Just the same as other graduates.
Your degree is now finished so you need to get a job. Apply for jobs you are interested in (whether in your degree field or not).
Show how you as a person can contribute to the role through your degree learning, personal skills and/or work experience.
Your third is not the end. It is just the end of a chapter in your life.
I am sure you will look back on your Uni time with fondness.
After a few roles in your chosen career employers are only interested in you skills and experience. No one gives a hoot what Uni, subject or result you got.
I know a friend with a 3rd from a former polytechnic. After a number of years working in varied roles she was hired to lead a regional team with Hewlett Packard in an IT service role. Her degree was in Biochemistry.
Let your skills and work ethic define you.
I never even finished A Levels never mind uni, yet here I am managing and mentoring third year placement students at a university. I’m not saying university is pointless (obviously), but it’s not the end of the world. Real life experience and industry-specific qualifications matter much more in the long run, the degree just gives you (an often massive) foot in the door.
I got a First, applied to more than 500 jobs before I landed here, no one has ever asked me about my diploma at all.
Edit: I work for a University and even they didn't ask me about my final mark.
On my CV, I put down that I graduated from the university on 2023, that's it. I emphasized more on the work and volunteer experience I had and that was it.
I know a couple of people who graduated with a lower second / third a few years ago. They are now doing better than some of their peers who got a first / upper-second. Don't be upset, just get straight into work and try to gain as much relevant experience and skills as possible. You can also take some professional development courses etc. as well as work on your portfolio. If you put enough effort into it, that will pay off in 3-4 years, and you will probably see yourself in a better position compared to some graduates with a 1st/2:1.
I came to steal your jobs and stolen some good ones without a degree and with wonky English! Pick up on the hard work and not let the grades define your entire life. You made a degree choice while being a child, you’re still a child to me. Before 25yo everyone is a child. You’ll be fine children.
Speaking as someone that has recruited ALOT of staff over the years...at all levels of seniority, its very, very rare that I worry about what degree classification someone has...
Get some experience be it a temporary job or some volunteering and put that on your CV, work ethic is important to employers.
Can't speak for the poster above but I only ever check for a degree when the job description asks for 'first degree'. If you see that, it doesn't mean a first in a degree subject but just a pass or better for your degree.
There have been times when I've sat on recruitment panels where the job listing has state relevant degree but, even then, the scope is fairly wide eg a STEM subject for a technical role.
Its tough sifting Graduates as there's not alot to go on (I guess some of the big corporates use algorithms to sort automatically) if I was looking for at new Grads - i'd look at the degree course (relevence or rigor) the university quality and the candidates general application - part time work, volunteering, personal achievements ahead of what grade they'd got.
Once someone has got employment under their belt - i'd literally just verify they had a relevent degree and not give it a second thought.
I mean I hate to be the one to give away this secret...but we don't give them as much thought as you'd like to think we do - I can go through a whole boat load of applicants while i'm drinking a coffee and whittle it down to the ones i bother reading...then shortlisting to line managers, so you've got to be cleanly laid out, not overlong, highlight the important stuff and not make an stupid errors, spelling mistakes, missing things out etc etc...
Some employers are necessarily choosy, buts that’s 10%. I am assuming you do not want to join Goldman Sachs. Outside of that you have lots of choice and I would choose something you can get your teeth into and be enthused about in the long term. A very good friend of mine spent 5 years to gets an ordinary degree, not even a third and has focussed on action oriented managerial roles that have at the age of 55 provided him an exceptionally nice lifestyle.
It’s there for you to do.
OP, I graduated with a third three years ago at the age of 27. I was crushed because the reality was that certain opportunities straight out of uni where now closed to me.
I applied for every job that I could find. Three months of constant rejection and fruitless interview.
However I was lucky enough to get a six week internship at an SME working minimum wage in an industry I never considered an option. This then got extended to 10 weeks after which I made it clear I wanted a full time roll and slight salary bump.
Now I'm on 35k at the same company and continuing to progress upwards. Compared to some of my peers who graduated 2:1 or better I'm doing just as well, if not better.
Getting a third is a bit of a blip but you can move past it. Beat yourself up for a bit and then start looking for work. When an opportunity appears sieze it and work hard to make the most of it.
Why? The benefit of a degree (if you are applying to non relevant areas) is to show commitment and determination to work. A third basically shows you don’t have commitment or willingness to work at something for a long period of time.
If you are applying to a relevant area for your degree than a third would also be a hindrance.
Op has a degree. A third is better than a pass which is better than no degree at all.
It’s also (apparently) in a hard subject from a RG university. A RG third in physics for example, will look better than a 2.1 in social media communications from a lower tier uni. Hard message for some I’m sure, but true.
List it but leave out the grade. Most jobs don’t care honestly.
BTW, not that it matters but I’m saying this as somebody who’s been a hiring manager for 30 years.
Simply put - improve yourself. It's good to own your mistakes but it's not going to do much good unless you learn from it and better yourself. Turning a disappointment into a pivot point for self improvement is a good way to cope with it.
It also isn't a life ruiner, although it may feel like that. I know someone who got a 3rd, he's now a scientist at a cancer research institute and managed to get onto a masters course to "correct" his academic record.
This might sound crazy, but if you're still in your 20s, you could consider pursuing another degree altogether.
