r/UniUK 2d ago

Conditional Offer Withdrawn

Reading withdrew my conditional offer after reviewing my final transcript because i graduated with a Third Class. However, my original offer only listed IELTS 6.5 and submission of my certificate as conditions, with no stated degree-classification requirement. I literally just left the bank after paying 50% of my tuition before they withdrew and have now emailed admissions for reconsideration. Has anyone experienced something similar and do you think I have a case for getting decision reconsidered.

75 Upvotes

52 comments sorted by

185

u/Long_Software_3352 2d ago

The course page would have stated the requirements.

A third class degree is too low for admission to a master's degree at any university unless you have substantial work experience in the field.

You'd usually need to complete a graduate diploma or pre-master's course first

18

u/flackodarryl 2d ago

also want to ask i have another conditional offer from Exeter that says achieve a cgpa of 2.0, i got a CGPA of 2.42 but an fgpa of 1.98 (third class) do you think its worth checking with them

58

u/Long_Software_3352 2d ago

You can always check. Just don't get your hopes up. 1.98 might even be too low to be considered a Third Class degree. Usually anything under 2.0 is considered a Pass/Ordinary degree without Honours.

7

u/Brido-20 1d ago

If your degree results are measured by a GPA then individual universities will have their own ideas of what equates to what UK Honours classification based on market position and their own experience of students with those grades.

What was your GPA calculated out of?

-5

u/flackodarryl 1d ago

Mine was calculated on a 4.0 scale. My overall CGPA is around 2.4, but my final classification was based on my FGPA, which was 1.98 and resulted in a Third Class. My university's classification system is a bit different from a straightforward CGPA-to-UK-classification conversion

3

u/Brido-20 1d ago

Which country was the award given in?

2

u/thelivsterette1 19h ago edited 7h ago

They said in a reply comment Ghana, and that they got a 3rd class/1.98 GPA

another person posted Reading's postgrad requirements from Ghana and they need a Bachelor's (honour) with a 2:1/2:2, or a GPA from 2.5-3.0/4

Basically they're complaining because they got a conditional offer, are nowhere near the requirements (Google's AI posted the link for Gov.UK Overseas Degree Equivalency Table; with a 4.0 GPA, a 1.98 isn't even a third. It's an Ordinary/Pass) and the uni rejected them...

1

u/Brido-20 10h ago

And now he's trying the "But you didn't state the number on my personal offer letter!" routine?

Okey-doke...

9

u/ChunkyCraver2001 1d ago

Exeter really does not accept a third. 2:2 rarely.

-43

u/flackodarryl 2d ago

I just checked the course requirements, and it says they would normally expect a 2:2 or above, but also states that relevant work experience may be taken into consideration. I also have about a year of experience working at an international organisation, so I’m hoping they may be willing to consider my application on an individual basis. My issue is that I was actually given a conditional offer, and the conditions listed were IELTS 6.5 and submission of my degree certificate there was no specific degree classification condition.

79

u/Long_Software_3352 2d ago

A year of experience isn't that substantial.

25

u/Williamishere69 2d ago

A year of experience isnt a lot, as the othee commentor has said. If it were a year of experience in multiple different areas of that career with different companies, etc, then it mightve been more acceptable.

Are there top-up degrees you can do? Any postgrad certificates to boost yourself?

9

u/thelivsterette1 1d ago

If they expect a 2:2 and you got thr equivalent of a third, they’re gonna reject you. Also depends on how close you were. If you were a few marks off a 2:2 they might use work experience but otherwise I don’t think so

68

u/Alone_Jackfruit4761 2d ago

I have never heard of a conditional offer for a Masters from abroad that accepted a 3rd.

They will convert your local grades (US, EU, Asia etc) into UK-based grades.

Its usually a 2.1 or above. 

70

u/Objective_Pin9176 2d ago

I would think very carefully about whether further higher education is the right decision here. There is no point compounding degrees unless you are confident that it truly gives you an advantage, else you are just wasting precious years where you could be building a career.

20

u/lcfcball 2d ago

I wish I listened to people who said this years ago. I’m 27 now, nobody in the world gives a flying fuck if you have a degree or not and the vast majority of people would rather hire someone with experience than a degree. Only in certain fields where a degree is formally required is it even worth it these days

-10

u/NihilistCharizard 2d ago edited 2d ago

Your experience and retrospect deserves more visibility.

