Understanding university grades in the UK

All universities in the UK follow a standard grading system for degree classification and it's a bit different to how you received your marks at school.

Getting to grips with what your university grades mean is crucial if you want to fully engage in academic life. 'Understanding your grades allows you to aim higher, to push yourself further and to understand what is required to make a difference to your outcome,' say Tim Wade, director of student registry services and Elaine Walters, chief executive officer at the School of Advanced Study at the University of London (UoL).

While getting to grips with a new grading system may seem daunting, degree classifications are actually relatively easy to understand when broken down. So that's what we’ve done.

Undergraduate degree classifications

There are four main classifications for Level 6 Bachelors degrees, based on the overall percentage achieved:

First-class honours (first, 1st) - 70% and above
Upper second-class honours (2:1) - 60-70%
Lower second-class honours (2:2) - 50-60%
Third-class honours (third, 3rd) - 40-50%

These are standard boundaries but percentage thresholds may vary slightly between universities.

If an honours student just misses out on achieving a third-class degree they may be awarded a degree without honours, known as an ordinary degree.

Four-year integrated Masters - which combine undergraduate and postgraduate study into one degree, also follow this classification system.

Learn more about undergraduate degrees with our guide to qualifications.

What is considered a pass grade?

In the UK a pass mark at university is typically 40% (a third, the lowest degree grade.) Anything below this is usually a fail.

But don't just aim to pass. While university work is an academic step-up, the vast majority of students are more than capable of achieving good grades, even in their first year.

In fact, anything over 50% (2:2) is considered a good mark in your first year of study and provides a solid baseline for you to improve upon in years two and three.

If you were used to receiving full marks at school you might need to manage your expectations at university. Marks of 90-100% are rare at this level. Instead, those between 50-70% are normal, with marks at the top end of this range considered excellent.

What is the most common undergraduate mark?

The most commonly achieved undergraduate degree classification is a 2:1 (upper second-class), followed by a first, 2:2 then a third.

According to HESA data in the 2023/24 academic year:

48% of graduates left university with a 2:1
29% with a first
20% with a 2:2
3% with a third.

What about foundation degrees?

The classification method for Level 5 foundation degrees differs slightly to Bachelors qualifications. They are marked on a scale of:

Pass - 40-59%
Merit - 60-69%
Distinction - 70% or above.

Read more about foundation degrees, what they involve and how they compare to other qualifications. Another Level 5 qualification, the Higher National Diploma (HND), also uses this grading system.

Postgraduate degree classifications

The grading system is different for Level 7 taught Masters degrees, the most common type of postgraduate study in the UK. Rather than being marked with a first, 2:1, 2:2 or third like you are at undergraduate level, instead Masters students receive one of the following classifications:

Distinction - 70% and above
Merit - 60-70%
Pass - 50-60%
Borderline pass/fail - 40-50%

Exact Masters grading scales may differ slightly between institutions. For example, some universities may grant a pass at 49%, or a distinction at 75%.

Postgraduate diplomas and certificates are marked in the same way. You'll either get a pass, merit or distinction.

What about research Masters and PhDs?

The grading system changes again for research Masters, such as an MPhil. These courses focus on independent research and project work and generally don't include any taught modules. Because of this you'll simply receive a 'pass' or 'fail' grade.

PhD courses are graded in much the same way, you'll either pass your PhD viva or you won't.

How university grades are calculated

This depends on your course and institution. However, all undergraduate and taught postgraduate courses are made up of a series of compulsory and optional modules, which each have different credit values depending on their importance and workload. For example:

A Bachelors degree requires 360 credits - 120 per academic year (on a three-year course). When broken down individually modules are usually worth 15 to 30 credits.
Masters degrees are worth 180 credits - varying between 10 and 30 credits per module on a year-long programme.

You're assessed on how you perform in these modules through methods such as:

Most (but not all) degrees culminate in the writing of a dissertation, which is worth 40 credits if studying for a Bachelors and 60 for a Masters.

You'll receive marks for these individual assessments that count towards your final module grade, and final module grades count towards your overall degree grade.

Final undergraduate and taught postgraduate degree classifications are calculated using a credit weighted average of module marks, essentially giving more weight to modules with more credits.

Each university has its own algorithm, or formula, for combining module marks to create your final grade. At undergraduate level, some place more importance on your third (and final) year grades, while others combine marks from your second and third year. For example, at the University of Leeds the classification average is calculated by weighting years of study according to the 1:2 ratio between years two and three.

