Poll: What would you rather have? 2:2 from a top-ranked uni or a 2:1 from a low-ranked uni

What would you rather have?

  • 2:2 from Oxford

    Votes: 101 66.4%

  • 2:1 from London Met

    Votes: 51 33.6%
  • Total voters
    152
Never been asked my degree grade by an employer for my grade.

Many lower universities with lower overall rank score much higher than those above them for certain courses.

I started reading law a Wolverhampton uni. I then moved to University of East Anglia for Business.

Despite being about 70 places apart in the league tables, I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt, the teaching was much better on my course at Wolverhampton.
 
My boss got a 2:2 in sports science I believe..

She's a shining example of why I have little respect for many officers within the Army..
 
Never been asked my degree grade by an employer for my grade.

Many lower universities with lower overall rank score much higher than those above them for certain courses.

I started reading law a Wolverhampton uni. I then moved to University of East Anglia for Business.

Despite being about 70 places apart in the league tables, I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt, the teaching was much better on my course at Wolverhampton.
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Teaching quality is often much better at lower ranked universities but that is kind of irrelevant from an employers perspective. Top universities (int the UK) typically employ a sink or swim strategy by throwing a lot of work your way form day 1 - with much greater breadth and depth, and nearly always taking a much stronger interest in the theoretical sides and foundational underpinnings than the mere shallow facts and figures you are simply presented with at lower ranked institutes. This is what general leads to high perceived quality by employers - graduates who have a deeper understanding and bigger picture who can derive results form first principles rather than remember the page in the course textbook.

In other countries the top universities also have much higher teaching standards, small class sizes etc. My wife is an asst. Prof. at a top rated private university in the US, class size form year 1 on is restricted to around 12. I went to a good universe in the UK (read A.I. at the university of Edinburgh which is rated one of the top int he world for A.I.) and in first year there would be a couple of hundred students! Big difference when the professor gets to know you personally and can adapt the teaching minute by minute based on the class needs.
 
I got a first from a lower university (integrated masters) and then a PhD from King's college in London, when I was job hunting I found that the biggest sticking point was the drop in my A-Levels from GCSE to degree, where no matter what reasons I gave some companies wouldn't even look at me. Don't have A's at A-Levels don't get a interview, never mind you have a PhD in theoretical quantum physics, you didn't get an A in maths.... Drove me spare.
 
I'm on for a 1st from Edge Hill, and while I do sometimes wish it had a bigger local redbrick name behind it like Liverpool or Manchester Univeristy, I've yet to meet an employer who really differentiated. University work is often cross or externally marked with other Universities anyway.
 
maccapacca said:
In my five years post university not one person has asked what I got
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Same, I have 9 years proper work experience now and never been asked my grade, I got a 2:2 and never have a problem getting jobs.

I now earn £35-40k in my twenties. Which is ok for being outside London.

Once you have work experience the degree grade is meaningless. Unless you are curing AIDS or something.
 
In terms of employability, I'd take a 2:2 from Cambridge or Oxford over a 2:1 from a lesser university. Any other university and I'd take the 2:1. My friend got a first from Middlesex (ranked near the bottom) and got plenty of graduate scheme interviews (and actually accepted onto one).

But as others have said, it's only a foot in the door. I haven't been asked about my degree since my first graduate job.
 
JonJ678 said:
2.2 in mathematics from Cambridge? Nope, PWC won't talk to you.
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They would, and they do, when they come to visit the campus to hire. I know several undergrads from my department who have gone into the Big 4 and into large Oil & Gas companies on 2:2 degrees, even though officially the company graduate selection policy is 2:1 or higher. In this case it is more of a "who you know"; large companies are often around to present to undergrads and will often fast-track people through the selection process even if your grades are sub-par.

I start my future role in October which I got to via a visit to the department from representatives of the company looking for PhD students from Cambridge with a specific skill-set; unfortunately I was not fast-tracked and had to go through all of the steps as everyone else. I got free chocolate at Easter though, so not all bad :p
 
Judgeneo said:
I had £40k p/a job lined up after graduation. I ended up with a 2.2 from Warwick, and the job offer was withdrawn...

Currently doing a masters and averaging a distinction (no way am I letting my grades slip again), but even with a higher degree most employers rule you out based on your undergraduate grade.

Looking at the syllabus at lesser universities I'm sure I could have got a 2.1

BUT... I still think that going to the best institution I could was the right choice. I've has so many more options and opportunities than any of my friends at other universities, and I am now very confident again about my future prospects.

Getting a 2.2 has set my earnings back by a 2-3 years, but I'm not sure whether I would have even had the option to do so if I went to a lesser uni
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You might have got a 2:1 at a lower university, but you would never have even got an interview for a lot of highly paid graduate jobs.
 
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I have a 2:2 from Nottingham.
Once you've got your first job under your belt no-one gives a monkey's about your degree grade. I've successfully got jobs that specified a minimum 2:1.

I'd rather stick with what I have than swapping it for a 2:1 from a lower ranked university.
 
I think undergrads place way to much importance on the degree result.

The real purpose of Uni is to network/gain social skills/learning the art of independent thought

I see many grads coming out of Uni with none of the above but they have a 2.1 and believe the world owes them a 40k job

Apart from grad schemes no one really places to much weight to what you got for your degree and even with a good degree there's still a very low chance you will get a grad job

But to answer the question I'd probably take the 2.2 from the higher ranked Uni because I should have been taught to a higher level
 
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