What exactly is an honours degree?

lushballs

I have applied for a job and they are asking me if my qualifications are equivalent to FETAC level 8 or higher. I have a psychology degree (studied in North America)and a diploma. I looked on the National Framework of Qualifications website and it describes having an honours degree at Level 8.
What exactly is an honours degree?

brianthebard

a 1.1, 2.1 or 2.2 generally.
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lushballs

My uni marks were out of 100.

Tom Dunne

No, it's not I am afraid.

The qualifications handed out by Irish Third Level institutions are divided into levels, with 10 being the highest at PhD level. 9 is a masters, 8 is an honours degree and 7 is an ordinary degree. There are lower awards, but they are usually only applicable to Institutes of Technology.

Afair, a level 8 honours degree is equivalent to a US four year Bachelors Degree. An Irish level 7 degree is equivalent to a US Associates degree. I think a US diploma is level 6 in Irish terms.

TJJP

lushballs wrote: »

I have applied for a job and they are asking me if my qualifications are equivalent to FETAC level 8 or higher. I have a psychology degree (studied in North America)and a diploma. I looked on the National Framework of Qualifications website and it describes having an honours degree at Level 8.
What exactly is an honours degree?

As suggested above, honours degree is usually a four-year programme, ordinary degree is three. It is possible that someone can score an un-classified (less than third-class honours) and end up with an ordinary degree from a four year course... but I digress. In short it’s more to do with duration and course of study rather than final score. It’s also possible to top-up an ordinary degree to honours equivalent.

You're pretty much in the right place looking at the NQF guide (http://www.nfq.ie/nfq/en/images/FanDec2006.jpg)

If you have your degree and a diploma (post-graduate?) then likely you can combine them as a top-up if your degree isn’t honours. Only thing is that US qualifications don't match up Ireland too easy though due to the broad range of qualifications recognition systems over there (CHEA, MSCHE,...).
Have a look at the qualifications recognition site though (http://www.qualificationsrecognition.ie/). It is a cousin of the nqf site above. You can complete some paper work through qualifications recognition and they will let you know what you're worth. They are good people so should be able to help. You could likely give them a call.

brianthebard

why do you say honours degrees are four years,surely that depends on discipline and uni?my degree in english and history is a 3 year honours.
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TJJP

brianthebard wrote: »

why do you say honours degrees are four years,surely that depends on discipline and uni?my degree in english and history is a 3 year honours.
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Usually a four year degree, many also available via three year route.

As you have said, can depend on the discipline, but also the country. The Bologna process in Europe seeks to standardise this. Do a web search for Bologna process for more info.

Yours may be three years honours, my UK undergrad is.

eth0_

brianthebard wrote: »

why do you say honours degrees are four years,surely that depends on discipline and uni?my degree in english and history is a 3 year honours.
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It's more to do with points assigned to modules in the degree. For instance, i'm doing an OU Bsc, which is equivalent to a 3 year UK honours degree. If I do every module required - which adds up to 360 points - i'll get an honours degree.
At the end of this year i'll hopefully have 300 points under my belt, so i'll be 'awarded' a Bsc (ord), although there's no conferring ceremony for an ordinary degree with the OU.

It's pointless leaving it at an ordinary degree if you intend to do postgraduate study, as you won't be considered without an hons degree.

cdebru

eth0_ wrote: »

It's more to do with points assigned to modules in the degree. For instance, i'm doing an OU Bsc, which is equivalent to a 3 year UK honours degree. If I do every module required - which adds up to 360 points - i'll get an honours degree.
At the end of this year i'll hopefully have 300 points under my belt, so i'll be 'awarded' a Bsc (ord), although there's no conferring ceremony for an ordinary degree with the OU.

It's pointless leaving it at an ordinary degree if you intend to do postgraduate study, as you won't be considered without an hons degree.

The 360 points is UK (120 for a full time years study) it is equivalent to 60 ECTS credits.

Then there are different types of Honours degrees
First Class Honours (1.1)
Second Class Honours grade 1 (2.1)
Second Class Honours grade2 (2.2)
Third Class Honours

Which type of degree you get depends on average marks across modules in Assignments and exams and in passing first time no compensation in a defined period of time etc.