Masters degree vs. undergraduate degree grade conversions
I've seen a lot of attempts online to convert masters degree grades to undergraduate degree grades, and it seems like quite a few people take the "lazy" way out by just taking the undergraduate degree grade thresholds, and applying them to the masters degree grade - without any justification whatsoever.
I propose that, if a conversion did exist, then a Pass at masters level would be equivalent to a 2:1; a Merit at masters level would be equivalent to a First: a Distinction at masters level would be somewhat better than a First.
Firstly, to pass a masters degree, a mark of over 50 is needed, while to pass an undergraduate degree, a mark of over 40 is needed. Clearly more work is required to get a Pass on a masters than a pass on an undergraduate degree.
Secondly, many universities and employers equate a 2:1 at undergraduate degree level, with just having a masters degree (having a Pass at masters essentially). Many graduate jobs or university courses will state a minimum of a 2:1 OR a masters. Logically, if they were to exclude a 2:2 at undergraduate level, then if a Pass at masters was just equivalent to a 2:2, then, that seems contradictory for them to accept it.
Thirdly, masters degrees are explicitly not classified at all. This implies that just having the masters degree is an achievement, while just having a degree (which can even be awarded without honours) is not. Even where masters degrees are awarded with a grade, some universities miss out the "merit" grade altogether, whereas with some, it's done on a Pass or a Fail basis.
I propose that, if a conversion did exist, then a Pass at masters level would be equivalent to a 2:1; a Merit at masters level would be equivalent to a First: a Distinction at masters level would be somewhat better than a First.
Firstly, to pass a masters degree, a mark of over 50 is needed, while to pass an undergraduate degree, a mark of over 40 is needed. Clearly more work is required to get a Pass on a masters than a pass on an undergraduate degree.
Secondly, many universities and employers equate a 2:1 at undergraduate degree level, with just having a masters degree (having a Pass at masters essentially). Many graduate jobs or university courses will state a minimum of a 2:1 OR a masters. Logically, if they were to exclude a 2:2 at undergraduate level, then if a Pass at masters was just equivalent to a 2:2, then, that seems contradictory for them to accept it.
Thirdly, masters degrees are explicitly not classified at all. This implies that just having the masters degree is an achievement, while just having a degree (which can even be awarded without honours) is not. Even where masters degrees are awarded with a grade, some universities miss out the "merit" grade altogether, whereas with some, it's done on a Pass or a Fail basis.
(edited 1 year ago)
Reply 1
Original post
by javajabbaI've seen a lot of attempts online to convert masters degree grades to undergraduate degree grades, and it seems like quite a few people take the "lazy" way out by just taking the undergraduate degree grade thresholds, and applying them to the masters degree grade - without any justification whatsoever.
I propose that, if a conversion did exist, then a Pass at masters level would be equivalent to a 2:1; a Merit at masters level would be equivalent to a First: a Distinction at masters level would be somewhat better than a First.
Firstly, to pass a masters degree, a mark of over 50 is needed, while to pass an undergraduate degree, a mark of over 40 is needed. Clearly more work is required to get a Pass on a masters than a pass on an undergraduate degree.
Secondly, many universities and employers equate a 2:1 at undergraduate degree level, with just having a masters degree (having a Pass at masters essentially). Many graduate jobs or university courses will state a minimum of a 2:1 OR a masters. Logically, if they were to exclude a 2:2 at undergraduate level, then if a Pass at masters was just equivalent to a 2:2, then, that seems contradictory for them to accept it.
Thirdly, masters degrees are explicitly not classified at all. This implies that just having the masters degree is an achievement, while just having a degree (which can even be awarded without honours) is not. Even where masters degrees are awarded with a grade, some universities miss out the "merit" grade altogether, whereas with some, it's done on a Pass or a Fail basis.
I propose that, if a conversion did exist, then a Pass at masters level would be equivalent to a 2:1; a Merit at masters level would be equivalent to a First: a Distinction at masters level would be somewhat better than a First.
Firstly, to pass a masters degree, a mark of over 50 is needed, while to pass an undergraduate degree, a mark of over 40 is needed. Clearly more work is required to get a Pass on a masters than a pass on an undergraduate degree.
Secondly, many universities and employers equate a 2:1 at undergraduate degree level, with just having a masters degree (having a Pass at masters essentially). Many graduate jobs or university courses will state a minimum of a 2:1 OR a masters. Logically, if they were to exclude a 2:2 at undergraduate level, then if a Pass at masters was just equivalent to a 2:2, then, that seems contradictory for them to accept it.
Thirdly, masters degrees are explicitly not classified at all. This implies that just having the masters degree is an achievement, while just having a degree (which can even be awarded without honours) is not. Even where masters degrees are awarded with a grade, some universities miss out the "merit" grade altogether, whereas with some, it's done on a Pass or a Fail basis.
You cannot convert the degrees unless it is an undergraduate masters (or integrated masters), ultimately they are two different academic levels.
What you can do is compare performances amongst peers and in that sense it does marry up very well against the undergraduate levels. A 2.1 is a “par” performance at undergraduate and that is really what a merit is at masters level.
Reply 2
2
I couldn't disagree more with that...unless you have some data to substantiate your claim.
Surely to compare performance amongst peers, you'd need to know the distribution of awards of those peers. Do you have a link to data which gives us a flavour of the awards at masters level, and if not, how have you come to that judgement?
Also, many institutions award a masters on the basis of either Pass or Distinction (and I am sure that some only award a Pass) - by your measure, someone with a masters from one of those institutions would be below "par" as you call it?
Surely to compare performance amongst peers, you'd need to know the distribution of awards of those peers. Do you have a link to data which gives us a flavour of the awards at masters level, and if not, how have you come to that judgement?
Also, many institutions award a masters on the basis of either Pass or Distinction (and I am sure that some only award a Pass) - by your measure, someone with a masters from one of those institutions would be below "par" as you call it?
Reply 3
It’s difficult enough to reliably equate undergrad outcomes from different countries, much less qualifications at different levels with different volumes of credits.
A pointless endeavour.
A pointless endeavour.
Reply 4
Original post
by javajabbaI couldn't disagree more with that...unless you have some data to substantiate your claim.
Surely to compare performance amongst peers, you'd need to know the distribution of awards of those peers. Do you have a link to data which gives us a flavour of the awards at masters level, and if not, how have you come to that judgement?
Also, many institutions award a masters on the basis of either Pass or Distinction (and I am sure that some only award a Pass) - by your measure, someone with a masters from one of those institutions would be below "par" as you call it?
Surely to compare performance amongst peers, you'd need to know the distribution of awards of those peers. Do you have a link to data which gives us a flavour of the awards at masters level, and if not, how have you come to that judgement?
Also, many institutions award a masters on the basis of either Pass or Distinction (and I am sure that some only award a Pass) - by your measure, someone with a masters from one of those institutions would be below "par" as you call it?
Well in most science & engineering courses ive seen the integrated masters & postgraduate masters students are taught side by side and they are scored equivalently numerically, grading on the certificate is using the standard nomenclature depending on if it’s undergraduate or postgraduate. And this is pretty much the case at all UK universities I’ve spent time in. Perhaps outside of STEM the norms are different, but i feel quite confident my opinions translate well across STEM taught degrees in the UK.
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