What to do with a Third Class Degree
March 3rd, 2007 by get a first class degree
Most of my posts relate to getting a first class degree, however, whatever level you are working at, post listed in the Study Tips section will help you improve your degree marks.
That said, some people will end up with a third class degree, what you do next really depends on why you ended up with a thrid class degree.
You worked really hard but are not academically gifted:
Try and get a good reference from a lecturer stating what a hard worker you are. Employers value people who work hard, turn up on time, commit themselves and do the best job they can. Play on this as best you can in applications.
Dont dispair, you are still in the top 50% in terms of education and have an advantage over those who decided against a degree education.
As time passes, the specific grade will carry less meaning as work experience becomes the key factor employers are looking for, as opposed to degree results.
On that note, try and get into a good company at a lower level, i.e. if you fail to get in on a graduate scheme, see if you can get a job in a lesser admin role. If you are able to get a role in a decent company, your hard work will allow you to progress.
You have the ability but did not work hard at University:
Consider taking another degree!
This may sound like crazy advice, but, if you think you can change your ways, then getting a good Masters degree will allow you to draw a line under your poor degree result.
Both myself and the author of Getting A First (Insiders Guide) perfomed badly in courses prior to getting a first class degree. Both of us were consequently far more dedicated on our degree courses, and determined to put past mistakes behind us.
You are still at University and heading for a Third Class Degree:
- Get advice from your degree lecturer’s
- Consider switching degree courses
- Consider adding another year to your course to write an outstanding dissertation, thus drag your marks up
- Read and act on the advice found in the Study Tips section of this site, (and other related sites / books)
- Work like a maniac, quit your part time job, dont waste a second of your time!
Is it possible to get a third class degree uprated/ upgraded by doing another industryc recognised course.
I.e It looks like I will get a third class degree in quantity surveying, the institute of civil engineering surveyors, requires canditates to take an additional 2 year distance learning course in commercial management.
If I were to complete this course do you think I could get my degree upgraded? can this ever happen?
Hi Lee,
No, you really need to speak to your own University on this, but as I understand it, once you complete your degree the mark is cast in stone… there is no upgrading.
An alternative may be to add a year to your study to try and pull up marks for your dissertation and final year modules. Often the final year modules are worth more than year one and two modules, so, if you do a good job on these you could potentially drag your marks up.
Someone I knew was heading for a third / fail when they dropped back a year, now they should get a 2:2…. it really depends how far down the line you are on your course…
Other than that you would have to take another course…. if you were to take another degree at the same level in a similar subject you would get exemptions for the first year, but you would still spend two years effectively repeating work at the same level.
If it were me I would consider taking a masters, but it really depends on your reasons for doing badly this time around and whether you think you can raise your game.
A Masters is a lot more difficult than a first degree. If you think you have learned lessons from this course and are capable of doing a lot better, then I would look for another course….
If you do not think you can realistically improve on your academic performance then I start looking for a job.
Good luck with whatever you decide….
I live in Nigeria and here they pose emphasis on the class of graduation and i came out with a third class.
What do i do?
I would love to do a post graduate course but i need to work to save some money to do that.
What is your sincere advice?
Lucie
I am on course to graduating with a high 2:2 in Russian with Management Studies from UCL…what are my prospects for getting into a decent Masters programme??? any feedback would be greatly appreciated
Hi,
First of all I would like to thank you for running this website as it is really informative and educating for most people, including the “educated”.
I am currently in a very difficult situation and require some concrete advice on my future and career prospects. Any information or advice will be truly appreciated.
EDUCATION
I attained 9 GCSEs (2As, 5Bs & 2Cs), 4 A-Levels (B-Maths, C-Chemistry, C-Biology, E-General Studies) and finally but unfortunately, a Third Class (III) BSc (hons) degree in Medical Sciences at the University of Leeds.
HISTORY
As a youngster, I have always wanted to embark on a career in Maths/Business/Finance as Maths is my strongest subject, I have ran my father’s business from a very young age and various aspects of finance have always interested me.
