Level 7 vs Level 8 degrees

vector

I have a UCC degree which aparently is a Level 8 degree, sometimes known as an Hons degree.

While I only got a pass the junk mail from UCC like that magazine is addressed to John Smith BA (Hons) cool... in real life you can's say Hons because it looks naff, and is understood to refer to how well you personally did, as in Hons = 1 or 2.1 or 2.2

In CIT there are a few lower Level 7 degrees, what is the point of the Level 8, no one asks if I have an higher 8 or 7 both are just "BA"

Discuss....

Riskymove

vector wrote: »

Discuss....

its strange to get used to alright...under the old system a level 7 was a plain old Diploma..not a Degree

it does seem to devalue an actual BA

Jay P

Isn't a Level 8 an Honours Degree, and then Level 7 is an Ordinary Degree?

x in the city

8 is a Hons Degree, a 7 is 'just' a erm, degree...:rolleyes:

blame the government.....

Leftbelle

I think it only matters if you are hoping to do a postgrad and need to acheive the admission requirements.. Ordinary Level degrees aren't really worth a whole lot in that regard as you generally need a 1H or a 2.1..

rebel girl 15

Jay P wrote: »

Isn't a Level 8 an Honours Degree, and then Level 7 is an Ordinary Degree?

Yep, thats it exactly.

Seloth

On mainland europe hon's are seen as high as masters.
Also I Believe in CIT you just have too do an extra year too up-grade your degree from a lvl7 too a lvl 8.

DonnieScribbles

Seloth wrote: »

Also I Believe in CIT you just have too do an extra year too up-grade your degree from a lvl7 too a lvl 8.

Yeah it's the same in most IT's, as long as there is actually an option for a 4th year. There was only 3 years in the course I did so the degree I have now is Level 7. Now I'm in UCC to hopefully get my Level 8.

I don't see why IT courses are lower accredited. It just seems like academic elitism to me, but I'm open to correction

rebel girl 15

DonnieScribbles wrote: »

Yeah it's the same in most IT's, as long as there is actually an option for a 4th year. There was only 3 years in the course I did so the degree I have now is Level 7. Now I'm in UCC to hopefully get my Level 8.

I don't see why IT courses are lower accredited. It just seems like academic elitism to me, but I'm open to correction

They are not. University courses and IT courses are set up in a different way. In universities like UCC, you have to do your three or four years to get any sort of qualification, whereas in IT's, you can take it year by year and get some sort of certificate after two years if you leave then, but if you do three years and leave you get a level 7, then if you want to complete your fourth year, you gain your level 8 certificate

Its not academic elitism at all, just a different way in which students gain qualifications

DonnieScribbles

rebel girl 15 wrote: »

whereas in IT's, you can take it year by year and get some sort of certificate after two years if you leave then, but if you do three years and leave you get a level 7, then if you want to complete your fourth year, you gain your level 8 certificate

I'm not sure if you're correct here, at least not in entirety. If I had left my course after two years I would have got no qualification at all. This was the case for most of the Ordinary Degree courses. Yes, you can do a fourth year for a Level 8, but only if there is actually a fourth year programme being run.

Anyway, my main problem would be with how IT courses and University courses are evaluated. I just don't think the three years you spend in a University is somehow 'better' than the three years you spend in an IT yet the resulting degree is of a lower accreditation. I've heard it said of various disciplines that students from IT's often emerge with more practical, employable skills than University students.

rebel girl 15

DonnieScribbles wrote: »

I'm not sure if you're correct here, at least not in entirety. If I had left my course after two years I would have got no qualification at all. This was the case for most of the Ordinary Degree courses. Yes, you can do a fourth year for a Level 8, but only if there is actually a fourth year programme being run.

Anyway, my main problem would be with how IT courses and University courses are evaluated. I just don't think the three years you spend in a University is somehow 'better' than the three years you spend in an IT yet the resulting degree is of a lower accreditation. I've heard it said of various disciplines that students from IT's often emerge with more practical, employable skills than University students.