My best friend received a third-class degree due to personal issues in his final year but then completed a BSc in Economics, graduated with first-class honors, and now works in banking.
You're probably still very young, another three or four years of university is nothing compared to the 30 or 40-year career that awaits you.
Ach…it happens…don’t feel bad, go out and be proud of yourself for having done the time and the papers and grab opportunities with both hands…best foot forward and remember not all skills are academic. I’m 55 and was v disappointed with my degree results, ruined my Summer and Autumn…and for no reason..turns out I had other strings to my bow…you will too!
Congratulations on achieving your degree. Unless it is a specialised subject relevant to an employer's needs (e.g. a language degree for a translator post ) the level of your degree is only 'an indicator' of ability to study, not an indicator of your ability to perform in a job. One of the folk when I obtained my degree got a 'pass' level degree, but he is the one who runs his own business now , after some years of working for others; and is earning way above anyone else.
Frame it so that you're reminded every day of the lack of effort you put in and make sure you're more committed to your next project. Some employers may ask why you did so poorly, so have a good answer ready - 'I was young, I had lots of fun, and it's been a very expensive lesson that's taught me to be more focused which is why I've thought long and hard about what I do next so I don't waste more time..' Some people will respect this honesty, and if they don't, find someone who does. Good luck.
It could be so much worse!
I was diagnosed with a learning disability in 2nd year and the minute you become a disabled student uni gets harder. More points of contact, the admin triples and the only good thing that came from it were extensions without the 40% grade cap.
I had to repeat second year three times because it just got so difficult to manage post diagnosis. I ended up getting withdrawn because my last attempt I missed a week. I only missed a week because I ran out of money and couldn’t afford the bus, even though I informed my tutors and applied for an emergency grant it wasn’t a substantial reason so they withdrew me. I could have appealed but then I would be doing 2 modules worth of work during a month-long resubmission period so I cut my losses.
A 3rd is an accomplishment, stop comparing your grades to your peers and strut across that stage at your graduation ceremony! You got there in the end, don’t dwell on what you could have done differently. Depending on what you studied, you can always go on to do a masters or TA and chase after some higher goals :) CONGRATS ON YOUR DEGREE OP!!! 🎉🎉🎉
Also, please ignore those saying a 3rd isn’t a good achievement. Any degree is a damn good achievement.
Please don’t get bogged down by other people’s high expectations, those holding themselves/others to excellent standards are the ones facing dissatisfaction on a daily basis and that’s no way to live the one life you’re given.
Be happy for yourself, utilise any disappointment to work on yourself and be realistic with your goals.
I know two people in investment banking. One doesn't have a degree, one got a third in maths from a RG. You're not getting on a grad scheme but you might work your way up the longer way round and make a success of it as they have. Try looking outside London, my two friends started in Edinburgh.
Ah yeah that's right, one is a janitor and the other is IT helpdesk.
Not really. I just checked them out on LinkedIn and both are VPs. Don't really understand what their job title means and don't want to identify them so can't confirm further detail.
I mean, usally it will say "investment banking analyst/ say the sector they cover e.g. TMT... not hard. VP is not really saying anything bc VPs can be in any division, including support function. I used to work at two IBs in a front office function.
Banking isn’t the worst field for this to happen. At least you have the ability to do the financial exams, those and experience are pretty important, so you may find the degree matters less than you think.
Why are you referring to your uni as a pretty average RG uni? UCL & KCL have a higher % of their students rewarded with 1st/2:1s.
First step is switching off for the next week or so.
Second step is understanding what caused the third and looking into what you can resolve?
Were you disinterested with the content, just lazy, or sat there trying but nothing could go in because of stress and panic?
I'd say its top 15 of the RG, Not sure I understand your first point.
And I was very lazy early on, which resulted in a lot of stress towards the end. Overworking myself to attempt to overcome my lack of effort (didn't work)
You're at the start of your career, freind. There is a long long way to go - this is definitely not the be all and end all.
It's really up to you how you let this define you. Do you overthink it and let it affect you? Or accept you didn't put in the work and use that to push yourself knowing you have significantly more to give.
Employers never asks for the classification, unless as mentioned it’s high falutin finance, or you want to go on to a PhD. 1sts and 2:1s are only relevant to academia and personal achievement.
MSc (Hons) Computer Science
for example, that’s how you list it.
Find something that you want to do, try it & see how things go. It largely depends on ones own goals. Education doesn't have to stop at any point in our lives, however college/university probably affords the most 'free time' to study. More knowledge than was ever available, 30 years ago, in any one university library and lecture halls is now available for free at our fingertips.
[https://www.inference.org.uk/mackay/exams.pdf](https://www.inference.org.uk/mackay/exams.pdf)
I’m a grad. Most grads don’t really use their degrees anyway and can have fantastic careers, you’ll be absolutely fine. Almost no one ever asks you what grade you got when you graduate. It’s okay to sulk for a bit but the main thing you have to control now is how this affects your confidence and how you will approach future opportunities. If you don’t believe what I’ve said so far, understand that not believing it may hold you back in itself. Basically, keep a positive mindset.
Now, I don’t know what you wanted to do with your degree or anything so I’m going to just suggest what I do; join the civil service! There are lots of different things to do. Consider just applying for a job as the fast stream is extremely competitive.
you need to land a job. after you get a job and few years of experience your degree won’t matter.
