What degree classification are you actually on track for?

UK degree classifications are determined by a weighted average of your module grades across qualifying years. Year 1 almost never counts toward the final classification. The most common weighting scheme splits the calculation as 33% Year 2 and 67% Final Year. The weighted average is then compared to classification boundaries: 70%+ for a First, 60-69% for a 2:1, 50-59% for a 2:2, and 40-49% for a Third.

A 2:1 is the most common degree classification in the UK, awarded to approximately 46% of graduates. It is widely considered the minimum standard for competitive graduate employers and many postgraduate programmes. Most large UK employers historically set a 2:1 as their minimum degree requirement. The distinction between a high 2:1 (67-69%) and a low 2:1 (60-62%) is rarely visible to employers, who see only the classification on the certificate.

In 2022/23, approximately 32% of UK graduates received a First Class degree (HESA). This represents a significant increase from 15% in 2010/11. The proportion peaked at 36% during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020/21). A First is no longer the rare distinction it once was: approximately one in three graduates now holds one.

Most UK universities have formal borderline policies that apply when a student's weighted average falls within 1-2 percentage points of a classification boundary. Common borderline criteria include: the proportion of credits in the higher classification, the grade on the dissertation or final project, or a viva voce (oral examination). Borderline policies vary significantly between institutions and sometimes between departments.