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Difference between BA and BA (hons) ?

petiso

as asked above :smile:

thanks x

Reply 1

the_alba

12

An Honours degree is basically a degree with a classification of a 2:2 or above. A 3rd is classed as an Ordinary degree, so you can't put (Hons) after it. :smile:

Reply 2

petiso

OP

ohh.. so im doing combined honours, so thats an honours degree lol? im sorry im silly lol. is that suposed to be harder than a BA or no difference?

Reply 3

the_alba

12

wilthsni

Wrong. A third is an honours degree, too.

Whoops. Beg pardon.

Reply 4

Keoje

14

A degree may be awarded with or without honours, with the class of an honours degree based on the average mark of the assessed work a candidate has completed. Below is a list of the possible classifications with common abbreviations. Honours degrees are in bold:

* First-Class Honours (First or 1st)
* Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1)
* Lower Second-Class Honours (2:2)
* Third-Class Honours (Third or 3rd)
# Ordinary degree (Pass)
# Fail (no degree is awarded)

Source: Wikipedia ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_undergraduate_degree_classification )

Reply 5

River85

17

petiso

ohh.. so im doing combined honours, so thats an honours degree lol? im sorry im silly lol. is that suposed to be harder than a BA or no difference?

If you pass the required number of modules then you'll get an honours degree. If you don't then you'll get a non-honours degree (straight BA)

http://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/faculty.handbook/studentsurvivalguide/App_i.pdf

Reply 6

Paeony

11

I believe that it used to be the case that to get the (hons) bit you had to do a dissertation. At least, that's how it used to be at my university. Now that's changed and every degree there is an honours degree - although I think there was a 'pass without honours' but that was for anyone who'd scored between 30-39 overall.

Reply 7

YAP

OP, given you're doing to Durham, then:

River85

If you pass the required number of modules then you'll get an honours degree. If you don't then you'll get a non-honours degree (straight BA)

If you were in Scotland, a BA (Hons) takes 4 years; but a BA takes 3.

Reply 8

River85

17

Paeony

I believe that it used to be the case that to get the (hons) bit you had to do a dissertation. At least, that's how it used to be at my university. Now that's changed and every degree was an honours degree, unless of course you failed it.

That may have traditionally been the case but now, for Durham (where the OP's going) you need to pass all modulue (achieve 360 credits). You can, however, carry the one failed module from the first year (which doesn't count towards the final degree classification anyway) and still get an honours degree.

So 360 credits or 340 credits (if the one failed module is from the first year).

Throughout your degree you can also pass 40 credits by compensation (so if you only narrowly fail). You still need to pass the dissertation, however. You can't fail the dissertation but be "compensated".

Any less than that (300 credits - but only at least 60 credits need to be passed in the final year). So it's possible to get a non-honours degree whilst failing the dissertation. So long as you don't fail more than another 20 third year credits.

A bit complicated, but the diagram explains it better than I can.

Reply 9

River85

17

YAP

OP, given you're doing to Durham, then.

Yes, I did give a deliberate Durham-biased response.

Although I think this is how most English unis operate.

YAP

If you were in Scotland, a BA (Hons) takes 4 years; but a BA takes 3.

Isn't it an MA (hons) after four years? At least in the ancients?

Reply 10

harmonik

9

YAP

If you were in Scotland, a BA (Hons) takes 4 years; but a BA takes 3.

Im pretty sure the 4 year course in Scotland means you end up with an MA, not BA (Hons).

Reply 11

YAP

harmonik

Im pretty sure the 4 year course in Scotland means you end up with an MA, not BA (Hons).

Oops, my bad - I'm a scientist :o:

. BSc (Hons) is 4 years, BSc is 3 years; but as you say, the same isn't the case in the arts.

Reply 12

harmonik

9

Ahh I didn't realise that! My apologies.

Reply 13

petiso

OP

so what do employers think of BA compared to BA (hons)?

Reply 14

ZakBrannigan

13

Keoje

A degree may be awarded with or without honours, with the class of an honours degree based on the average mark of the assessed work a candidate has completed. Below is a list of the possible classifications with common abbreviations. Honours degrees are in bold:

* First-Class Honours (First or 1st)
* Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1)
* Lower Second-Class Honours (2:2)
* Third-Class Honours (Third or 3rd)
# Ordinary degree (Pass)
# Fail (no degree is awarded)

Source: Wikipedia ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_undergraduate_degree_classification )

I would agree upto one point Keoje,this only applies in the Uk and Wales,I think its different in Scotland as i am certain u have to do 4 years to get a honours degree up there

Reply 15

ZakBrannigan

13

YAP

Oops, my bad - I'm a scientist :o:

. BSc (Hons) is 4 years, BSc is 3 years; but as you say, the same isn't the case in the arts.

It depends upon Yap i suppose on which science course u have done,and whats the degree in.I am certain the degree i be starting after 3 years is a Bsc(hons)degree. :biggrin:

Reply 16

River85

17

ZakBrannigan

I would agree upto one point Keoje,this only applies in the Uk and Wales,I think its different in Scotland as i am certain u have to do 4 years to get a honours degree up there

Wales (along with Northern Ireland, England and Scotland) are in the UK.

But, yes, Scottish honours degrees are generally four years.

As for how employers will see them. They will be seen by many as inferior. 2:1s and firsts are generally considered to be "good" degrees by both employers and universities (for postgrad study) but an increasing number of grad employment schemes are accepting 2:2s. So getting a third will put you at a disadvantage. Not getting an honours degree at all will be quite a setback.

Ultimately there are so many variations to take into account. It's not as though every employer will automatically reject someone with a 3rd or less, or that you're future is doomed. Especially outside these grad schemes.

However, as you're going to Durham (and I don't mean to big it up) but you're obviously very intelligent (especially if you've got into the combined course with is very competitive) and, with the academic support avaiable, it's unlikely you'll get anything less than a 2:2. But, really, if you have the right work ethic, you should easily be looking at a 2:1 or first.