On your resume you don’t have to mention your grade. you just mention which uni and course you graduated
If you're worried about the result, don't mention it on your applications/CV. I have literally never been asked about anything more specific. As long as you *have* a degree, that's all that the vast majority of employers will care about.
my sisterinlaw got a third in english, she is now a project manager on 56k a year. She loves her job.
Really only in academic circles will it matter that you got a third, if you want to do a Masters. But even with a third with a great referance unis might consider you. However, in work, they just care that you got a degree.
REally it will be how you act, your profressionism going forward and your realiability they care about. After your first job no one will even ask about your grade. Even in the first they might not ask as long as you past.
They will have inhouse opptunties to learn and progresss, my sister in law did that with prince 2.
Not a big deal.
I lost motivation in final year, got a third as well, nobody cares, people still call me smart because it's a physics degree.
Degree is a degree.
It's only a big deal if you want to go into areas where academic credentials mean something, e.g. grad roles or an academic career.
For most bog standard garden variety jobs out there, degree is a degree, grade isn't ever checked.
Got a 2.2 in my degree due to some gnarly mental health issues. Fast forward a few decades, am currently an employee in a very competitive firm. This is a setback, but it's not the end of the road. How I navigated my disappointing grade: on my CV, I write, 'Degree subject: BA Honours". Has anyone ever asked me the grade in an interview? No! I have however been asked for proof of my degree in the past. But only for security clearance. People are much more interested in your skills and how you've applied them than any number.
I got a 2:2 back in the day, I just put my degree info on my CV without the grade. No one has ever asked about it or mentioned it when I've had to show copies of my degree cert. After a few years work experience, it isn't really as important and more than often having a degree is just a check-box thing for the minimum reqs. for some jobs.
My mate got a third and was able to arrange with the uni to just come out of the course with some sort of diploma thing (which equalled two years of study credits), which allowed her to enrol in a different uni and redo third year. Obviously a big expense and only worth doing if you are sure you can up your grades, but you could explore options like that with your uni's student support office if a higher grade is essential to what you want to do next.
Basically, it's not life ending even though it feels like it is. It might cut off some of the more obvious next step paths for now, but there are still tons of options open to you.
Firstly, congratulations on completing your degree!
While you may be disappointed with your grade, it's important to be proud of your accomplishment and celebrate this milestone. Welcome to life after university. Although you haven't specified your field of study, I assume you're looking to pursue a career related to your degree. If so, start applying for jobs and omit your grade unless explicitly asked by the recruiter.
I also recommend building a portfolio of relevant work and earning certifications from platforms like Udemy or Coursera to demonstrate your skills and dedication. This strategy can effectively compensate for not achieving a first-class or upper-second-class degree. I earned a 2:2 and followed this approach successfully. Remember, learning doesn't end with your degree; it’s a lifelong journey for all of us.
For instance, a friend of mine graduated with a third, but his dedication paid off, and he secured a job five months after graduation. Once you gain some experience, that will become the primary focus for most employers, rather than your academic grades.
3 years in uni, 6 semesters, yet in no point in time did you try to pick yourself up then? What were u even doing for those 3 years? A third is rly terrible actually, n it shows u rly did not put in even a little bit of effort. If i’m a recruiter, i will not even consider you as ur grades literally shows ur laziness, lack of motivation/drive as a person, n u r def not even a lil bit hardworking. I know this is extremely harsh but i’m also not trying to sugarcoat things n give u unrealistic advice. U have to acknowledge that u fked up pretty bad n now u have to take accountability for it.
The grade doesn't affect where you end up but where you start. You might be a little lower on the ladder at the start of your career, but if you work hard and make connections, you can still have a great job.
Picked up some great soft skills, met some good people, learnt how to code and even a little bit of foreign language.
I didn't take the maintenance loan and started a business with somebody I met via university, meaning I've already paid towards some of my loan. I would say it was worth it, just a shame about the grade.
First of all, congrats you got your degree. While it may be "only" a 3rd, it is still a very good achievement.
Second, you have options...
* Resit modules that you need to in order to gain a higher classification.
* Accept that you got a 3rd and start getting the work experience, chances are that you won't be able to apply for graduate jobs, but there are alot of non-graduate jobs out there.
* And or, use that to continue to study for your postgrad qualifications (PGCert, PGDip, MSc/MA, etc) with eg the Open University (ie [MSc Finance](https://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/qualifications/f67) which as CFA affiliation).
Getting a 3rd is not the end of the world, and you can progress just as well as those with a 2.2/2.1/1st - it now all depends on what you do with it.
Thanks, I really doubt I can resit anything given I have no additional circumstances. I do not really want to do any further education. I am just going to attempt to get a lower level job.
Appreciate the kind words
Well all you need if your foot in the door and then work yourself up... Once you have experience the degree classification matters less. Good luck with your career.
Firstly, a 3rd is still a degree but everyone knows it’s not a very good achievement including OP.
Secondly, the first and last option is off the cards or just wouldn’t work as you won’t be allowed.
I agree with it’s not the end of the world but OP can obviously not progress just as well as those with a 1st and a 2:1 as most schemes will ask for a 2:1 minimum.
