Doing honours in Mathematics at King's College of London

As in, you wish to transfer to KCL?

That would depends on your definition of what "transfer" is.

Undergraduate degree program is three years in Australia. Honours is a sort of graduate diploma which spans a year-and entry depends largely on grades.
Masters is followed after honours which culminate with Phd. At least that's the academic structure in Australia.

Oh i see, so just to clarify it's:

- Undergraduate Degree (3 years)
- Honours (1 year)
- Masters
- Phd

Correct?

Bingo!

I wouldn't think the grading system between that in the UK and those in the AU would differ by a gulf.
What exactly are my chances?

In the UK, you can progress onto a masters course directly from your undergraduate.

In some cases even, universities offer their undergraduate courses as a 4 year which is really just them sticking on the masters (fourth year).

I'd think you'd be able to apply for the Msc as well. But I'd recommend contacting the university? They have their email on the site (and one for the mathematics department!) so just ask them to hear it straight from them.

I have considered the possibility that perhaps, as like in Australia, progression into Msc is possible after undergraduate.
However, looking at Imperial College of London, it seems that entry into their Ms programs requires at least a second class honours-this itself implies that one would have to already be in an honours program(perhaps Imperials is far more prestigious?)

Besides, putting the issue of Msc aside, isn't honours considered to be a 'selective' program only for candidates who have achieved sufficiently good grades?

I'm sorry if I may confuse you - Imperial College London asks for a second class honours - Second class honours refers to the final grade that someone receives after completing an undergraduate course. There is no "selective program" as you put it - Everyone receives a grade:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_undergraduate_degree_classification#Upper_second-class_honours

By 'selective program', I meant to imply that only academically inclined students who have been accepted into honours program.

Just to clear the air, what exactly is a honours program in the UK context? I'm under the impression that honours programs are non-existent in the UK.
What is the equivalent grade for a second class honours-(60-69)%?

I researched the Australian system, and came across this from wikipedia:

"The consecutive Australian with Honours degree is usually a one- to two-year research program, after the completion of a Bachelor's degree in the same field. It can also be started as a concurrent program in the fourth year of a four-year bachelor's degree. It is generally considered a postgraduate year because a bachelor's degree can be completed without it.^[6] Entry to an Honours degree generally requires proven abilities and a distinction (75% or greater) average in the relevant area or the final year units, and even then is quite competitive."

I see this is what you're referring to. But we don't have this in the UK. Also between 60 - 69 % it would graded as an upper-second class degree (2:1).

That in bold is really what is meant by 'selective program'

Alright. Given my current grades being equivalent to an Upper-second class degree, how good is this in the UK and good enough for which Universities?
I will be dropping an email with the Universities soon but a bit on what I am dealing with would be idea.

Upper second class degree is considered very good for most university courses and employers - Although some very competitive courses (Cambridge and Oxford) will sometimes demand a first class degree (>80%).

I researched the Australian system, and came across this from wikipedia:

"The consecutive Australian with Honours degree is usually a one- to two-year research program, after the completion of a Bachelor's degree in the same field. It can also be started as a concurrent program in the fourth year of a four-year bachelor's degree. It is generally considered a postgraduate year because a bachelor's degree can be completed without it.^[6] Entry to an Honours degree generally requires proven abilities and a distinction (75% or greater) average in the relevant area or the final year units, and even then is quite competitive."

I see this is what you're referring to. But we don't have this in the UK. There are no honour programs here as far as I'm aware. Also between 60 - 69 % it would graded as an upper-second class degree (2:1).

@Princepieman

Well we do have them.. But we call them postgraduate diplomas. They effectively act as a bridge for those with unrelated degrees (or unsuitable degree classifications) to move on to a fully fledged Masters programme.

The Aussie system favours specialising through post-undergrad degrees; similar, in many ways, to the US system. So what these 'honours' programmes achieve is equivalent in a sense to someone pursuing an 'integrated Masters' as part of their undergraduate programme of study.

Hi

Does Highstake replies still holds water?

Sort of, but he did get one or two things off. A first class degree is usually >70% for instance; it'd be equivalent to your Distinction.

Here's the course that KCL do: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/taught-courses/mathematics-grad-dip.aspx

Hello people,

I'm currently a student in a Group of Eight University in Australia; majoring in Physics and Mathematics.
My current weighted average mark is 65%. GPA is approximately 5.2/7.0.
Beside my core units(or more familiarly, modules) the 4 other empty slots are filled with Economics units(instead of the easy language units)
By definition:
80% and above is a high distinction-7
(70-79)% is a distinction-6
(60-69)% is a credit-5
(50-59)% is a credit pass-4
Anything below 50% is a fail.

Realistically, on the assumption I maintain a GPA of 5.2/7.0, what are my chances of doing honours over at King's? (I'm assuming an honours is a prerequisite for entry into a MSc program in the UK)

I don't think anyone has quite grasped your point. In English and Welsh Universities 'Honours' isn't an extra year, ie the final year, it's the level of the whole course.

Effectively the system you are operating on is the equivalent of final year Sixth form, 1st year undergrad and second year undergrad in the UK. So your grades are largely irrelevant, and there is not likely to be any possibility to transfer into the final, 3rd year.

I'm not aware of any UK universities that allow transfers in the 3rd year to achieve an Honours degree - that's not to say they aren't out there, but they are likely to be the more financially oriented than academic oriented Universities. You will have to ask each one you are interested in about your specific case.