The difference between an Honours and Non-Honours Degree?

hobnob

A "non-honours degree" is what you get if you almost failed your course.

I think the OP means, e.g. BSc (Hons) or just BSc without honours. You get degrees like that. Forgot which universities offer it, but I remember on UCAS seeing some engineering course with "BEng (no hons)" in front of it. The entry requirements for that course were considerably lower than the BEng (Hons).

Reply 3

Me Myself I

Are you talking about Scotland or England? There are some subtle differences between the two. On the whole though, HobNob's probably right - I've never heard of a course where people have applied to do the non-honours version.

Reply 4

Me Myself I

Are you talking about Scotland or England? There are some subtle differences between the two. On the whole though, HobNob's probably right - I've never heard of a course where people have applied to do the non-honours version.

I shall prove you wrong, and give you a link :smile:

Just be patient. :cool:

Reply 5

Callipygian

2

I allways thought honours was when you can to come up with some origonal stuff, like not a proper full on pHD or anything just a paper. But i could be entirely wrong.

Reply 6

BScEng Civil Engineering @ Aberdeen University:

"Degree of BScEng
BScEng students follow the common core of first and second year courses but at an easier pace and with the opportunity to study Mathematics at a foundation level. In later years you can mix specialist engineering courses with other subjects outside Engineering to tailor a curriculum to suit your interests.

The BScEng is not an Honours degree and is not accredited by the Engineering Institutions. It is, however, suited to those who want a general engineering education and intend to pursue a technical career outside professional engineering. Those who do sufficiently well have the possibility of upgrading to an Honours degree programme and special bridging courses are run in the summer vacation to enable such a transfer. This route is also well suited to those wishing to enter the engineering profession with less 'conventional' qualifications or background. "

On the UCAS website, there are 2 Bachelor engineering courses at Aberdeen: The 3FT Hon BEng, and the 3FT Ord BScEng.

Reply 7

Callipygian

I allways thought honours was when you can to come up with some origonal stuff, like not a proper full on pHD or anything just a paper. But i could be entirely wrong.

You are

Generally honours degrees are ranked

1st
2:1
2:2
3
Pass without honours.

So a non-honours degree is a degree where basically you have almost failed the course. Different unis have different rules but you'll generally be awarded one if you've failed two modules (from second and third years).

I suppose there may be some bachelors degrees that are non-honours, can't say I've seen any.

Reply 8

Desiret91

BScEng Civil Engineering @ Aberdeen University:

"Degree of BScEng
BScEng students follow the common core of first and second year courses but at an easier pace and with the opportunity to study Mathematics at a foundation level. In later years you can mix specialist engineering courses with other subjects outside Engineering to tailor a curriculum to suit your interests.

The BScEng is not an Honours degree and is not accredited by the Engineering Institutions. It is, however, suited to those who want a general engineering education and intend to pursue a technical career outside professional engineering. Those who do sufficiently well have the possibility of upgrading to an Honours degree programme and special bridging courses are run in the summer vacation to enable such a transfer. This route is also well suited to those wishing to enter the engineering profession with less 'conventional' qualifications or background. "

On the UCAS website, there are 2 Bachelor engineering courses at Aberdeen: The 3FT Hon BEng, and the 3FT Ord BScEng.

That will be an anomaly, many engineering degrees that aren't accredited by professional bodies still carry the honours. I think, as far as the OP is concerned, the main difference between an honours and non-honours degree is the amount of modules passed/pass mark gained.

Reply 9

Me Myself I

Sorry, didn't know that you could apply for that - don't know anyone on the BScEng course, only BEng/MEng.

What I meant was that at ancient Scottish Universities (Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and St. Andrew's) the honours course is 4 years long and is what most people (I thought everyone) applied for. In the first two years you do a few different subjects (depending on course, medicine, for example, doesn't work this way; neither does engineering, by the sounds of it!) and then you have to pass enough exams well enough at the end of second year to be accepted on the honours course.

If you don't get on the honours course, you do a 3 year designated degree (similar to an English 'pass' or 'ordinary' degree, but not exactly the same) in which you don't get an honours classification (1st, 2:1, 2:2, 3rd) but you do have a degree; it isn't likely to be as highly looked upon as an honours degree though.

In newer Scottish universities, and newer courses at the ancient ones, they have adopted the English 'ordinary' degree for some courses - I'm not entirely sure of the difference between that and a 'designated' degree and after asking around Aberdeen University, I'm not sure that anyone actually does!

Sorry if all that's confusing/wrong in any way - I've only just managed to get my head around it all myself after wondering what would happen to me if I didn't get on the honours course.

Reply 10

River85

That will be an anomaly, many engineering degrees that aren't accredited by professional bodies still carry the honours. I think, as far as the OP is concerned, the main difference between an honours and non-honours degree is the amount of modules passed/pass mark gained.