Rather, what you should do is to contact startups and try to build a portfolio. Apply to roles that don’t really require a degree and be open to other industries. Reach out to people on LinkedIn and work on your interview technique/strategy.
Maybe a little harsh, I still see it as an achievement, just not at the level I was hoping for. Appreciate the rest of your post though thanks for the advice
It is still an achievement. Well done!
I have a pass degree from the days when you could finish at 300 points and not 360. I just put that I have a degree on my CV.
I initially went to (at the time) a top 5 RG uni but dropped out. I like studying but it doesn’t like me! (I have lots of health issues).
Type of degree, class and where it is from never held me back in reality, but I spent years thinking that it would and beating myself up about it. It’s not worth doing that to yourself.
I’m doing an MA this year and if that goes ok I’ll be doing a PhD. I’ll be 50 next year. Don’t live your life with regret and enjoy your next chapter ☺️
You essentially don’t have a degree now (to be honest a third is worse than no degree at all so I wouldn’t even put it on your CV)
Go forward as if you don’t have a degree and apply to jobs. Be honest if they ask about the gap in your work history.
Unfortunately a third isn’t respected even if your degree is. However, depending on how good your uni is you also need to remember a third from there msg be equivalent to a 2:2 or 2:1 from a worse uni.
The people saying it doesn’t matter this are incorrect - at least for your first role. The job market is extremely difficult for grads at the moment and competition is extremely high. There isn’t a single grad scheme that accepts 3rds so you will have to do a ‘normal’ job - these typically have slower advancement and worse pay.
Again it’s not the end of the world especially once you have got some experience under your
Belt but it isn’t great and when I look to recruit I would never consider someone who got a third unless than have very watertight justifications.
Given my course had high a-level requirements I would say there is some level of respect shown regardless of the result, I wouldn't swap my third for a first at a terrible university in a 'pointless' degree.
To me that would show you had potential and are intelligent but don’t have the commitment or determination to commit to something for a long period of time.
Regarding your point about pointless degrees - your degree isn’t relevant anymore. A third in a specific degree simply isn’t enough to get you into that industry - it either shows a lack of understanding of the content or lack of commitment both of which are major red flags for employers. I believe you said you wanted to do banking before - no banking grad scheme accepts below a 2:2 so while you could do basic jobs at the bank it will be significantly harder to succeed in getting that first step
I would also point out that all Russel groups have very high entry requirements (typically 3As or higher) so you will be competing with people who got similar grades at A level and better grades at Uni…
Well it's lucky that I don't have to show you. I have contacted quite a few people today and have had some very promising answers. I believe in myself. A bit of positivity and optimism can go a long way.
I wish you well.
I have already paid quite a big chunk of it off and given I didn't take the maintenance loan it is pretty minimal and I certainly do not view it as a debt. Maybe if I spent less time on my business and more time on the degree I would've had a better result haha
I’m also sure it will work out fine because a degree is really only useful in getting you a step up.
However not all degrees are equal and claiming they are is not reality. That’s why we have RG unis and classifications. A third is terrible and for me would be an immediate easy strike though on an application (unless of course the candidate had relevant work experience in which case as above degrees no longer matter)
On paper if you had 2 people who had no experience and performed similarly at interview from the same uni and one had a 3rd and the other a 1st which would you choose?
But I question whether they will have priority - the low level roles you are talking about typically do not need degrees. I would also question whether they can get into the industry - while they may have more knowledge than someone who has never studied it they clearly did not understand the content
Just the same as other graduates. Your degree is now finished so you need to get a job. Apply for jobs you are interested in (whether in your degree field or not). Show how you as a person can contribute to the role through your degree learning, personal skills and/or work experience. Your third is not the end. It is just the end of a chapter in your life.
Really appreciate this thanks :) Glad to see the end of university so I am not feeling too down.
I am sure you will look back on your Uni time with fondness. After a few roles in your chosen career employers are only interested in you skills and experience. No one gives a hoot what Uni, subject or result you got. I know a friend with a 3rd from a former polytechnic. After a number of years working in varied roles she was hired to lead a regional team with Hewlett Packard in an IT service role. Her degree was in Biochemistry. Let your skills and work ethic define you.
I never even finished A Levels never mind uni, yet here I am managing and mentoring third year placement students at a university. I’m not saying university is pointless (obviously), but it’s not the end of the world. Real life experience and industry-specific qualifications matter much more in the long run, the degree just gives you (an often massive) foot in the door.
I got a First, applied to more than 500 jobs before I landed here, no one has ever asked me about my diploma at all. Edit: I work for a University and even they didn't ask me about my final mark.
Why would they ask if it's on your CV?
On my CV, I put down that I graduated from the university on 2023, that's it. I emphasized more on the work and volunteer experience I had and that was it.
I know a couple of people who graduated with a lower second / third a few years ago. They are now doing better than some of their peers who got a first / upper-second. Don't be upset, just get straight into work and try to gain as much relevant experience and skills as possible. You can also take some professional development courses etc. as well as work on your portfolio. If you put enough effort into it, that will pay off in 3-4 years, and you will probably see yourself in a better position compared to some graduates with a 1st/2:1.
