class of degree based on the average mark of the assessed work a candidate has completed. Below is a list of the possible classifications with common abbreviations. Honours degrees are in bold:

First-Class Honours (First or 1st) - a "Geoff" (as in Geoff Hurst)

Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1) - an "Attilla" (as in Attilla the Hun)

Lower Second-Class Honours (2:2) - a "Desmond" (as in Desmond TuTu)

Third-Class Honours (Third or 3rd) - a "Douglas" (as in Douglas Hurd)

Ordinary degree (Pass)

Fail (no degree is awarded)

Hmm, that doesn't look good for him. I suggested he contact the university.

[DOD]Asprilla · 22 Sep 2006 at 15:24

Trifid said:
doesn't hons have 1st, 2.1 etc whereas normal is just pass/fail?

Correct.

Hons requires 12 / 120 points a year, non-hons (ordinary) requires 10 / 100

I presume your friend failed a module.

DJammyRasta · 22 Sep 2006 at 15:39

ArmyofHarmony said:
joint honours is like "Computing with Physics", "Maths with Business" etc...

so he probably got too low grades to stick on that course, and has been switched down to just a plain computing degree or whatever?

as AoH said he probably failed a module that was important and the course he was oringinally on could not be completed without it.. so he has be put on a lesser course

the way it goes is 1st, 2:1, 2:2, 3rd, Ordinary Degree so it is at the bottom of the degree's, but above things like diplomas of higher education and hnds

Replicant · 22 Sep 2006 at 16:19

Whats 2:1 got to do with Atilla the Hun, lol.

Gavstar · 22 Sep 2006 at 17:14

As others have said, and as far as I understand it, a non-honours degree cannot carry any classification such as 1st, 2:1 etc.

As his course is a pretty 'traditional' subject, and one in which honours is the norm I don't think it would be another 2 years well spent to be honest.

If he is only going into 2nd year I would seriously consider trying to start again (he might be able to sneak in this year, though may have to be another course) and put that last year down to experience.