What degree results do pre-reg employers look for?

[kl06229]

1st is highest (>70% ave)
then 2nd, which is subdivided into upper (2:1) and lower (2:2). 2:1 is 60-70% ave, and 2:2 is 50-60% ave.
3rd (or a pass) is lowest - 40-50% ave.
the percentages are from Aston - other uni's may alter their boundaries slightly.

It is quite difficult to get a 3rd in pharmacy - there are quite a few modules where you are required by the RPSGB to get at least 50%.

Degree class doesn't really matter in community - I took my degree cert in to work on the first day of my pre-reg and the comment was 'we've never seen one of these before'.

Degree class is probably more important if you want to go into industry or academia - it's tough to get onto a PhD with less than a 2:1.

Hi, I've finished my exams and I'm aiming for a pretty good mark. Are you sure a 2:2 equates to 50-60%? It seems a bit peculiar since it's a master's degree and 50% is the bare minimum to pass pharmacy anyway, so surely a 2:2 would be a step above a minimum pass. I know different unis have different class systems but isn't MPHARM standardised?

[Nik]

1st = 70% and above
2:1 = 60-69%
2:2 = 50-59%
3rd = 40-49%

[Asterix]

its a bit silly in the sense that virtually all other fields the degree mark dictates whether you get a job or not, salary differences etc. a person with a 3rd and a 1st in pharmacy will still be on the same money and have a job.

[johnep]

Absolutely correct, in the old days C&D for community, Ph.C for hospital industry and community, B.Phm for academia and research.
I only did B.Phm because I could not get a local authority grant unless the course was one where honours could be obtained. So I started on B.Phm course and took Ph.C after two years. Stayed on to do B.Phm as a means of keeping out of National Service for a bit longer. Salaries in community always highest to start, industry etc caught up after ,say, five years and then exceeded community. When I was made redundant from industry and went into community took 30% salary drop.
johnep

[culchie82]

I'm sorry to burst your bubbles but in your everyday working life degrees don't mean squat (Johnep probably knows what I'm talking about). Some people may excel at exams, but when it comes to basic common sense they are left wanting. Work ethic and personality go along way to achieving success. Years of experience also count more than any degree. In NI at the minute the Independent Pharmacies still rule the roost, the Pharmacists they want to employ are the ones who have a good personality who can boost their sales. They don't give a dam if you have a double first from Queens.

[bleepholder]

i think once you ahve the degree, it becomes worthless....yes in other jobs there are differences in those who get a 1st and a 3rd in terms of salaries, job opportunities....same could be said in pharmacy but may nto be as obvious....

if i was an employer i would rather have someone who had a 2.1 or 1st than someone who scraped a 3rd...then again you could ahve a 3rd and have better personality and people skills than someone who got the 2.1. its all a balance i guess

[Asterix]

yeah but that's the problem you see, if someone works that hard and there's no recongintion as such. I think its only boots in the whole country who ask for a 2:1 no?

[bleepholder]

maybe not just boots requiring 2:1...breaking news from the beeb

BBC News - Three quarters of employers 'require 2:1 degree'

[Asterix]

I meant in pharmacy world, in general mickey mouse degrees you will always need high grades as there are very few jobs between billions of students.

[bleepholder]

out in the big wide worls, employers can afford to raise the bar in entry requirements.....i wouldn't blame pharmacy if they started doing the same, some may see it as a shame, but we need to ensure that the pharmacists out there have some degree of common sense and actually paid some attention throughout their course.....