Unfortunately, due to family pressure, I was forced to aim for becoming a doctor. Hence, the subjects I studied. As you may be able to see, Maths is my strongest subject along with physics and other related fields. Throughout the years I tried to persuade my family that I should change my career path because I can achieve so much more in my preferred career. However, I was discouraged from anything other than Medicine. I completed various work experience placements and realised at the age of 18 what I wanted to do. After failing to obtain a place at Medical School post A-Levels, I was wrongly put under the impression that I could “easily” enter a postgraduate medical degree if I attained a 2.1 in Med Sci (BSc). However, this did prove rather difficult towards the end of my degree. As I did not obtain a place in any of my Postgraduate Medical School applications, although i was predicted a 2.1, I lost heart with my degree and eventually ended up with a dismal third class degree. Since then, I have set up my own business which has proven relatively successful as I have managed to pay off all my debts and on a current salary of £25k+ (p.a.). I have also begun trading on the financial markets and I’m on the verge of taking this up full time. My business partners are well versed in business and trading on the financial markets. According to them I have learnt approximately 3-4 years of trading strategies within 1 year of self taught education.
I would like to go back into higher education and study a degree in relation to my current interests as I feel I would prosper in these fields. After this, I would like to embark on a career working in the financial sector hoping to work for some large financial institutions to gain further experience. I believe that I have a head start in some aspects, yet I also think that I lack the basics and foundations of a career in finance.
What would you advise me to study at university and why?
What are my chances of gaining entry onto a course at a main (red brick) university?
Would it be worthwhile to mention my previous degree or is it best to omit this from my records of achievement?
Thank you very much for your time.
Kind regards
IM.
I really cannot say, I mean what do you mean by decent?
I would shortlist the Universities and courses you are interested in and contact the “course director” directly and get their advice.
Remember Universities are run more like businesses these days, and, you are the customer! Masters courses are expensive, so, you will usually find they are happy to advise you as to your options, within or outside of that University.
If you are not able to get on a given course, then find out what would be required by you to gain entry…
Hi Lucie,
Sorry for my delay in replying…
You really need to know why you did not get the result you wanted.
For example, was it that you chose the wrong subject, or that you could have worked harder, or perhaps you are just not suited to that kind of education?
If you think you could do better in another subject, or that you could achieve more by working differently / harder I would consider higher education.
But… if you did everything you could on this course, and it was still not enough, then taking another, more difficult degree is probably not a good idea.
If you are going to have to pay for the course, then you need to make sure you make the correct decision!
You could go and work for a year and see how you feel then. You may find that slills you develop whilst working in a given field may make you a better student should you decide to take a higher level course.
Again, the key is really to understand what you could do differently / improve on another course…
Hi IM,
I just give opinions on this site and am not qualified to advise you as to which specific course you should to.
What I would say is find one as close to your are of expertise as possible.
Your partners say you have gained years worth of knowledge of trading strategies…. so look for a course that teaches trading strategies.
If you have direct work experience, you may find in certain areas your knowledge exceeds that required on the course.
Another tip would be to search the recruitment sites for jobs you would be interested in doing… what are they asking for?
You may find that professional qualifications are preferable to academic ones.
As for mentioning your past degree… personally I would.
Being honest about your abilities and limitations will enable staff at the University to give you better advice.
Remember, the aim is to get a qualification, not to get entry to a course. There is no point telling “part truth’s to get onto a course only to fail it.
If you explained what went wrong on your previous course I think they would understand. Also, you did pass it, and your A-Level results are good.
Currently there is a trend for students to avoid subjects with a bias towards Maths, this will go in your favour as there may be less competition on the type of courses you are looking at.
It is possible to get onto some post grad courses on the basis of work experience alone. It really depends on the organisation, competition for places on the course and the level of your (work based) expertise.
