Strive for U.K. Undergraduate Honors Degrees as an International student

For prospective international undergraduates unfamiliar with the United Kingdom's university system, the honors classification may be a new concept. But a better understanding of honors can be important for those who hope to remain in the U.K. for career or postgraduate opportunities after they earn their bachelor's degree.

In the U.K., students can earn a bachelor's degree in three or four years, and most degrees are awarded with honors. Honors degrees, which typically require 360 credits and a project or dissertation, are awarded at different classification levels based on students' academic performance by graduation.

[Learn five facts about earning an undergraduate degree in the U.K.]

The highest level of honors classification students can achieve is first class; this is followed by second class, which is divided into upper (2:1) and lower (2:2), and third class, the lowest honors degree.

Students unable to achieve third class may be awarded a nonhonors or ordinary degree. A nonhonors degree is typically 300 credits, without a thesis or dissertation, but can vary by school.

In the 2015-2016 academic year, some 13,900 international students received first honors degrees, and 1,400 received ordinary degrees at U.K. universities, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, which tracks U.K. higher education-related quantitative information.

While an international student enrolled in an honors program can graduate with a nonhonors degree, here are two reasons why they may want to strive for an honors classification.

1. Employment considerations: The honors degree classification specifies a student's level of achievement and specialty in a particular subject. This can help future employers understand a graduate's competency.

"An honors degree involves more specialization in one, or sometimes two or three subjects, and study at a higher academic level," says Graham Kirby, pro dean advising for science at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

Jon Wright, international marketing manager at Cardiff University in Wales, says a student's degree classification "can matter, but it is very subjective" and differs among employers. He says that while a higher classification can be more attractive to an employer, "other things such as course content, alignment to industry need and work experience gained will all play a part."

[Read about the rules for working while studying in Europe.]

A degree with honors is a positive CV addition and "signals to the employer that the candidate is hardworking, strives to be the best and learns continuously," says Suhail Masri, vice president of employer solutions at Middle East job site Bayt.com.

Employers surveyed last year by the U.K.-based Association of Graduate Recruiters revealed that 74 percent of employers require a 2:1 degree. However, changes may be afoot. Stephen Isherwood, AGR's CEO, says that many employers -- such as EY, PwC and Grant Thornton -- are dropping the use of degree classification as a selection tool and are instead evaluating different ways to measure talent.

2. Postgraduate requirements: Many U.K. postgraduate programs require students to have an upper second class honors degree, according to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service.

U.K. universities do not usually require standardized tests like the GRE and GMAT, says Brian Hussey, lead international officer, Americas, Student Recruitment and Admissions Service at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Instead, he says a student's undergraduate major, honors classification, personal statement and references are the most important factors. However, he says most competitive programs will usually require a minimum of upper second class honors.

Stephen Tyre, pro dean advising for arts and divinity at the University of St. Andrews, says "the greater experience and depth of knowledge gained in an honors degree program will represent a distinct advantage."

Romanian national Ana-Gabriela Popa feels confident about applying for postgraduate studies next year. She graduated in 2016 with a 2:1 bachelor's in international relations and politics from the University of Sheffield in England.

"It is definitely enough for me to apply for a master's wherever I want, even though I am pretty sure I'll pursue a master's in leadership and management at Sheffield," says Popa.

[Consider grad school in the U.K., Australia vs. U.S.]

Since an honors classification plays an integral role in future employment or postgraduate studies, experts say international students should plan ahead.

"I am aware of the requirements for entering honors at St. Andrews -- a minimum grade in my degree modules," says American Harris LaTeef, a second-year modern history major. "By following my module or class grades, I can monitor my progression into honors."

Many schools also help students monitor their progress. Hussey said via email that the University of Aberdeen assesses students "through a combination of end-of-term exams and continuous assessment" and helps keep students on track.

"This is to ensure that students are given appropriate and timely advice on how to keep on track for progressing to the next level of study and successful completion of their program," Hussey said.

After graduation, LaTeef plans to remain in the U.K. for work and postgraduate studies. He says he appreciates the "greater focus on a student's independent study and learning" in the U.K. system. Achieving a high honors classification is important to him, he says, and is "certainly worth the hard work involved."

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Anayat Durrani is a Los Angeles-based freelance education reporter for U.S. News, covering global universities, including those in the Arab region.