Can I study in the UK with a second class lower?
The UK is one of the best countries for education worldwide and happens to be one of the first countries that comes to mind when someone starts considering furthering their education outside their home country. However, getting admitted into a university in the UK is no easy feat as they have high entry requirements and very low acceptance rates.
With a second class lower than CGPA some people might be wondering if it is possible to study in the UK. They might start getting worried that it is a really low GPA and it would not get them into any university there. A lot of students make the mistake of thinking getting a second class lower means they cannot further their education but more often than not, that is not usually the case.
It is, however, natural to feel like your hopes have been dashed having earned a lower-class degree but it is not the end yet, there are a lot of factors that admissions teams take into consideration before giving admission to applicants.
If you had a second class lower and are interested in knowing if it is possible to further then keep reading our blog to find answers to your question.
GRADING SYSTEM FOR UNDERGRADUATES IN THE UK
Understanding the grading system of the university you want to apply it is of great importance. You need to understand this grading system in order to convert your grades and compare that to your university grade requirements.
Universities in the UK use a letter grade scale from A to F to indicate their students’ academic performance. If you get an A it means you have shown outstanding knowledge but if you get an F it only means your score is not sufficient to pass the exam.
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Below are grades you can take at university in the UK
Grade letter Percentage score Degree
A 70%-100% First class
B 60%-69% Second class upper
C 50%-59% Second class lower
D 40%-49% Third class
E 30%-39% Fail
F 0%-29% Fail
If you can remember I already mentioned that universities in the UK tend to be highly specific when evaluating their students’ academic scores. This is to say that not all students who have an A have performed the same.
This marking principle is not just limited to the fact that all students who have the same grade lie in different mark bands. At the undergraduate level, the classification of final degrees is also according to overall students’ academic performance.
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MASTERS DEGREE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE UK
Postgraduate admissions guidelines in the UK vary by course and university and can be quite flexible. The master’s degree program is meant for those who have already completed a bachelor’s degree or any other undergraduate course and as such, the main requirement to apply for a master’s degree program is an undergraduate degree certificate in any relevant course.
Your existing qualification is needed but you do not need to have a great bachelor’s degree before you can apply for a master’s program, your personal situations and experience may also be considered during the admission process.
some other entry requirements include:
- Depending on the program and institution, a minimum CGPA of the second class upper which is 2.1 is required but this is not the case for all universities.
- Those who do not speak or write English fluently because it is not their first language would need to take a language test to show their ability level.
- Entrance exams might be required but only in certain subject areas and qualifications, including some MBAs.
- For some postgraduate programs you might be required to have some level of professional experience but this is usually the case for Masters in social work.