'In practical terms, your work is assessed by two examiners, who mark independently and agree a final mark. Protocols are in place to refer students' work to a third examiner, where there is (rarely) any significant disparity of opinion. Assessed work is then reviewed by external examiners from other UK universities, who moderate and review marking at all levels, and confirm standards have been appropriately applied according to the level of the qualification (Bachelor, Masters, etc.),' explain Tim and Elaine.

To help you work out module grades and final year averages there are a number of online grade calculators, such as Calculator.net and GradeCalc.

As exact weighting for each year varies by institution, check your university's academic regulations for specific information.

How to achieve high grades

If you want to get top marks at university you'll need to consistently engage with academic life and teaching methods, such as lectures and seminars.

If you're aiming for a first or a high 2:1 you'll need to take advantage of your contact hours and university resources. 'Use all of the resources at your disposal - often libraries offer a lot of help in not only locating resources, but broadening reading and offering study skills,' say Tim and Elaine.

More importantly, be prepared to put in the work outside of class. Those who achieve top grades dedicate a substantial amount of their free time to their studies.

Other tips include:

Stay organised - student life can be hectic and often comes with a lot of competing priorities. Staying focused on your assignments grades requires some serious organisation. Read our 7 time management tips for students.
Ask for help - if you're struggling to understand a module or need clarity before starting an assignment don't be afraid to ask lecturers and tutors for help. 'Think carefully about what the assignment is asking you to demonstrate. Watch for words like 'explain', 'critique', 'analyse', 'describe', 'compare' or 'apply' and do what they say,' advise Tim and Elaine.
Take on feedback - lecturers and tutors provide constructive feedback to help you develop and improve your academic work, so review and act on it. Don't view it as criticism, instead use the advice to help you achieve higher marks in future.

'Higher grades are awarded to those who display the breadth and depth of comprehension of the subject area,' add Time and Elaine. 'Apply your wisdom and insight to the specific task at hand. If you're working at postgraduate level you'll need to work more independently and show originality of thought with a high level of critical evaluation and analytical skills.'

What to do if you're not achieving the grades you want

Evaluate what's holding you back if you feel you're not reaching your full potential.

If it's a general lack of effort, now's the time to knuckle down. If your social life is getting in the way of your studies you might want to consider shifting your priorities. Perhaps you're overstretching yourself by committing to too many clubs or societies or signing up to work more hours than you can manage in your part-time job, in which case you're going to need to reclaim some of that time to dedicate to your degree.

If you're doing all you can but still feel you're falling short of where you want to be, make an appointment with your university's study advice team. They'll be able to help you refine your academic writing, gain confidence when giving presentations or help you plan and organise your workload.

Tim and Elaine point out that tutors are there to guide you, so 'arrange to talk to your tutor to discuss how you can make improvements.' They also suggest reading the marking schemes and conventions. This should help you to see what you need to be doing to get higher grades.

'Also, if you have a disability, let the university know. Disclosure is key, adjustments can only be made if you declare a disability and share your needs,' add Tim and Elaine. Learn more about reasonable adjustments.

Most importantly be kind to yourself. You're working at a high academic level at university so don't put too much pressure on yourself. Discover 5 ways to manage student stress and learn how to look after your mental health at university.

What to do if you disagree with a grade

All universities have an academic appeals procedure but how you approach this may differ between institutions.

If you're unsure of the process at your university, check their academic appeals policy, which you should be able to find on their website. You can also turn to your students' union or student advice centre for help.

It's worth noting that most universities don't allow assessment retakes to boost an already passing grade, and you usually can't appeal 'just because' you disagree with a grading decision.

'There is an academic appeal process at the UoL, which can be made only on the premise that the assessment was not conducted in accordance with relevant regulations. You cannot appeal purely on academic grounds,' explain Tim and Elaine.

'However, there is something called mitigating circumstances, which is where you might have been disadvantaged because of a particular challenge you faced, which has led to you not doing your best in a particular piece of work.'

If you genuinely feel that you have been marked unfairly, and you have solid reasons or evidence (such as mitigating circumstances) to back this up, you might have grounds for an appeal.

Typical grounds for appeal include:

A procedural error in the assessment process.
Mitigating circumstances that weren’t given proper consideration.
Unsatisfactory supervision that affected your performance.

You'll need to submit an appeal as soon as possible, as submission deadlines are often quite short (7-20 days after receiving your grade).

Include as much detail as possible in your complaint and make sure you provide any documents, emails etc that support your case.

Use resources such as Resolver for help and advice.

If you're not happy with the outcome of your university's internal investigation into the matter, you can escalate the issue to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA).

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