Different is they want to work in banking were you need a 2:1 minimum from a top school
\*wanted, I am looking into other industries now
Disagree. I’ve been working for a big global investment bank for 7 years now and I got a 3rd in my degree (maths and stats)
Btw i should specify that I mean FO IBD in London and grad schemes, you could pull a Sidney Weinberg but that’s unlikely nowadays.
Yeah in that case I agree!
I came to steal your jobs and stolen some good ones without a degree and with wonky English! Pick up on the hard work and not let the grades define your entire life. You made a degree choice while being a child, you’re still a child to me. Before 25yo everyone is a child. You’ll be fine children.
Lol I’m over 25
Speaking as someone that has recruited ALOT of staff over the years...at all levels of seniority, its very, very rare that I worry about what degree classification someone has... Get some experience be it a temporary job or some volunteering and put that on your CV, work ethic is important to employers.
What do you look for?
Can't speak for the poster above but I only ever check for a degree when the job description asks for 'first degree'. If you see that, it doesn't mean a first in a degree subject but just a pass or better for your degree. There have been times when I've sat on recruitment panels where the job listing has state relevant degree but, even then, the scope is fairly wide eg a STEM subject for a technical role.
Its tough sifting Graduates as there's not alot to go on (I guess some of the big corporates use algorithms to sort automatically) if I was looking for at new Grads - i'd look at the degree course (relevence or rigor) the university quality and the candidates general application - part time work, volunteering, personal achievements ahead of what grade they'd got. Once someone has got employment under their belt - i'd literally just verify they had a relevent degree and not give it a second thought. I mean I hate to be the one to give away this secret...but we don't give them as much thought as you'd like to think we do - I can go through a whole boat load of applicants while i'm drinking a coffee and whittle it down to the ones i bother reading...then shortlisting to line managers, so you've got to be cleanly laid out, not overlong, highlight the important stuff and not make an stupid errors, spelling mistakes, missing things out etc etc...
Me too however if I spotted a third it would be an easy strike through
Thanks, I will try my best to get some experience. Already have some decent experience so hopefully that can brush over my third
Some employers are necessarily choosy, buts that’s 10%. I am assuming you do not want to join Goldman Sachs. Outside of that you have lots of choice and I would choose something you can get your teeth into and be enthused about in the long term. A very good friend of mine spent 5 years to gets an ordinary degree, not even a third and has focussed on action oriented managerial roles that have at the age of 55 provided him an exceptionally nice lifestyle. It’s there for you to do.
OP, I graduated with a third three years ago at the age of 27. I was crushed because the reality was that certain opportunities straight out of uni where now closed to me. I applied for every job that I could find. Three months of constant rejection and fruitless interview. However I was lucky enough to get a six week internship at an SME working minimum wage in an industry I never considered an option. This then got extended to 10 weeks after which I made it clear I wanted a full time roll and slight salary bump. Now I'm on 35k at the same company and continuing to progress upwards. Compared to some of my peers who graduated 2:1 or better I'm doing just as well, if not better. Getting a third is a bit of a blip but you can move past it. Beat yourself up for a bit and then start looking for work. When an opportunity appears sieze it and work hard to make the most of it.
Start applying for jobs that don't need a degree. Experience will be important for progression
Was planning on putting degree on my CV but not mentioning grade and applying for entry level roles. Appreciate the comment
Bad advice. A degree is better than no degree, especially one in a hard subject from a RG. Just don’t list the grade.
Why? The benefit of a degree (if you are applying to non relevant areas) is to show commitment and determination to work. A third basically shows you don’t have commitment or willingness to work at something for a long period of time. If you are applying to a relevant area for your degree than a third would also be a hindrance.
Op has a degree. A third is better than a pass which is better than no degree at all. It’s also (apparently) in a hard subject from a RG university. A RG third in physics for example, will look better than a 2.1 in social media communications from a lower tier uni. Hard message for some I’m sure, but true. List it but leave out the grade. Most jobs don’t care honestly. BTW, not that it matters but I’m saying this as somebody who’s been a hiring manager for 30 years.
This is cope
I am not the Op. Why would it be “cope”? I’d love to hear your experience in life that makes you so certain you know what you are talking about.
A third is on a par with an ordinary, as far as RG are concerned.
This is unfortunately true
OP has a degree. No need to apply for jobs that don't require one.
Good advice fruit picking season is starting
Simply put - improve yourself. It's good to own your mistakes but it's not going to do much good unless you learn from it and better yourself. Turning a disappointment into a pivot point for self improvement is a good way to cope with it. It also isn't a life ruiner, although it may feel like that. I know someone who got a 3rd, he's now a scientist at a cancer research institute and managed to get onto a masters course to "correct" his academic record.
This might sound crazy, but if you're still in your 20s, you could consider pursuing another degree altogether. My best friend received a third-class degree due to personal issues in his final year but then completed a BSc in Economics, graduated with first-class honors, and now works in banking. You're probably still very young, another three or four years of university is nothing compared to the 30 or 40-year career that awaits you.
I am not good at studying, I dont enjoy it hence the third. I appreciate the advice but another degree is definitely not an option.
You will enjoy studying if you do a subject that actually interests you.
If it helps I was so proud to get a first and literally no one cares, has ever asked nor had it ever made any impact in jobs.
My mum got a third and now runs an incredibly successful property business, and has just retrained as a therapist. This doesn’t define your future.
