But degree grade inflation has not really inflated employers' expectations to want a first. Guy Drury got a 2.1 in international politics at Aberystwyth University and is now working for Southampton University's student union as a Democracy Coordinator. Author has 7.5K answers and 6.4M answer views. Bolster up that slightly less impressive grade with all the skills you have attained alongside your degree. No matter what degree classification a graduate achieves, it is important to remember that they should always walk away from a course with a thorough understanding of the subjects they have studied. A big shiny first is of course the ultimate dream for a student but it is not always attainable. Getting a first is difficult, but far from impossible. jungle_boogie. When greeting cards exceed any one of the letter-size measurements (e.g., 6-1/8" height), they are classified and priced as flats (large envelopes). In his spare time he works for his union as a technician, and feels that projects he does there are a more practical use of his skills and will lead to a better way into full-time employment. Around 59 percent of students who go onto postgraduate or PhD study gained a first in their undergraduate degree (according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency). A first class degree completely eclipses any A-level results you may or may not have achieved. In highly competitive fields, employers with an overwhelming number of applicants may screen out everyone who did not manage to achieve a 2:1, or may even demand a first to proceed to the next round of the application process. If you are to have any hope of getting a first class degree then you are going to have to learn to research and to do it independently. If you are looking to pursue postgraduate education, and particularly if you are hoping to get your hands on some special funding to do so, a first can make all the difference. Getting a first-class honours at university is a way of proving your academic prowess, commitment to study, and determination to achieve the very best that you can. Last year, Ogilvy vice-chairman Rory Sutherland said that he was only going to hire graduates with thirds as he says that, "nobody has any evidence that those with first class degrees are any better employees than those with thirds". You would typically need to get 70 percent or more total in your tests and examinations to get a first class degree at university. Getting your graduate degree from any institution demonstrates to employers that you have what it really takes to succeed: persistence and determination. With more graduates comes more competition for jobs, but is a first-class degree really the best way to stand out from the rest of the applicants? Calum Murray is studying war studies at Kings College London to try and secure employment in the defence and security sector. I'm just looking to pick up knowledge that I think will be the most relevant right now.". Only eight of us got first class honours degrees. "A 2.1 is more than sufficient," he says. Required fields are marked *, Career Camel, However, to attain a first class award you need to dig deeper. It's a fairly minor factor, though. A lot of companies does put the degree results as one of the important, but as a fresh grad do take some time to do presentations in class and start communicating well. Anyone who has received a first-class degree will tell you that the library was like a second home to them. If you have enough passion, drive and determination, you are bound to flourish after university, no matter what it says on your degree certificate. But does the same focus on grades apply to the 530,000 students who took a master's this year? How important are degree classifications? Myth 2. "Without that experience, I wouldn't have stood a chance," he says. He was heavily involved in politics and media throughout his time at university, and claims this helped him secure his job just two weeks after graduating. My degree teaches me tiny details that hardly echo anything in today's world.". 29%. It is never the only consideration and having a first is unlikely to be enough if you have neglected the real world and chained yourself to a desk for three or four years in order to be able to wave it in people’s faces. If you find yourself thinking, "I've been to all my lectures and seminars, … She's aiming for a 2:1 rather than a first and feels that concentrating solely on studying would not make her very employable. Around 59 percent of students who go onto postgraduate or PhD study gained a first in their undergraduate degree (according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency). Thanakorn Cheungchantrakul is a history student who plans to go to Russia to study after he graduates. And it's not just the students who are thinking this way; the graduates who have jobs believe in the "anti-first"philosophy too. "I've learnt just as much through the paper as I have with my degree," she says. Whatever the reasons for the recent spike in firsts, you can … I got a little addicted to … Yeah I’m with Jungle Boogie hear. The % of the cohort that get first class obviously varies by the University and the discipline. Meet the students who aren't aiming for a first... Jack Denton is in his final year studying electronic engineering. Well im 2nd class lower btw. Do you think degree classifications matter? Do you want to continue hitting your head against a brick wall, or is it time to re-evaluate what motivates you? If you have left university with a third then there is probably a reason