Something else to think about is how you can avoid “losing heart” on your next course. Things are a LOT easier if you enjoy the course, however you will still have your down days, or modules that you do not enjoy. It is important to put 100% into all modules, losing heart is not really an option if you want the best results…
My advice if you get a Third? If you want to go into work rather than academia, do that and don’t worry about your degree. Other than a small number of graduate schemes, most employers will judge you on your performance in the interview and the fact that you are smart enough to obtain a degree in the specified subject. I have NEVER had any enquiry about the class of degree I obtained. (Just put ‘BSc (Hons.) or BA (Hons.) etc. on your resume, not the class, by the way.) After your first job, experience counts for more than any degree. I graduated with a 3rd and am a Director for a US Technology company, having always been one of the high performers wherever I’ve worked and earned high salaries throughout my career (currently $200k+). So, forget the class of degree and use it to show that you have the intelligence to be useful in the real world.
Other people who graduated with a ‘Gentleman’s Degree’:
Sir Alec Douglas-Home, Former Prime Minister
Sir Ernest Soares, Member of Parliament
Simon Burns, MP, Chelmsford West
Writers W. H. Auden, Lewis Carroll, Christopher Hitchens
Photographer Antony Barrington Brown
Actor Hugh Laurie, TV presenters Richard Whitely, Rory McGrath and Carol Vorderman.
My advice if you get a Third? If you want to go into work rather than academia, do that and don’t worry about your degree. Other than a small number of graduate schemes, most employers will judge you on your performance in the interview and the fact that you are smart enough to obtain a degree in the specified subject. I have NEVER had any enquiry about the class of degree I obtained. (Just put ‘BSc (Hons.) or BA (Hons.) etc. on your resume, not the class, by the way.) After your first job, experience counts for more than any degree. I graduated with a 3rd and am a Director for a US Technology company, having always been one of the high performers wherever I’ve worked and earned high salaries throughout my career (currently $200k+). So, forget the class of degree and use it to show that you have the intelligence to be useful in the real world.
Other people who graduated with a ‘Gentleman’s Third’:
Sir Alec Douglas-Home, Former Prime Minister
Sir Ernest Soares, Member of Parliament
Simon Burns, MP, Chelmsford West
Writers W. H. Auden, Lewis Carroll, Christopher Hitchens
Photographer Antony Barrington Brown
Actor Hugh Laurie, TV presenters Richard Whitely, Rory McGrath and Carol Vorderman.
Hi David,
Thanks for your comments; you make some really good points and I’m sure your success will be an inspiration to others who have not done so well at University.
However, my observations and experience are very different to yours.
Work experience is often a catch 22; you cannot get work experience without work experience because no-one wants to employ you.
When I checked recruitment sites at the start of my course I saw employers routinely asking for a 1st / 2:1 in their advertisements.
Whilst the statement “most employers will judge you on your performance in the interview” is true, you are very unlikely to make it past the paper sift to interview without a good grade.
As the government (UK) pushes more and more people into degree education, a first degree is losing its value, employers are increasing their requirements and differentiating yourself as a candidate is difficult.
All that said, once you are in work you are judged entirely on your performance not academic ability, and, over time your degree becomes less relevant.
The problem for people with poor academic results is getting that first job which allows you to “show that you have the intelligence to be useful in the real world”.
hi
i graduated with a 3rd class in engineering from a nigerian university am still young but i want to pusue my masters in uk an i know my chances are slim except i take a postgrduate diploma ,but during my search i was told i could join a final year class in a uk university so as to finish up with a better grade pls is that possible what other advise do u have for me
thank you
I’m going to get a 3rd class degree in IT. I thinking of switching the course, but because I got conscripted to the army. So I’m going to be quite old like 27 when I finish this 3rd class degree.
Do I switch course, or just finish this and get masters ?
Wait a minute, I’m from Australia and I’m doing only an ordinary degree. So I don’t have to worry about the classes as in the case of UK.
They don’t classify degrees in Australia?
In the UK, the class of degree is the grade / award.
BTW I wouldn’t worry about your age, you will find a more disciplined approach will give you an advantage… I worked for a year or so before taking my degree, that is one of the reasons I did well… I applied a work ethic to my course.
