The British Undergraduate University Grading System: What’s What

The British Undergraduate University Grading System: What’s What

Navigate your way through the British undergraduate university grading system with this handy and up-to-date explanation.

The UK’s higher education grading system is different from other countries, such as China or the USA. The UK uses percentages, grade letters and definitions to indicate a student’s academic performance. The best grade letter you can get is an A, whereas an E and an F means you failed.

Here’s a table showing the breakdown of undergraduate university grades.

First-class degree

As you can probably tell, a first-class degree, or commonly called a “first”, is the highest academic achievement you can possibly achieve during your undergraduate degree. According to 2019/2020 HESA statistics, 35% of students graduated with a first, increasing from 28% in 2018/2019.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland your first-year grades won’t be taken into account for your final qualification, whereas in Scotland your first and second years won’t count. This is because undergraduate degrees are four years in Scotland, compared to three for the rest of the nation.

The universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Glasgow have been known to award “double firsts”, which is when a student achieves a first-class degree in two separate subjects, whilst studying one joint honours degree. If you achieve this highly sought-after classification, you will benefit from increased chances for the best postgraduate programmes and employment opportunities.

Upper second-class degree

Although there is one broad “second-class” category, it is divided into two categories: upper second-class degree and lower second-class degree. The former is labelled as a 2:1 (read two-one) and is an honourable degree to achieve.  From 2019 to 2020 47% of students graduated with a 2:1 and it is consistently the most common classification. Most universities will require a 2:1 for postgraduate studies. An upper second-class degree also puts you in a favourable position in the job market.

Lower second-class degree

This is also commonly known as a 2:2 (read “two-two”) degree and the share of students who received a lower second qualification classification in 2019 to 2020 was 15%. Although not viewed as favourably as other classifications, achieving a 2:2 doesn’t have to stop you from studying a master’s degree and TopCourses can help you find the course of your dreams. Get in contact with us to discover some great universities that accept 2:2s!

Third-class degree

A third-class degree is the lowest qualification you can get whilst still passing your degree. This is not looked upon favourably and will disadvantage you when applying for postgraduate degrees. Statistically, third-class graduates occupy the smallest classification proportion the UK and last year, only 3% of students graduated with a third.

If you are interested in studying in the UK, talk to one of our experienced education advisors at TopCourses and we will guide you through the whole application process from course selection to receiving an offer! Contact us today for a free consultation.