Did a university course but not the exams

Lunni

Hi everyone

I have a friend who went to the classes for a Master's course but did not take the exams so hasn't officially got the degree. What should he put on his CV to make it clear that he hasn't actually done the exams?

helimachoptor

Masters in X, unfinished/incomplete or something similar

April O Neill II

He'll need a good explanation for not sitting the exams.

endacl

Lunni wrote: »

Hi everyone

I have a friend who went to the classes for a Master's course but did not take the exams so hasn't officially got the degree. What should he put on his CV to make it clear that he hasn't actually done the exams?

He hasn't 'unofficially' got the degree either. If he didn't complete the course he shouldn't include it on his cv. Obvious really. The only exception would be if he deferred due to illness etc, and intended completion in the future.

Lunni

Yep, that's what I told him, but he's determined to include it. He's not from Ireland - I think in other countries, attending the course counts for a lot more than it does in Ireland, where if you didn't do the exams, you didn't do the degree, full stop (which is how it should be!)

tatli_lokma

Unless you have a very good reason why you didn't complete the qualification then it could actually go against you as it just highlights that you are someone who will spend a year or two doing something but doesn't complete things to the end. Makes you look a bit flaky to be honest.

He would be better off looking into a way to actually complete the degree in the future and then put masters in x pending. Then when asked explain he hasn't yet completed it but has scheduled to do the exams in x month.

Mrs OBumble

The American / overseas phrase is that he "audited the course".

I'm not sure how many employers here will understand it, though.

tatli_lokma

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

The American / overseas phrase is that he "audited the course".

I'm not sure how many employers here will understand it, though.

Even if they understood it they wouldn't look too favourably on it. I can spend 2 years attending a course in quantum physics but unless I do the exam/write the dissertation I have no proof that I understood any of the content! Particularly when it's an overseas university where for all the employer knows could be the sort of place where they are happy to take your money and don't care if you even show up!

tramoreman

what he could do is the subjects he studied for the course put them down as professional development courses