How Does the University Grading System Work in the UK?
It’s no secret that the jump from A-Levels to university is a big one - almost as big as the jump from GCSE to A-Levels!.The modules are harder, the time you’ll actually spend in classes is far less, and even your grades take a bit of effort to understand.
You’ll need to learn what a credit is and how you achieve them, understand the grade boundaries, and figure out how much weight each assignment and module holds. Gone are the days of receiving a simple letter as your final grade!
At StudentCrowd, we’re the experts in all things university, from where to live, what to study, and everything in between. We’ve put together this handy guide to explain all about how the university grading system works in the UK - so read on if you want to become an expert in the next five minutes!
Understanding Degree Classifications#
When you write an assignment or sit an exam at university, your score is given to you as a number, which represents a percentage. In the UK university grading system, the higher your percentage, the higher your grade, with each degree classification having its own clear boundaries.
Here is how the current grade boundaries are set for most UK universities:
- ★ First-Class Honours (1st) - 70% - 100%
★ Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1) - 60% - 69%
★ Lower Second-Class Honours (2:2) - 50% - 59%
★ Third-Class Honours (3rd) - 40% - 49%
★ Fail - 0% - 39%
A report released by Higher Education Student Statistics (HESA) showed that in the 2021/2022 academic year, 32% of university students graduated with first class honours, and 46% with a 2:1 classification. So whilst university is known to be pretty tough, it’s common to come out with a good grade - as long as you put the work in.
Many employers in competitive fields will look for applicants with a first-class degree, however many graduate schemes around the country are happy to accept those with a 2:1 and even a 2:2. Even if you don’t quite know what you want to do yet career-wise, a good degree is proof that you’re dedicated, hard-working and intelligent. It can open up doors to careers in many industries - ones which you might not have even considered, so don’t be disheartened if you don’t graduate with a first.
What Does a Degree with Honours Mean?#
Whenever you see a degree qualification written out, it will look something like this: “BSc (Hons)”. But, what does the honours part mean, and is there a way to get a degree without honours?
A degree without honours is often referred to as an ordinary degree, or a pass in the UK university grading system. An ordinary degree is usually the outcome of a student having not met the academic criteria for an honours degree.
Here are some reasons why a student may graduate without honours:
★ Low Grades - If you have consistently scored low in your modules, but you were able to hand in all your assignments, sit all of your exams, and complete the course, you may be awarded a degree without honours instead of a fail.
★ Failing Modules - If you fail a module, you won’t obtain the number of credits you need for the year. This can significantly impact your overall grade, and lead to you graduating without honours.
★ Incomplete or Missing Assignments - If you don’t submit the required work for a module or miss the deadline, this can also lead to you not obtaining enough credits and being unable to graduate with honours.
A degree without honours is often a combination of the above, and can stem from academic stress, personal or medical issues, or unforeseen circumstances. This is why it is important to talk to your university if you are having problems which might impact your grade - they are there to help and can usually offer a variety of options.
What is a Degree Credit?#
Most UK universities use a credit-based system. Each module has a total number of credits, with different assessments holding a credit value. The general rule of thumb is that one credit equates to 10 hours’ of study. With most degrees requiring 120 credits per year for completion, this equates to 1,200 hours in total! We’ve done the maths, and if you divide this up across the whole of the year, that means 23 hours of study per week - but aim for more if you want to be able to enjoy your holidays!
Credits are crucial for the completion of your degree, and they’re also needed to progress from one year to the next. Credits aren’t too difficult to achieve, and you will have no problem racking them up as long as:
★ You hand in all your assignments
★ You don’t participate in any academic misconduct
★ You attend all required classes
★ You meet the minimum pass grade in your modules (usually 40%)
Skipping a lecture or two shouldn’t affect your credits, but some courses have certain sessions where attendance is strictly required. Make sure you don’t miss any of these, as you could find yourself unable to progress to the next year!
Does First Year Count Towards Your Final Grade?#
There’s often a rumour that goes around during first year, one that is used over and over again to convince countless housemates across the country to put down their books and head to the pub. But is it true? Does your first year really not count towards your final grade?
For the most part, yes that’s true! With most courses at most universities, only the grades you get in your second and third year counts towards your final mark.
The first year is classed as an introductory/foundation year, and as long as you still obtain a pass overall, complete all your modules, and stay on track with your studies, you can progress to the second year.
Some degrees, however, do have what’s referred to as a “contributory first year”. Common examples of these include degrees in the medical field, and four-year bachelor’s degrees that offer an industrial placement or the option to study abroad.
So, before listening to your friend’s advice and taking it easy in your first year, make sure you check with your course provider first. Better yet, use your first year to practise academic writing and understand the standard required to meet those higher grades, ready for your second and third years.
How Much of Your Final Grade is Your Dissertation?#
Whilst first year might not contribute to your final grade, we all know something that does - the dreaded dissertation! A dissertation generally consists of up to 10,000 words, reams of neatly organised references, and may even contain blood, sweat, and tears.
But how much does a dissertation affect your final grade? The short answer is a lot. For many courses, the dissertation makes up between 30% and 40% of your final years’ mark, meaning that if you don’t nail it, it can have a huge impact on the level of degree you walk out with.
Luckily, you have months to complete your dissertation, and your university will offer lots of support. This could include drop-in sessions with your professors, the chance to submit a small part as a draft to check you’re on the right track, and study groups where you can ask your coursemates for advice.
Knowing How the University Grading System Works#
If you’re a new or prospective university student, it’s a good idea to get some understanding on how the degree classification system works, which is why we’re glad you’ve made it to the bottom of this guide!
Don’t panic if your first mark you get back isn’t as high as you expected. It will take some time to adjust to the higher standard of work required at university level. Remember, we’re the experts when it comes to everything you need to know about university, so check out our article hub for more help and advice.
FAQs About the UK University Grading System#
Is a 2:2 degree good?
A 2:2 degree is the outcome of three years of hard work and study. Not everyone is going to get a first or a 2:1 and that’s ok - there are still many things you can do with a 2:2 degree! You could take a look at companies in your area which offer graduate schemes, or you could bulk your CV out with other skills, knowledge and experience that you possess and still aim for your dream job.
Do employers care about degree classification?
This varies wildly depending on the company and industry. If you want to work in healthcare, accounting, or law, chances are you will need to pass with either a first or 2:1. You can always call up a potential employer and have an informal chat with them before submitting your application.
How hard is it to get a first-class degree?
It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to get a first-class degree, but it is still quite common! Almost a third of university graduates achieve a first in their degree, which means that you could absolutely achieve this if you set your mind to it. But how do you achieve a first? We would recommend utilising your university library, expanding your reading, allowing enough time to work on assignments, and thoroughly proofreading your work.
Is a first equivalent to an A?
Achieving a first-class degree is equivalent to scoring an A* at A-Level in the sense of it being the highest mark you can achieve. The grade boundary for a first is quite broad (70%-100%) so if you achieve anywhere in this range, you will receive a first as your final grade.
