Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms

Difference Between

Home / Education /Difference Between Honours and Ordinary Degree

Difference Between Honours and Ordinary Degree

July 15, 2011Posted bykoshal

Honours vs Ordinary Degree

The difference between Honours and Ordinary degree lies in the achievements of the undergraduate. The system of differentiating between students on the basis of marks obtained, or on the basis of some extra qualification earned, at theundergraduatelevel has been introduced by the British, and can be seen in many parts of the world with some variations. Though, there has been a parallel Latin system that is used in US and some other countries, the process of awarding Honours degrees is said to be credited to UK. Let us take a closer look at how these degrees are awarded to iron out the confusion people often have between an Honours degree and an ordinary degree.

有时,你看到人们提及他们的学位on their nam ecards along with the word Honours. There is nothing to be surprised about it, as most universities make this distinction between students, and offer degrees with or without Honours. All candidates sit for honours; some pass it while majority fail to pass it. Those who pass this exam get a degree with honours and, those who fail to qualify, get an ordinary Pass degree. A candidate who fails badly at honours gets another attempt to pass, but he is not given honours; instead, he just gets a pass. Most universities in Britain award honours degree on the basis of average marks secured by the candidate. Students securing 70% or more marks are given First Class honours; 60-70% classifies a student for Upper Second Class Honours; 50-60% gets one Lower Second Class Honours and 40-50% qualifies a student for Third Class Honours. Below this are, of course, ordinary Pass and lastly, Fail.

What is an Ordinary Degree?

An ordinary degree is awarded when one passes the degree exam completing all the expected work though does not have an excellent performance. Ordinary degree is awarded to undergraduates who have obtained below 40% of the total marks but above fail marks. They do not have a class. This is better than being failed. However, if you have studied for three years and has got only an ordinary degree that is not going to be good on yourresume.

Difference Between Honours and Ordinary Degree

What is an Honours Degree?

So, Honours is when one passes the degree with good results. That is to say, when an undergraduate passes the degree getting a score between 100 – 40 % of the marks, that undergraduate is offered a degree with First, Second or Third Class Honours. This score is decided by the marks the undergraduate obtains for examinations and assignments. There is also a degree called First Class Honours with Distinction, which is the highest honours that can be achieved. Nationally (in UK), about 10% of students qualify for this achievement while majority of students pass through with Second Class Honours. It is very hard for a student to secure a First Class Honours with Distinction. Even getting a First Class Honours is very difficult in some subject areas as some Universities prefer not to give too many First Class Honours degrees.

However, as described above, this system of awarding honours degree on the basis of average marks obtained is not followed in ditto everywhere. In some universities, an honours degree often means an extra year or extra course completed at the end of the regular degree course. A separate honours year means, either very specialized subject or a thesis and a large project. For example, in a country such as Scotland, to get an Honours degree you have to study for four years. In Australia, you have to study for five or four years to get an Honours degree. Otherwise, you will get a degree without Honours. You will have a class, but no Honours title attached to it.

There is no system of honours degree atmaster’slevel or at the level of doctoral degrees. This is why one does not hear about master’s with honours or doctorate with honours. Those degrees are special anyway, and people know that.

What is the difference between Honours and Ordinary Degree?

• The system of awarding honours degrees at the undergraduate level is common in Britain, and in many other countries of the world.

• All candidates get a chance to pass with honours, and it depends upon their average marks obtained.

• Thus, there is First Class with Honours, Second Class with Honours and so on and lastly there is ordinary Pass.

• In some countries, it is not average marks obtained, but an extra year with specialized subjects put in, that classify one to get an honours degree. Examples of such countries are Scotland and Australia.

Images Courtesy:

  1. Degree holdersbyQuan Nguyen(CC BY-SA 3.0)

Related posts:

Difference Between a Fact and a TheoryDifference Between Fact and Theory Difference Between IQ and IntelligenceDifference Between IQ and Intelligence Difference Between CCDA and CCDP and CCDE Difference Between IQ and EQ Difference Between Faculty and School

Filed Under:EducationTagged With:First Class honours,First Class Honours with Distinction,Honors degree,honours,honours and ordinary degree,Honours degree,honours degree definition,Lower Second Class Honours,ordinary,ordinary and honours degree,Ordinary degree,Upper Second Class,Upper Second Class Honours

About the Author:koshal

Koshal马是一个研究生在语言研究ster's Degree in Linguistics

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked*

Request Article

Featured Posts

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

You May Like

Difference Between Fusion and Solidification

Difference Between Fusion and Solidification

Difference Between Mobitz 1 and 2

Difference Between Mobitz 1 and 2

What is the Difference Between Sagittal and Coronal Plane

What is the Difference Between Sagittal and Coronal Plane

What is the Difference Between Ulcerative Colitis and Piles

What is the Difference Between Ulcerative Colitis and Piles

Difference Between Attitude and Prejudice

Difference Between Attitude and Prejudice

Latest Posts

  • What is the Difference Between Fatty Acid and Amino Acid
  • What is the Difference Between IR and UV and Visible Spectroscopy
  • What is the Difference Between Beeswax and Propolis
  • What is the Difference Between Work From Office and Work From Home
  • What is the Difference Between Celiac Disease and Lactose Intolerance
  • What is the Difference Between Coal Tar and Asphalt
  • Home
  • Vacancies
  • About
  • Request Article
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2010-2018Difference Between. All rights reserved.Terms of Useand Privacy Policy:Legal.