Then why does the OP say "Is it subject specific? Cost? Duration? Etc, etc.". I'm sure he's fully aware that getting a 3rd has nothing to do with being subject specific, paying less money, staying on the course for a shorter amount of time.

Reply 11

Desiret91

Then why does the OP say "Is it subject specific? Cost? Duration? Etc, etc.". I'm sure he's fully aware that getting a 3rd has nothing to do with being subject specific, paying less money, staying on the course for a shorter amount of time.

What? I'm not suggesting that the OP is aware of that.

Yes there will be a tiny number of degree such as Aberdeen's non-accredited EE degree. However, this is pretty much an anomlay. It isn't subject specific is it? It isn't applicable to all engineering degrees (the vast majority of which are honours degrees).

THe main difference, in the English/Welsh/NI system is that non-honours degrees are basic passes (often given when a student has failed more modules than is allowed for an honours). In the ancient Scottish unis it usual refers to the three year course rather than four year MA (hons) etc.

Reply 12

Gaylei

13

non hons comes from failing in your first year, but it has to be a fail that you retake

Reply 13

River85

What? I'm not suggesting that the OP is aware of that.

Yes there will be a tiny number of degree such as Aberdeen's non-accredited EE degree. However, this is pretty much an anomlay. It isn't subject specific is it? It isn't applicable to all engineering degrees (the vast majority of which are honours degrees).

THe main difference, in the English/Welsh/NI system is that non-honours degrees are basic passes (often given when a student has failed more modules than is allowed for an honours). In the ancient Scottish unis it usual refers to the three year course rather than four year MA (hons) etc.

Let me repeat. You said "I think, as far as the OP is concerned, the main difference between an honours and non-honours degree is the amount of modules passed/pass mark gained." Well I disagree. If that were the case, why would the OP talk about cost, duration etc. Because they have absolutely NO bearing with modules passed/pass mark gained. And no, it is not just an 'anomaly'. Quite a few other universities, in the UK too, offer non-honours bachelor courses.. I just can't be bothered to search them.

Reply 14

Gaylei

non hons comes from failing in your first year, but it has to be a fail that you retake

No it doesn't, not necessarily. Different universities have different rules.

Failing a couple of modules in your second and/or third years usually prevents a student getting the required credits for an honours degree (in most unis). First year performance usually doesn't matter, providing all modules are passed eventually.

Reply 15

Desiret91

Let me repeat. You said "I think, as far as the OP is concerned, the main difference between an honours and non-honours degree is the amount of modules passed/pass mark gained." Well I disagree. If that were the case, why would the OP talk about cost, duration etc. Because they have absolutely NO bearing with modules passed/pass mark gained. And no, it is not just an 'anomaly'. Quite a few other universities, in the UK too, offer non-honours bachelor courses.. I just can't be bothered to search them.

You really are an argumentative so and so aren't you?

What I meant was I think the primary difference between honours and non-honours degrees, generally speaking, is the number of credits passed/pass mark or, for Scotland, it's three years of the four year degree (when a masters with honours is given). This is all that I'm sure the OP needs to know, the basic difference. There's no need to delve into specific courses.

That degree is pretty much an anomoly within engineering. There may be a small number of other non-honours courses but they'll probably be spread across disciplines. Non-honours degrees generally aren't subject specific (well, apart from medicine).

Reply 16

River85

You really are an argumentative so and so aren't you?

What I meant was I think the primary difference between honours and non-honours degrees, generally speaking, is the number of credits passed/pass mark or, for Scotland, it's three years of the four year degree (when a masters with honours is given). This is all that I'm sure the OP needs to know, the basic difference. There's no need to delve into specific courses.

That degree is pretty much an anomoly within engineering. There may be a small number of other non-honours courses but they'll probably be spread across disciplines. Non-honours degrees generally aren't subject specific (well, apart from medicine).

I think you are the 'argumentative so and so'. :p:

If you look back, you started it :laugh:

Anyway, everything you've said is right but irrelevant to the OP's question. Its the OP's fault really... the OP needs a lot more clarity.

Reply 17

Desiret91

I think you are the 'argumentative so and so'. :p:

If you look back, you started it :laugh:

Anyway, everything you've said is right but irrelevant to the OP's question. Its the OP's fault really... the OP needs a lot more clarity.

What I (and most others have said, for they have said nothing more than I have) IS relevant. The OP asked, "what is the difference between an Honours degree and a Non-Honours Degree" and I, along with others, have highlighted the difference. What have I given which is irrelevant?

Reply 18

username36063

11

Just to add another aspect which may or may not be applicable to other universities, but the OPen university allows students to graduate with an ordinary degree after completing 300 credits and a degree with honours with 360 credits study.

Could be possible that somewhere out there in England and Wales that an Ordinary degree can be granted when students choose to do 60 credits worth of modules less. But I cant think of any off hand.

Reply 19