What I wrote above was the original idea behind ITs - but your missing the point that most uni courses are four years, Arts afaik is the only three year Level 8 degree in UCC. So to get the higher qualification in an IT you need to do the extra year! At least after three years in an IT you come out with a qualification, thre years in a uni you come out with nothing, in four years you comee out with the same qualification!

DonnieScribbles

Aha, I see what you're saying. Yeah, I'm from an Arts background so that's what I'm most familiar with.

I get a little pro-IT's sometimes :P

crystalmice

just to point out there are a fair few more level 8s that are only three years than arts, law is 3 years, as are alot of the more 'niche' degrees that you may never meet someone actually doing because tehres only 100 of them!

laney22

just wanted to add that I am from an IT background. I spent a straight 4 years on my course and got my level 8 honours. so while the IT's do cater for the level 6 and 7's and also provide a 'stepping stone' approach to level 8, there are some straight level 8 courses aswell. If I hadn't finished the 4 years or failed at any point I'd have gotten no qualification - and while this is the same level and approach as a university degree, university students do look down on it as its from an IT - at least in my experience they do.

B1977

Is there a difference between a level 8 from an I.T. and a University ?

Eliot Rosewater

B1977 wrote: »

Is there a difference between a level 8 from an I.T. and a University ?

Basically the difference is the reputation of the institutions. Irish Universities have better reputations than Irish ITs, which can be important if you're planning to go abroad after your degree. Domestically, the difference isn't so sharp, though there are news reports that certain multi-national companies have "blacklisted" some of the ITs out of concern for standards, and are then refusing graduates from those ITs.

mick 101

Does anyone know, if I do a level 7 "ordinary" degree and then do as an add on, the fourth year in a level 8 "honours" degree, do I have two degrees?

cancun5

Hi

I have an Ordinary Degree Level 7 Business Studies from an IT and a after a few years I am considering returning to education part time. I was hoping to progress to level 8 Bachelor of Commerce in University but I have been told I need to do one subject from first year this year, I will be be granted exemptions but it will still take four years to complete. Whereas I can study online with an IT and complete level 8 in two years. (there is no IT in my area offering the course PT) I would the interaction of attending classes but online does suit timewise.
Any opinions as to what would be the best option??

shane9689

laney22 wrote: »

just wanted to add that I am from an IT background. I spent a straight 4 years on my course and got my level 8 honours. so while the IT's do cater for the level 6 and 7's and also provide a 'stepping stone' approach to level 8, there are some straight level 8 courses aswell. If I hadn't finished the 4 years or failed at any point I'd have gotten no qualification - and while this is the same level and approach as a university degree, university students do look down on it as its from an IT - at least in my experience they do.

yeah thats because some people are snobbish and not people you would want to get to know anyways....college/university means f**k all in real life anyways, its aload of bull. At the end of the day, you go to college to learn and gain experience in the field of work your interested in and nothing more.

source: a first year uni student with a it lecturer for a dad (who could kick a uni lecturers ass anyday)

bhogan92

just wondering if i do three years of a 4 year level 8 degree am i entitled to a level 7 degree if i do not wish to carry on to the fourth year??

yenom

bhogan92 wrote: »

just wondering if i do three years of a 4 year level 8 degree am i entitled to a level 7 degree if i do not wish to carry on to the fourth year??

No

rebel girl 15

bhogan92 wrote: »

just wondering if i do three years of a 4 year level 8 degree am i entitled to a level 7 degree if i do not wish to carry on to the fourth year??

Not in UCC - if you look at an IT, some courses do a stepping stone approach, so you can do three years for your level 7, then a further year for your level 8.

danish pasterys

Hi, i am just curious to find out is there a significant difference between level 7 & 8 for all degrees ?

Workload wise, standards of work and that

One lecturer told me there is no difference in the workload or standards, that it just means its an extra year. Then another told me there is a difference that its a step up. I am curious to find out as i need to know before i make any decision on which course to do. Would a lvl 7 be any easier than level 8

Zuppy

Does level 7 or 8 make a difference for doing a post grad course?

laney22

Zuppy wrote: »

Does level 7 or 8 make a difference for doing a post grad course?

Yeah you need a level 8, usually a minimum of a 2.2, to go on and do a postgrad. Unless you have significant work experience (years), then they sometimes make an exception.