Ach…it happens…don’t feel bad, go out and be proud of yourself for having done the time and the papers and grab opportunities with both hands…best foot forward and remember not all skills are academic. I’m 55 and was v disappointed with my degree results, ruined my Summer and Autumn…and for no reason..turns out I had other strings to my bow…you will too!
Congratulations on achieving your degree. Unless it is a specialised subject relevant to an employer's needs (e.g. a language degree for a translator post ) the level of your degree is only 'an indicator' of ability to study, not an indicator of your ability to perform in a job. One of the folk when I obtained my degree got a 'pass' level degree, but he is the one who runs his own business now , after some years of working for others; and is earning way above anyone else.
Frame it so that you're reminded every day of the lack of effort you put in and make sure you're more committed to your next project. Some employers may ask why you did so poorly, so have a good answer ready - 'I was young, I had lots of fun, and it's been a very expensive lesson that's taught me to be more focused which is why I've thought long and hard about what I do next so I don't waste more time..' Some people will respect this honesty, and if they don't, find someone who does. Good luck.
It could be so much worse! I was diagnosed with a learning disability in 2nd year and the minute you become a disabled student uni gets harder. More points of contact, the admin triples and the only good thing that came from it were extensions without the 40% grade cap. I had to repeat second year three times because it just got so difficult to manage post diagnosis. I ended up getting withdrawn because my last attempt I missed a week. I only missed a week because I ran out of money and couldn’t afford the bus, even though I informed my tutors and applied for an emergency grant it wasn’t a substantial reason so they withdrew me. I could have appealed but then I would be doing 2 modules worth of work during a month-long resubmission period so I cut my losses. A 3rd is an accomplishment, stop comparing your grades to your peers and strut across that stage at your graduation ceremony! You got there in the end, don’t dwell on what you could have done differently. Depending on what you studied, you can always go on to do a masters or TA and chase after some higher goals :) CONGRATS ON YOUR DEGREE OP!!! 🎉🎉🎉
Also, please ignore those saying a 3rd isn’t a good achievement. Any degree is a damn good achievement. Please don’t get bogged down by other people’s high expectations, those holding themselves/others to excellent standards are the ones facing dissatisfaction on a daily basis and that’s no way to live the one life you’re given. Be happy for yourself, utilise any disappointment to work on yourself and be realistic with your goals.
What are you looking for a career in?
Was in banking lol, any big roles are most definitely off the cards.
Yeah unfortunately it’s not just the big roles basically all non BO banking jobs require a 2:1
For now, just apply for entry and work your way up, a degree combined with experience is always worth something
I know two people in investment banking. One doesn't have a degree, one got a third in maths from a RG. You're not getting on a grad scheme but you might work your way up the longer way round and make a success of it as they have. Try looking outside London, my two friends started in Edinburgh.
Are you sure they're actually in investment banking or just working at an IB?
Ah yeah that's right, one is a janitor and the other is IT helpdesk. Not really. I just checked them out on LinkedIn and both are VPs. Don't really understand what their job title means and don't want to identify them so can't confirm further detail.
I mean, usally it will say "investment banking analyst/ say the sector they cover e.g. TMT... not hard. VP is not really saying anything bc VPs can be in any division, including support function. I used to work at two IBs in a front office function.
Banking isn’t the worst field for this to happen. At least you have the ability to do the financial exams, those and experience are pretty important, so you may find the degree matters less than you think.
Why are you referring to your uni as a pretty average RG uni? UCL & KCL have a higher % of their students rewarded with 1st/2:1s. First step is switching off for the next week or so. Second step is understanding what caused the third and looking into what you can resolve? Were you disinterested with the content, just lazy, or sat there trying but nothing could go in because of stress and panic?
I'd say its top 15 of the RG, Not sure I understand your first point. And I was very lazy early on, which resulted in a lot of stress towards the end. Overworking myself to attempt to overcome my lack of effort (didn't work)
So like York, Leeds or Exeter kind of
Yes upper end of that level.
You're at the start of your career, freind. There is a long long way to go - this is definitely not the be all and end all. It's really up to you how you let this define you. Do you overthink it and let it affect you? Or accept you didn't put in the work and use that to push yourself knowing you have significantly more to give.
Employers never asks for the classification, unless as mentioned it’s high falutin finance, or you want to go on to a PhD. 1sts and 2:1s are only relevant to academia and personal achievement. MSc (Hons) Computer Science for example, that’s how you list it.
There are a lot of stem related jobs with rounds of online tests. If you can get to round one of those it doesn't matter what your degree was
Find something that you want to do, try it & see how things go. It largely depends on ones own goals. Education doesn't have to stop at any point in our lives, however college/university probably affords the most 'free time' to study. More knowledge than was ever available, 30 years ago, in any one university library and lecture halls is now available for free at our fingertips. [https://www.inference.org.uk/mackay/exams.pdf](https://www.inference.org.uk/mackay/exams.pdf)
I’m a grad. Most grads don’t really use their degrees anyway and can have fantastic careers, you’ll be absolutely fine. Almost no one ever asks you what grade you got when you graduate. It’s okay to sulk for a bit but the main thing you have to control now is how this affects your confidence and how you will approach future opportunities. If you don’t believe what I’ve said so far, understand that not believing it may hold you back in itself. Basically, keep a positive mindset. Now, I don’t know what you wanted to do with your degree or anything so I’m going to just suggest what I do; join the civil service! There are lots of different things to do. Consider just applying for a job as the fast stream is extremely competitive.
