Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ratslash]

My fiancee has a degree from Ewha Womans University. We have been planning some further studies for her over in England. However, we have been informed, much to my astonishment, that the four year degrees that are studied over here are classed as non-honour, i.e. ordinary degrees, in England.

First question, is this right?

Secondly, does anyone know how to turn this 'ordinary' degree into an honours degree?

Thirdly, any more info that you think relevant will be greatly appreciated by us both.

Thanks and take care.

[BigBlackEquus]

Ummm.... well... I wonder if she had some sort of "honors" designation with her degree, because she had high grades?

I guess I am lost about what that means.

[crazylemongirl]

Here's what the likely problem is. Korea's higher education system is more likely to have been influenced by the American system than the british system.

In the british system degrees are typically 3 years long. However if you're grades are good enough you will be invited into the Honours programme, which requires another year of study at post-graduate level. If your Mrs-to-be hasn't completed the final year of her study at post-graduate level, then she doesn't have an honours degree in the british system.

The american system (to my knowledge) requires no extra study in order to graduate with honors but rather a certain standard of grades.

Hope that clears it up.

[mindmetoo]

[TJ]

I'm not trying to upset you or your fiancee so please don't take offence BUT some Korean degrees are of a lower standard than most western degrees. For example, I knew a Korean professor with a (Korean) Phd in English literature who would not have been awarded a basic 2 year diploma by any western university.

Most western universities would be aware of the lower standard of some/many Korean universities. Hence the problem your fiancee is experiencing.

Perhaps your fiancee should ask to be assesed by the uni in the UK.

[fatpat]

I am from England and have a Bsc honours degree. My course was 3 years long and in order to get the honours you had to do a dissertation (for example, mine was a 12,000 word research paper, although they are different for different courses). Most courses are 3 years long in England, usually when they are 4 years it means they have included a work placement. Pehaps, as others have suggested the Korean degree isn't up to scratch compared to English ones. It really wouldn't surprise me based on what I have seen from the school grading systems they have here. Although you would have thought they would sort it out by the time it gets to university level .

[ratslash]

[ratslash]

[Caledonian Craig]

Even within the UK itself, there are different education systems. The Scottish Educational system is seperate to the English system. For me as a scot, we study for 3 years, and get an ordinary degree, and if we choose to do a 4th year, then we have to write a dissertation (15'000 words). The 4th year is our honours year. At the end of it we get an honours degree.

I've noticed in application sheets here that the Universities in Scotland (and Im sure in England too), make a distinction between a degree from a UK University and foreign degrees that are from Universities of a similar standard to UK ones. Which hints at the problems they have with foreign applicants and their educational backgrounds.

I hope you have luck with the application Ratslash, I'm kinda in the same boat there with my girlfriend coming over to scotland.

[kangnam mafioso]

Most American colleges have an honors program that requires higher grades/standards and stricter admission criteria -- for 4 year degrees. Also, you can graduate with honors (all A's; 4.0 Grade Point Average, etc), Magna Cum Laud, etc.

[OiGirl]

[kangnam mafioso]

[ratslash]

Thanks for the posts, but the question has not been answered:-

How do we turn a non-honours degree into an honours degree?

[crazylemongirl]

[stalinsdad]

Well rats I think possibly if your girlfriend/wife did an honours degree in a Western university!!!
You don't have to do a dissertation in England to gain an honours either, you can do it modular.
Nearly all honours degrees in the UK are 3 years rather than 4 unless it is a Batchelor of Ed. You can decide to do work experience, or go abroad on the Erasmus programme.
Actually the last!!!!! semester will gain you an honours degree in the UK. I know because we had graduates on my course that got only a degree, no honours.
Interestingly the UK considers an American Masters as equivilent to an honours degree in the UK. I had a number of Americn graduates on my course in the last year and all except 1 girl flunked the course. The poor professor felt as though he was talking to the wall when he asked them a question.
I'm not sure about Canadian degrees but my experiences with American ones have been unimpressive.