Grandson has failed his Degree

I hope your GS’s mum can find it in her to be more supportive. She might just need time to get over the shock as indeed does he.

I suspect it depends on his university but ultimately, a uni doesn’t want its students to fail because it doesn’t look good on their stats. They may enable him to resit or whatever. I do know someone whose son failed his degree and didn’t want to return or resit. The university gave him some sort of certificate to acknowledge that he’d attended and covered the course so maybe that would be an option.

It’s good to see such empathy and sensible comments crazyH. He needs space and loving not intrusive support from his loved ones. The world needs sensitive souls

Ah, poor lad. Just be there for him, as I’m sure you will be There’s good advice on here about retakes. It’s not the end of the world but it probably seems that way to him right now.

DH failed his degree back in the dark ages. Because he thought he’d been badly done to he took his bat home and refused to resit. He took up another course instead which is where he met the love of his life (me, for the avoidance of all doubt!), so it was obviously written in the stars.

I really feel for him

Sounds like a lot of pressure to achieve has been put on him and now his mum is angry he failed, so much so he has to stay with you?

I really feel for him, he deserves so much better

Just give him lots of love, cook his favourite meals, tell him all that matters is he finds is own happiness in life

Such lovely replies😘 yes, I will support him. My youngest son has invited him (and myself) , to join them on a trip to Bluestone this weekend. They have 2 little boys (7 and 4). They will cheer us up, for sure

One of my brothers left school (not college or uni) with no qualifications at all to his name and through hard work and determination has had a very successful career.

He will find his way ......
my eldest son and my SIL never went to uni....they both earn £20k plus than me ....and I have both an honours degree and an MSc.... its not the only route to a good career

Unfair to blame his mother; she may well be annoyed but also very disappointed because of his future; he may wish to avoid her because of guilt. Only he knows if the degree was beyond him or whether he did not put in enough work; the university will know and they can advise him.

He needs to discuss his options with the university first and see what chance he has of retaking and passing his degree (if he wishes), then think hard about what he hopes to do next. He is an adult.

Really feel for him, but more for his mother's attitude than failing his degree. That does not define his worth as a human being.
What was his degree in, was he passionate about it or just trying to please his mother?
Many successful people do not have a degree and many people with degrees work in jobs that wouldn't require a degree.
Does he know what he wants to do with his life?

As others have said, a degree is not the be all and end all but neither is "success" by other routes, it's just another way of putting expectations out there. We don't all need to be successful but we do all need to feel loved and comfortable in our own skin. Feed him, let him talk, don't press for plans, just let him be so he can find his own way.

We have 5 children all of whom went to university - some more than once - some have degrees (really not sure how many) but all have happy fulfilled lives. So please give him some space.

I watched Michelle Dewberry hosting a programme on GB News recently. She is a self made businesswoman and TV presenter who left school at 16 with no qualifications. She also won The Apprentice on TV. She swears that doing an apprenticeship was a million times better than doing a degree.

She frequently has some of the top earners and business people in the country on her prog and most of them never went to Uni either.

His Mum needs to give him a break and allow him some space now to think about his future. As others have said there are other routes into great careers.

I thought I had typed a long reply to this a few days ago?

He can probably resit (depending on how many credits he has failed) but that will cost money.

Assuming that he has passed his second year, he will be entitled to a DipHE (Diploma in Higher Education), which is equivalent to an HND, and should be able to graduate with those letters after his name, and attend the ceremony with his peers.

He should be able to take time out to reconsider his options, and transfer the passed credits to a different degree (either in the same university or another one) so long as it is in a similar field. It is worth checking this out with the university, as there is often a time limit on when he has to complete, so that all new graduates have up to date skills. This time may vary between courses and institutions.

I don't know what happened to my other post 🫤

I’ve three sons one with a degree two working in industry. Eldest son is set to be a very wealthy man with his choice no degree. Just determination. Second like me been in the same job fir years and earning a living. Happy and married. Third son youngest paying off student loan quite high up in the police ( not serving) all lovely lads all different I’m proud.

Oh bless him. It's a shame but he will find his way I'm sure. I used to worry to the same extent about my kids results at school, uni etc.. until I realised there are much more important things. Wish I could go back and tell my younger self that now.

Your GS needs support, you question his sexuality, that may or may not be the case either way he needs love. Lots of ways to advance and a degree is not always necessary! My son failed his A levels after good GCSE results we and his teachers were very surprised. What we didn't know was he was gay, so he was very worried and distressed. To cut a long story short he redeemed himself and got two good degrees and is now in a very good position.once he know how much we loved him all was well.
My GD has just given up uni after one year ! but I feel sure she will make her way one way or another. Don't fret , just support and be there.
His mum needs to get a grip !!! No degree - so what?

Poor lad, I know my grandson would be devastated if he failed, yet we know it is not a big deal and can be taken again if that is what he wants.

I think you need to speak to his parents, it has happened and no amount of looking for a reason is going to change that.

What he needs now is support, thankfully he has a kind, loving grandparent.

DD got a '3rd' in her degree - in effect a fail - but appealed and had it upgraded to a 2:2. It didn't stop her getting jobs and now she is head of her dept in the NHS. I agree with others that it is worth consulting the university in the first instance to explore any options that may be available.

It is quite unusual for universities to 'upgrade' degrees. If they did, everyone would 'have a go'. If there has been a reason to appeal, with evidence of the university not doing something it should have, there may be a chance, but I wouldn't pin my hopes on it.

A 3rd isn't a fail, though. If anyone's GC has just been awarded one, it is still an honours degree - please don't see it as a fail.

Does he know why he failed? Are his parents annoyed because they know he has not been putting the hard graft in, and his failure is his 'fault/responsibility'? As GSM says, hard to advise without knowing the background to his failure. Was it his choice of course, and was he 'pushed' in that direction?

So many of our top entrepreneurs were 'failures' and used the failure to find out what they really want, and turn everything round. 'Failure' can be a real impetus to succeed, i a different way.

My son failed his degree. The University advised him to resit his final module, but by then he was totally disillusioned with the course and disappointed by the quality of the lecturers that he wouldn't go back. He got a job in hospitality which he enjoyed and where he met his wife.
Covid forced the small hotel he helped run to close. He soon found another job, this time in a factory. He is happier now than I've ever known him.
Your grandson needs time to think about whether he wants to resit or do something completely different. I hope your family support him on whatever he decides to do.

I would have a strong word with your daughter TBH, I bet her annoyance is more about how she will look to her friends , siblings work colleagues especially if they have children also graduating this year
I would make try and ask your grandson what he thinks went wrong, say you are not judging but sometimes talking about it helps to bring everything into perspective, if it purely his last exam / submitted work if he hasn't been told by his lectures in that last year that his work wasn't quite making the grade it might be that he can 're -submit his last bit or ask for a re-consideration. I
My own daughter went to Uni and dropped out , after doing the first year twice.
She has always worked may not have been the highest earner but certainly compatible to her uni friends.

a 3rd is not a fail. it is still an honours degree.
below that is a pass. which is still a degree.
and then below that is fail.

When it comes to Management training schemes, etc, welbeck, anything below a 2.1 is basically not worth the paper it is written on, realistically.

welbeck

a 3rd is not a fail. it is still an honours degree.
below that is a pass. which is still a degree.
and then below that is fail.

This is absolutely true.

FP, management training schemes are not the be all and end all. For heaven's sake! People are celebrating after years of work, and there is always someone who rains on their parade.

A degree is so much more than the paper it is written on, and after the first job, nobody cares what class of degree someone gets anyway.