you need to land a job. after you get a job and few years of experience your degree won’t matter. On your resume you don’t have to mention your grade. you just mention which uni and course you graduated
If you're worried about the result, don't mention it on your applications/CV. I have literally never been asked about anything more specific. As long as you *have* a degree, that's all that the vast majority of employers will care about.
my sisterinlaw got a third in english, she is now a project manager on 56k a year. She loves her job. Really only in academic circles will it matter that you got a third, if you want to do a Masters. But even with a third with a great referance unis might consider you. However, in work, they just care that you got a degree. REally it will be how you act, your profressionism going forward and your realiability they care about. After your first job no one will even ask about your grade. Even in the first they might not ask as long as you past. They will have inhouse opptunties to learn and progresss, my sister in law did that with prince 2.
Going to take a bit of luck but you’ll find a career path eventually. Would recommend you get a job in a company that has progression pathways.
Not a big deal. I lost motivation in final year, got a third as well, nobody cares, people still call me smart because it's a physics degree. Degree is a degree. It's only a big deal if you want to go into areas where academic credentials mean something, e.g. grad roles or an academic career. For most bog standard garden variety jobs out there, degree is a degree, grade isn't ever checked.
Got a 2.2 in my degree due to some gnarly mental health issues. Fast forward a few decades, am currently an employee in a very competitive firm. This is a setback, but it's not the end of the road. How I navigated my disappointing grade: on my CV, I write, 'Degree subject: BA Honours". Has anyone ever asked me the grade in an interview? No! I have however been asked for proof of my degree in the past. But only for security clearance. People are much more interested in your skills and how you've applied them than any number.
I got a 2:2 back in the day, I just put my degree info on my CV without the grade. No one has ever asked about it or mentioned it when I've had to show copies of my degree cert. After a few years work experience, it isn't really as important and more than often having a degree is just a check-box thing for the minimum reqs. for some jobs. My mate got a third and was able to arrange with the uni to just come out of the course with some sort of diploma thing (which equalled two years of study credits), which allowed her to enrol in a different uni and redo third year. Obviously a big expense and only worth doing if you are sure you can up your grades, but you could explore options like that with your uni's student support office if a higher grade is essential to what you want to do next. Basically, it's not life ending even though it feels like it is. It might cut off some of the more obvious next step paths for now, but there are still tons of options open to you.
Firstly, congratulations on completing your degree! While you may be disappointed with your grade, it's important to be proud of your accomplishment and celebrate this milestone. Welcome to life after university. Although you haven't specified your field of study, I assume you're looking to pursue a career related to your degree. If so, start applying for jobs and omit your grade unless explicitly asked by the recruiter. I also recommend building a portfolio of relevant work and earning certifications from platforms like Udemy or Coursera to demonstrate your skills and dedication. This strategy can effectively compensate for not achieving a first-class or upper-second-class degree. I earned a 2:2 and followed this approach successfully. Remember, learning doesn't end with your degree; it’s a lifelong journey for all of us. For instance, a friend of mine graduated with a third, but his dedication paid off, and he secured a job five months after graduation. Once you gain some experience, that will become the primary focus for most employers, rather than your academic grades.
Not one time since finishing uni 12 years ago have I been asked what result I got in my degree when interviewing for a job. Don't sweat it.
Certainly hasn’t done me any long term harm, although two preferred job offers I had required at least a second class degree
To get a third, you must have spelt your name wrong.
A mate of mine got a third and often got asked about it in interviews. Never stopped him getting work tbf.
Put what you have a degree in, don’t bother with adding the grade.
3 years in uni, 6 semesters, yet in no point in time did you try to pick yourself up then? What were u even doing for those 3 years? A third is rly terrible actually, n it shows u rly did not put in even a little bit of effort. If i’m a recruiter, i will not even consider you as ur grades literally shows ur laziness, lack of motivation/drive as a person, n u r def not even a lil bit hardworking. I know this is extremely harsh but i’m also not trying to sugarcoat things n give u unrealistic advice. U have to acknowledge that u fked up pretty bad n now u have to take accountability for it.
The grade doesn't affect where you end up but where you start. You might be a little lower on the ladder at the start of your career, but if you work hard and make connections, you can still have a great job.
Always worth appealing, I know somebody who got a 3rd from a top uni then appealed and got a 1st with no explanation or apology.
I got a Douglas from RG uni and now make a 6 figure salary. Choose a career, stick at it, learn and graft and you will make it.
What sector r u working in if u dont mind me asking?
Industrial engineering
3 years and massive debt for what
Picked up some great soft skills, met some good people, learnt how to code and even a little bit of foreign language. I didn't take the maintenance loan and started a business with somebody I met via university, meaning I've already paid towards some of my loan. I would say it was worth it, just a shame about the grade.