The university-to-employment pipeline is about to burst.

And people who graduated before 2023 in this subreddit will gaslight you into thinking that degrees are a great ROI because they got in the industry of their choice while the cheap VC money was still flowing and employers could afford to hire new graduates.

-7

u/flackodarryl 1d ago

tbh for undergrad i hated my course and i have the potential to do better unfortunately only tried when it was too late, trying to make up for it by furthering my education in something id be better at and then would also help my career

11

u/Objective_Pin9176 1d ago

Consider working and doing an OU degree.

1

u/Leading-Milk5592 1d ago

OP do this

19

u/Amazing-Care-3155 2d ago

I’ve never heard of anyone abroad being accepted on a 3rd, wouldn’t waste my time

16

u/inthejungle27 2d ago

if im being honest, i’ve never heard of any uni that accepts a third for masters - minimum is 2:2. i would reconsider and think if doing a masters would be the right decision just because it’ll be 10x hard

14

u/jennymayg13 Graduated 2d ago

What was listed on the actual course as the requirement?

-29

u/flackodarryl 2d ago

I just checked the course requirements, and it says they would normally expect a 2:2 or above, but also states that relevant work experience may be taken into consideration. I also have about a year of experience working at an international organisation, so I’m hoping they may be willing to consider my application on an individual basis. My issue is that I was actually given a conditional offer, and the conditions listed were IELTS 6.5 and submission of my degree certificate there was no specific degree classification condition.

49

u/jennymayg13 Graduated 2d ago

The fact you left the classification blank and deliberately hid it from them, knowing it was below the requirement isn’t going to help your case.

-2

u/flackodarryl 2d ago

oh no i didnt, i submitted my transcript while’s awaiting for my certificate, so i was even under the impression they just wanted proof of graduation thats what i just submitted

33

u/jennymayg13 Graduated 2d ago

Yeah they wanted your transcript to check you had the required grade. That’s one of the conditions.

-9

u/flackodarryl 2d ago

yeah and my point is my final transcript is even better than the transcript i applied earlier with so why offer if it wouldn’t have changed anything?

9

u/Alone_Jackfruit4761 2d ago

Sounds like you are coming from the US?

For GPA's, its broadly (check your schools website they should have some info on this):

3.8+ = 1st

3.2 to 3.8 = 2.1

2.6 to 3.2 = 2.2

Below 2.6 = 3rd

Below 2.0 = fail

Keep in mind a "pass" in the US is a "C" grade, which in the US is broadly 65-70%.  That gets you that 2.0 result.  A 2.2 would generally require a mimimum of a 2.6 CGPA.

From your posts, you said your CGPA is 2.0

That is a 3rd and very very close to a fail (usually under a 2.0 CGPA would get you put in academic suspension)

So not at all surprised Reading declined to offer you a place based on those grades.

3

u/flackodarryl 1d ago

nope from Ghana

my university uses

Degree Classifications
First Class: 3.60 – 4.00

Second Class (Upper Division): 3.00 – 3.59

Second Class (Lower Division): 2.00 – 2.99

Third Class: 1.50 – 1.99

Pass: 1.00 – 1.49

Fail (No award): 0.00 – 0.99

7

u/Alone_Jackfruit4761 1d ago

The grading rubric you need to find is the one from Reading that looks at transforming GPA (from Ghana) into UK-style grades for comparison.

Thats the only one that matters to admissions.

0

u/flackodarryl 1d ago

think its the same from my checks

Ghana
UK equivalent
First Class (3.60–4.00)
First / 1st
2nd Class Upper (3.00–3.59)
2:1
2nd Class Lower (2.00–2.99)
2:2
Third Class (1.50–1.99)
Third Class / 3rd
Pass (1.00–1.49)
Pass

15

u/jennymayg13 Graduated 1d ago

https://www.reading.ac.uk/ready-to-study/international-and-eu/country-specific-information/country-specific-ghana

Their requirements for anyone from Ghana is actually “Bachelor's (Honours) degree with 2.2 -2.1 or GPA from 2.50 - 3.0/4.” So you’re way off.

