UK degree classification help!

Hey guys! I'm considering taking a postgraduate course (like a PGCE) later on this year. Though I'm finding some discrepancies with US GPA and UK degree classification on different websites. Wikipedia states that a lower second is a 3.0 and a third is a 2.5 while a Welsh university states the lower second as a 2.5 and an upper second as a 3.0. Can anyone tell me which one is more correct, or just give me the exact equivalent? 

For the record, I received a 2.91 in my Bachelor's. In other words, I did mediocre but not great. The programs I'm looking at require a minimum of a lower second.

I would contact the department and talk to them about it. My GPA was lower than yours, and my programme overlooked it. They're generally more lenient with international students.

ETA: They did have me submit a writing sample, though.

If you're doing your pgce in England, then a 3.0 is a 2:2 (lower second). I'm unsure about other parts of the UK.

As NoseOverTail says, they are leniant with international students. However not at places like oxford, cambridge, UCL, etc...

I don't think GPA was a requirement when I applied to U of Hull.  I used THIS site when I applied for my MA, it might be able to help you out as well.

I don't think GPA was a requirement when I applied to U of Hull.

Well I don't think the GPA is a requirement itself, it's just that you need to show that your US degree is equivalent to the minimum requirement for the UK degree course you're applying for - and an easy way to do this is to compare your GPA score/US grades with the UK grades.

In some cases, just having a bachelors degree from the US may be enough (although I just had a look at the international student pages on the University of Hull website, and postgraduate students from the US are required to have a US bachelors degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 - http://www2.hull.ac.uk/international/region/northamerica/details.aspx).

For a PGCE, the minimum requirement is usually a 2:1 degree in the subject area you wish to teach - and it seems that some universities state that they consider a 2:1 to be equivalent to a 3.3 GPA, while others say it is equivalent to a 3.0 GPA... so, your GPA score may determine whether or not you are accepted on the course.

Well I don't think the GPA is a requirement itself, it's just that you need to show that your US degree is equivalent to the minimum requirement for the UK degree course you're applying for - and an easy way to do this is to compare your GPA score/US grades with the UK grades.

In some cases, just having a bachelors degree from the US may be enough (although I just had a look at the international student pages on the University of Hull website, and postgraduate students from the US are required to have a US bachelors degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 - http://www2.hull.ac.uk/international/region/northamerica/details.aspx).

For a PGCE, the minimum requirement is usually a 2:1 degree in the subject area you wish to teach - and it seems that some universities state that they consider a 2:1 to be equivalent to a 3.3 GPA, while others say it is equivalent to a 3.0 GPA... so, your GPA score may determine whether or not you are accepted on the course.

ah, now that you mention it, you're absolutely right.  There was a GPA requirement; I had forgotten.

I'm not going for teaching. I graduated with a BSc in Speech Pathology and Audiology. Right now I'm looking into speech and language therapy PGCE/PGDip/MSc courses at Manchester, Sheffield and London City (those courses won't qualify me to be a practicing speech therapist, it's more of a further education/experience route). On the international pages it states that a 3.0 is the requirement. Though on the pages of the courses themselves, 2 out of 3 state that at least a second or equivalent is required (Uni Sheffield is more specific- requirement of upper second). As I have a 2.9 which is quite close, I thought I could give it a shot. I realize the 2.9 could hinder me so I remain cautiously optimistic...

I'm not going for teaching. I graduated with a BSc in Speech Pathology and Audiology. Right now I'm looking into speech and language therapy PGCE/PGDip/MSc courses at Manchester, Sheffield and London City

I think what is confusing here is that a PGCE is a teaching qualification. It's a Post Graduate Certificate in Education and is the course that postgraduate students take in order to become teachers (http://www.tda.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/teacher-training-options/pgce.aspx).

Are you sure it's not a PGCert, rather than a PGCE?

MSc - Masters degree
PGDip - Postgraduate diploma
PGCert - Postgraduate Certificate
PGCE - Postgraduate Certificate in Education

On the international pages it states that a 3.0 is the requirement. As I have a 2.9 which is quite close, I thought I could give it a shot. I realize the 2.9 could hinder me so I remain cautiously optimistic...

The best thing would be to contact the universities directly and ask them if they will consider you with a 2.9 GPA - since it's so close to a 3.0 you may find it won't be an issue.

Ohh my bad, it is a PG Cert. I've already complied a list of questions I'd like to ask about the programs. I'll contact the international departments via e-mail too and inquire about my 2.9.

Ohh my bad, it is a PG Cert.

No problem - it might be best to ignore the replies about needing either a 3.3 or a 3.0 GPA in England vs. the rest of the UK then, since they were specifically related to applying for PGCE teaching courses and won't be relevant to you.

I've just contacted London City Uni via e-mail and inquired about the 3.0 GPA requirement. On Sheffield's international page, it doesn't really give specifics- just that a good undergrad degree with high grades will be considered. And on Manchester Metropolitan's website, it appears like they go more by what the program itself requires for entry grades and not a specific GPA. I'll still contact Manchester and Sheffield, though.

I think as long as you show an aptitude for the subject that you'll be studying, you won't have much to worry about. Honestly, 98% of universities are going to be lenient with international students because they want your money. Of course, they're never going to say that, but it's nevertheless true.

When I was in undergrad, I failed Calculus, had a D for Statistics, and I think a D in some Economics course which is why my GPA was so low (I think it might have been a 2.7). It was a mistake taking those courses, especially in one semester, but I hadn't decided on a major yet and they seemed like a good idea at the time. Obviously, I am terrible at those subjects. 

Anyway, eventually my major was Art History, and I had somewhere between a 3.3 and a 3.5 GPA for those courses plus comparable marks for other stuff like History, Women's Studies, and German.

I got into the top department for research in my field despite the lower GPA. Even if there is a specific requirement, don't let it stop you from applying. You're not that far off from a 3.0 and they might say one thing and do another. Good luck! 

Thanks! I'm just going to apply anyways, I'll never know until I try! And I do realize that they give consideration to international students. I was doing great until I made the huge mistake of coming home to work each weekend during my toughest semester (got three Ds [two were D+s, for what it's worth], a B, and an A). By the time I realized that I had too much on my plate, it was too late-- lesson learned. The next semester was a bit better- I got two C+s, a B and an A. I kept a few papers of mine from undergrad and I'm actually a good writer, so if they ask me for a writing sample I'd be more than happy to give that to them. Also, I graduated in August of last year and in January I started my first post-graduation job as a tutor for an after school program. It's a temporary job and I tutor reading and math to elementary school students from low income families, variety of ages. Considering that a huge portion of clients in speech therapy are children and that speech therapy and education are related fields, the fact that I've had work experience could possibly give me a heads up too.

Hearing your story gave me some confidence, thank you