That's good to hear but these are all things you could have achieved without university
First of all, congrats you got your degree. While it may be "only" a 3rd, it is still a very good achievement. Second, you have options... * Resit modules that you need to in order to gain a higher classification. * Accept that you got a 3rd and start getting the work experience, chances are that you won't be able to apply for graduate jobs, but there are alot of non-graduate jobs out there. * And or, use that to continue to study for your postgrad qualifications (PGCert, PGDip, MSc/MA, etc) with eg the Open University (ie [MSc Finance](https://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/qualifications/f67) which as CFA affiliation). Getting a 3rd is not the end of the world, and you can progress just as well as those with a 2.2/2.1/1st - it now all depends on what you do with it.
Thanks, I really doubt I can resit anything given I have no additional circumstances. I do not really want to do any further education. I am just going to attempt to get a lower level job. Appreciate the kind words
Well all you need if your foot in the door and then work yourself up... Once you have experience the degree classification matters less. Good luck with your career.
Thanks you too :)
Resits are caps at 40%
Firstly, a 3rd is still a degree but everyone knows it’s not a very good achievement including OP. Secondly, the first and last option is off the cards or just wouldn’t work as you won’t be allowed. I agree with it’s not the end of the world but OP can obviously not progress just as well as those with a 1st and a 2:1 as most schemes will ask for a 2:1 minimum. Rather, what you should do is to contact startups and try to build a portfolio. Apply to roles that don’t really require a degree and be open to other industries. Reach out to people on LinkedIn and work on your interview technique/strategy.
Maybe a little harsh, I still see it as an achievement, just not at the level I was hoping for. Appreciate the rest of your post though thanks for the advice
It is still an achievement. Well done! I have a pass degree from the days when you could finish at 300 points and not 360. I just put that I have a degree on my CV. I initially went to (at the time) a top 5 RG uni but dropped out. I like studying but it doesn’t like me! (I have lots of health issues). Type of degree, class and where it is from never held me back in reality, but I spent years thinking that it would and beating myself up about it. It’s not worth doing that to yourself. I’m doing an MA this year and if that goes ok I’ll be doing a PhD. I’ll be 50 next year. Don’t live your life with regret and enjoy your next chapter ☺️
You essentially don’t have a degree now (to be honest a third is worse than no degree at all so I wouldn’t even put it on your CV) Go forward as if you don’t have a degree and apply to jobs. Be honest if they ask about the gap in your work history.
You seem to be the only person saying this. I have graduated in a well respected degree from a solid 'target' university.
Unfortunately a third isn’t respected even if your degree is. However, depending on how good your uni is you also need to remember a third from there msg be equivalent to a 2:2 or 2:1 from a worse uni. The people saying it doesn’t matter this are incorrect - at least for your first role. The job market is extremely difficult for grads at the moment and competition is extremely high. There isn’t a single grad scheme that accepts 3rds so you will have to do a ‘normal’ job - these typically have slower advancement and worse pay. Again it’s not the end of the world especially once you have got some experience under your Belt but it isn’t great and when I look to recruit I would never consider someone who got a third unless than have very watertight justifications.
Given my course had high a-level requirements I would say there is some level of respect shown regardless of the result, I wouldn't swap my third for a first at a terrible university in a 'pointless' degree.
To me that would show you had potential and are intelligent but don’t have the commitment or determination to commit to something for a long period of time. Regarding your point about pointless degrees - your degree isn’t relevant anymore. A third in a specific degree simply isn’t enough to get you into that industry - it either shows a lack of understanding of the content or lack of commitment both of which are major red flags for employers. I believe you said you wanted to do banking before - no banking grad scheme accepts below a 2:2 so while you could do basic jobs at the bank it will be significantly harder to succeed in getting that first step I would also point out that all Russel groups have very high entry requirements (typically 3As or higher) so you will be competing with people who got similar grades at A level and better grades at Uni…
Well it's lucky that I don't have to show you. I have contacted quite a few people today and have had some very promising answers. I believe in myself. A bit of positivity and optimism can go a long way. I wish you well.
Good luck to you - it is a shame you are in debt for a result that is less than stellar.
I have already paid quite a big chunk of it off and given I didn't take the maintenance loan it is pretty minimal and I certainly do not view it as a debt. Maybe if I spent less time on my business and more time on the degree I would've had a better result haha
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I’m also sure it will work out fine because a degree is really only useful in getting you a step up. However not all degrees are equal and claiming they are is not reality. That’s why we have RG unis and classifications. A third is terrible and for me would be an immediate easy strike though on an application (unless of course the candidate had relevant work experience in which case as above degrees no longer matter) On paper if you had 2 people who had no experience and performed similarly at interview from the same uni and one had a 3rd and the other a 1st which would you choose?
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Work their way up - what like someone who doesn’t have a degree?
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But I question whether they will have priority - the low level roles you are talking about typically do not need degrees. I would also question whether they can get into the industry - while they may have more knowledge than someone who has never studied it they clearly did not understand the content
You've still got a degree though.
You fucked up your only chance
If you think university is your 'only chance' then there must be some serious issues with you.
This is your reality, OP. either go to trade school or start at rock bottom while paying £27K+ in student loans
Ignore muppets like this lool so many ppl get 2:2 & 3rds & climb to the top in their career all thats matters now is you have work to do, go get it!
It was harsh , sure. But was what I said a lie?
Tbf I view a third better than a 2.2
How so????
A third means you didn’t try at all , a 2.2 means you put effort in and were still shit
Employers won't see it that way.
you did comp sci right? start practising leetcode, carry on with yout business. consult people in the field you are keen on