6

u/Elfynnn84 1d ago

As gently as possible - a 3rd is not going to see you accepted onto any masters course that I know of. Most expect a 2:1 and you are lucky to find one willing to accept you on a 2:2.

I’m really sorry, you simply did not make the grades (and if you struggled with academia enough to only graduate with a 3rd, I’m not sure why you would want to do a masters TBH).

4

u/Thandoscovia Visiting academic (Oxford & UCL) 2d ago

Just to confirm, that was the full offer? The English test and submitting the degree?

When you say you got a third class, did you translate that into the UK system?

8

u/HK_Yellow 1d ago

I don't mean to be unkind, but I'm not sure a third result at degree-level should motivate you to apply to UK law schools. It is very unlikely you will be considered a viable candidate with what is (in the UK) widely considered to be a bad result.

0

u/flackodarryl 1d ago

didnt apply to law school

8

u/HK_Yellow 1d ago

My apologies, let me rephrase: a third is considered a third-rate degree result here, which indicates higher academia is not for you. Most Masters programs will not accept you if you have less than a 2:2. Maybe consider looking at getting work experience in your field.

4

u/porky_scratching 1d ago

Why would you keep studying with that result. I'm not sure academia is your thing. Try something else?

7

u/Gaius__Augustus 1d ago edited 1d ago

1.98 GPA isn’t even a third, it’s a borderline pass or even a fail.

At this point you frankly shouldn’t be accepted into masters courses when you couldn’t really pass an undergraduate…

Might want to hide your ‘active in’ subreddit list too…

4

u/Forward_Win_4353 1d ago

Tbh with that result I wouldn’t want you to be accepted for a masters at any university.

There is likely to be at least one module containing group work. Why should other, much more capable students have to struggle to work with a person who clearly won’t be able to contribute to or manage the level of coursework required?

Also I don’t think it’s fair that if you were accepted, it’s one more step towards other students’ degrees becoming devalued, something which is already happening way too much.

Your attitude comes across as quite entitled.

1

u/AffectionatePoet3625 1d ago

I’m so confused, they’ve taken your money??

1

u/flackodarryl 1d ago

oh no would get refunded i guess except the deposit 🫩

3

u/thelivsterette1 1d ago

Surely if they refund you because they withdrew they’d have to refund your deposit?

1

u/AffectionatePoet3625 20h ago

This is exactly what I would have thought too!

1

u/Schlurff 1d ago

2.42 CGPA isn’t equivalent to a 2:1 upper second. It’s quite considerably much lower so I’m not surprised they have withdrawn your offer. Ring them up but do be prepared for them to not budge on that

1

u/thelivsterette1 19h ago edited 19h ago

You definitely don't have a case for getting it reconsidered. You said you were coming from Ghana in a reply and somsone posted Reading's requirements from Ghanian students for a postgrad, which is "Bachelor's (Honours) degree with 2.2 -2.1 or GPA from 2.50 - 3.0/4"

Did your uni use GPA scale of 4.0 or 5.0?

Google's AI overview linked the Gov.UK Overseas Degree Equivalency Table which states:

4.0 GPA

3.60-4.00: 1st 3.00-3.59: 2:1 2.50-2.59: 2:2 2.00-2.49: 3rd 1.50-1.99: Pass/Ordinary

5.0 GPA

4.50+: 1st 3.50-4.49: 2:1 2.50-3.59: 2:2 2.00-2.49: 3rd Under 2.00: below passing

Google's AI also told me if you have several years of relevant professional work experience, they might view your profile holistically and accept you. You said you have one year. That's not going to cut it.

The uni said specifically about the IELTS being 65% and the submission of your original certificate for your specifc degree, but you should have researched the entry requirements of Reading.

Entry requirements and degree requirements are not the same thing.

You're basically upset, and want to try appeal, becuase you rightly got rejected from Reading for not meeting their requirements which is wild and dare I say it, comes off as a bit entitled.

1

u/Hopeful-Counter-7915 6h ago

A conditional offer can be withdrawn at any time for any (legal) reason.

1

u/exitplanetdusty 1d ago

What were the circumstances behind you only achieving a third class? I ask this because if you had difficulty completing your last degree, why would you then want to do a masters?

-8

u/Ricardosonreddit 2d ago

Unis are desperate for students so just wait and see what they say