Sorry thats something I cannot help with, what I would say is speak to the UK Universities directly. You can easily contact them via their websites…. go to the source for your advice, do not listen to ‘middle men’.
Good luck
Australia is different, we got honors as well that classify degrees into first, second and third class. But we have to do like an additional year in research to do this, so instead of 3 years we do 4 to get honors.
We can also get masters if we just do an ordinary degree. So some just skip the honors and do masters degree instead.
Just look at this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor%27s_degree#Australia
Hi I currently graduated in international business management from northumbria university, but it’s just a 3rd class. And i am thinking of doing masters, i really want to do masters and i believe i can do better this time. How much is possibilities that i could get enroll to university and currently i am in london. I would prefer to study around london areas. Is there anyway i can study masters or have any alternative way to get in.
Too all those with 3rd class degrees. I would just like to say that its not the end of the world, read this…
I was a lazy B*&^&*^%$ at Uni and ended up with a 3rd from lack of effort, not lack of brain. I am 21 and graduated with a 3rd in Aeronautical Engineering from a top 10 univeristy. I was immeadiately employed as a Direct Entry Graduate with a MAJOR Aerospace company (crazy eh?) and currently earn £24,500. Industrial Experience is ESSENTIAL in fading that 3rd off your chest. I had previously gained experience with 3 airlines, 1 flight training centre and Bae Systems. this on top of being an ace person helped me get this job.
This post is not to boast, but to inspire others that its not the end of the road. I have already made great mates with a few other graduates here who have 1st class honours and one has a 2.1 with Masters in aerospace eng. YET we all earn the same. 3rd class means jack when u get some experience!
so go out children and sieze thos opportunities.
PS> this post in no BS. true life story
Hi M, great comment thanks!
I don’t think its crazy (that you got that job), I get the impression those kind of qualifications are in demand, and laziness is something you can remedy
The classification definitely loses its value within a short time frame.
The real hurdle is getting that first job, and the experience that go’s with it… and you got over it!
Good luck in your new job
I really need some help!! I definitely chose the right course because I enjoy it emmensely but in my first and second years of uni (in the uk) I had some health problems as well as medical and I notfied my uni of this and they were really good in helping me and allowing me to resit. But my second year resits went very badly because I had to work full time at the same time as doing them because I just had to submit coursework but I just didn’t have enough time! So, i just managed to pass submitting 1 out of 4 and without any medical reasons for this they couldn’t let me resit the others. Currently im carrying 3 modules worth of failed modules and just failed another due to poor performance despite still having to submit my dissertation I think there’s a distint possibility I’ll only get a 3rd. The only masters program in the country I wanted to do requires a 2:1 at least! I haven’t done a required degree like engineering I’ve done politics (not from a top 10 uk uni) and don’t wanna be a MP rather a lobbyist which requires a masters. What can I do? As well as family pressure I don’t have the finances to another degree. I’m worried that due to misfortune I won’t find employment or such like with a 3rd.
Hi Nia,
Im not an expert in this stuff, you really need to get some support from your University, both in terms of your academic options and career advice.
Regards the Masters program, have you tried speaking to the course director at this University? I would definitely do this… try and establish some kind of relationship with them… you may still be able to squeeze a place on the course if you show you really want it.
If you can produce an outstanding dissertation that demonstrates you have the ability to work at a higher level, this will also help you.
Ultimately, if they are over subscribed with 2:1 applicants you may be out of luck…. if not the above points may give you a slight advantage.
If you dont get onto the Masters, ask whether doing a PgC elsewhere would help you…. this would only take 1 year.
I graduated with a 3rd class degree maths in 1995 and have since then become a member of ACCA and doing my MBA at oxford brookes because of my ACCA but i would really want to have a better first degree because in Nigeria a lot of emphasies are placed on the first degree classification and i feel having a 3rd class first degree is not doing me any favours.I intend to do another Bachelor’s degree course to get a better grade or do you have any advise on how to go about this.