which you need to pay serious attention to. At the beginning of the semester, have a wander around the … This is partially due to the fact that having a first-class degree often means that red carpets are laid out to encourage students to go onto further study. The table below shows the percentage of each class of honours degree awarded across the UK, by year. "I'm not seriously concerned about my degree," he says. Some 30 per cent of maths students gain a first class degree, with 24 per cent in engineering, 22 per cent in physics and 20 per cent in computer science. Your degree is a prerequisite for the competitive workforce; the topic is irrelevant. If you find yourself just short of the boundary above then it is possible to appeal for remarking and reconsideration which could vastly change your immediate opportunities as a graduate. Research does show, resoundingly, that unemployment rates are lower for those students who get a first. Zena hopes to graduate with a 2.1 in English at the University of York, and says that she feels more productive developing "real-world skills" through working part-time in marketing rather than reading poetry. Internships, society involvement, references, part-time work and volunteering experiences can all override a percentage and will probably have shaped you as an individual more than that final cram for those exams. Essentially, "first-class honours" and "2.1 (or 2:1) honours" are the top two categories of honors degrees in the UK system—sort of like the summa cum laude and magna cum laude in American universities. This is partially due to the fact that having a first-class degree often means that red carpets are laid out to encourage students to go onto further study. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images, Guardian Students banner Photograph: guardian, the skills students really need when they graduate. "From my extra-curricular activities I have learnt skills which employers want, like copywriting, communication and business-awareness," she says. November 15, 2020. Employers never value grades for the sake of grades. They don't mind if … By throwing themselves into sports, societies, part-time work and volunteering, they reckon they have a much better chance of getting a job after they leave than spending their entire lives studying. They value something behind the grades, those qualities that we just mentioned. Experience can often trump academic achievement if you can polish it up to your best advantage. "Those hours slaving over doing extra-curricular work for the paper on an out-of-date Mac were worth it.". We are here to help drive positive social change for young people in the UK. "It feels like the end of the world when you get a 2.2, but it really isn't," she says. Advertisement. Outside of his degree, he takes part in the International Youth Forum Seliger and Y20 Russia which he says help "provide wider networks" which will help him in the future. THE MAIN BRITISH DEGREE CLASSIFICATIONS ARE First-class … 10 work-life balance tips to set you up for a better 2021, Four great industries if you want to work in sales, Want to work for the Royal Family: Here is what you need to know. July 25, 2018, 3:33pm #7. Liked this? Develop your research skills. It does not apply to postcards eli­gible for the card rate, large envelopes, or packages. If two otherwise identical candidates are applying for a job and one has a 1st and the other a 2:1, then obviously the one with the 1st will get the job. First Class Honours, referred to as a 'first', is the highest honours classification and indicates high academic achievement. "Most of my mates and I don't care, as long as we pass," he says. Even some postgraduates have a "just pass" mentality towards their courses. Any one with a first and upper second degree should be proud of their qualification because they have a greater chance of getting jobs or getting graduate degrees than people with a lower class degree(irrespective of the university they graduated from). December 6, 2020, Emma Sturgis, The model of economic class we use today is a derivation of German philosopher Karl Marx's (1818–1883) definition of class, which was central to his theory of how society operates in a state of class conflict. Enjoying yourself is usually the easy bit – you’ll have new friends, more freedom than … Many job roles have a minimum grade requirement of a 2.1 or a first in a degree. Let us know in the comments. Vicky Wong didn't aim for a first either, and she says it doesn't matter as her student media work gave her the experience needed for her career. The best way to think about grades is to think about it as an indicator. ", With more students focusing on their employability skills to try and get a graduate job, these students are no longer aiming for firsts, Some students are throwing away their hopes of getting a first-class degree and focusing on their employability instead. At University in the UK the best grade you can get is a first, a first-class degree - but does it matter if you get a 2:! Your email address will not be published. So what if you end up falling into the 2:2 band? Does a College Degree Still Matter? Then you’ll love… Student hacks uni system 90 times to change exam grades – FBI. having a 1st class honor degree is definately is an upperhand but then again communication skills is pretty much important. "I'm fairly sure my interviewers barely looked at my degree class - my skills were much more important. Do not price these cards as parcels. 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