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The UK Honours Degree System for Undergraduates

The UK university undergraduate degree system has historically been different from most other systems around the world. The system is likely to differ from what you are used to from school or college.

You can find out more about the way your work will be marked/assessed in your Student Handbook, which provides general information and key information relating to your degree programme.Ìý

If you study for an undergraduate degree at ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº, you are aiming to graduate with a degree with honours. With this type of degree, the level of your academic performance on your programme is indicated by the ‘class’ of degree – or honours - you are awarded. Most universities award a class of degree based on the marks from the assessed work you have completed. To distinguish between students on the basis of their academic achievement, undergraduate degree awards are classified as follows:

  • First-Class Honours (70% and above): a first class degree, usually referred to as a ‘first’ or 1st, is the highest honours degree you can achieveÌý
  • Upper Second-Class Honours (60-70%): there are two levels of second class degree. An upper second class, known as a 2:1 or two-one, is the higher of the two levelsÌý
  • Lower Second-Class Honours (50-60%): a 2.2 or two-two is the lower level of the second class degreeÌý
  • Third-Class Honours (40-50%): known as a ‘third’ or 3rd, this degree is the lowest honours degree achievable
  • Ordinary Degree: If an honours student fails to achieve a third class by a small margin, they may be awarded an ordinary degree i.e. without honours.

UK-wide award of different classes of honours degreesÌý

The table below shows the percentage of each class of honours degree awarded across the UK, by year.

UK Honours degrees awarded

1st

2:1

2:2

3rd

2014/15

22.0%

49.5%

23.0%

5.5%

2015/16

23.6%

49.6%

21.7%

5.1%

2016/17

25.8%

49.1%

20.3%

4.9%

2017/18

27.8%48.5%19.2%4.5%

2018/19

28.4%48.3%19.0%4.3%

How does UK marking compare to other countries?

Please note this section is intended to provide general information on how marking in the UK higher education sector compares to marking systems in other countries. This information does not apply to admission to ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº and should not be construed within the context of ¹û¶³Ó°Ôºâ€™s entry requirements.

Read further information on ¹û¶³Ó°Ôºâ€™s international academic entry requirements.

A full range of equivalencies, can be found on the – the table below gives some comparisons.

Type of degree

¹û¶³Ó°Ôº mark

US

ECTS scale

°ä³ó¾±²Ô²¹Ìý(GPA 4.0 scale)

Germany

Italy

India

Netherlands &ÌýSpain

1st

70-100%

A

A

90%

(3.7)

Sehr gut

108

75%

9

2:1

65-69%ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

A-

B

Ìý

80%

(3.3)

Gut

Gut

94

60%

7

Ìý

60-64%

B+

2:2

55-59%

B

C

Ìý

75%

(2.9)

Gut -

84

50%

6

Ìý

50-54%

B-

Befriedigend +

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

3rd

46-49%

C+

D

Ìý

Befriedigend

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

43-45%

C

D

Ìý

Befriedigend -

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

40-42%

C-

D

Ìý

Ausreichend

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

FailÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

0-39%

F

F

Ìý

±«²Ô²µ±ð²Ôü²µ±ð²Ô»å

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý


¹û¶³Ó°ÔºÌýHonours Degree Outcomes Statement

The Honours Degree Outcomes Statement is available via the ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Honours Degree Outcomes Statement website.