Grading System in the UK Universities

UK Grading System: Astonished with the UK’s education system and its world-class universities? Well, if you are then, chances are you might be willing to get admitted to one of the top universities in the UK. But before you start your studying in the UK journey, read this article to learn about the grading system in the UK. 

Getting to know about the grading system accepted in the universities in the UK can get you an edge over others. The current grading system in the UK has switched to the number grading system. Several other countries have adapted the UK university grading system either entirely or with slight variations to assess the academic performances of their college students. For this reason, many international students get confused in understanding the grading system used in the universities in the UK.

For example, many Indian students are accustomed to the fact that a degree is offered upon obtaining a minimum average percentage of 60% overall marks, while in the UK, a UG or PG degree may be awarded even on receiving less than 59% of marks; which is also not the case in the USA. 

In this article, we will discuss the university grading system in the UK for international students going to study in the UK to help you understand what is the criterion of grading at different top universities in the UK and which grade you should be aiming for while studying in the UK. 

Also  Check: Global Grading Systems Uncovered

What is the Grading System in Education?

The grading system is the system of assessing a student’s or a pupil’s academic performance by means of using numbers, letters and symbols. The grading system has been in use since the Romans and the Greeks times. However, later in the 18th or 19th century, a standardised form of grading (in the form of numbers and letters) came into being.

The grading system across different countries may differ in terms of its scale and its correlation with the percentage of marks. For this reason, some confusion has been generated over time in understanding the grading systems followed in different countries. 

In the UK, there are two types of grading systems - used exclusively for the compulsory education (school level education and A levels) and the higher education (university education). For the compulsory education, the GCSE grading system is used. However, in this article, we will focus on the university level grading system used in the United Kingdom. 

Also Read: How to Calculate CGPA for Studying Abroad?

Grading System in UK Universities 

The UK grading system is a little different from the ones accepted across the universities in other nations. While most countries around the world use the letter grades (A, A+, A-, B, C,..) and the number grades (from 0 to 9), the universitries in the UK assess the students’ performances on a scale of 100 and associate certain level of classification to these percentages of marks in their degrees. 

The current UK grading system classifies the university and college degrees of students into 4 levels and as a result, students receive either a first-class honours degree, an upper second-class honours degree, a lower second-class honours degree or a third-class honours degree. On obtaining a percentage below the third-class honours level, the students receive a “fail” status in their academic course which means that they don’t meet the minimum required standards of qualification. 

The degree classifications associated with different percentage ranges in the Britain grading system are shown hereunder. 

UK Grading System
Classification of Degrees	Associated Percentage of Marks (%)
First-class Honours	70-100
Upper Second-class Honours	60-69
Lower Second-class Honours	50-59
Third-class Honours	40-49
Fail	0-39

So, the above data shows that you mayreceive your bachelor's or master's degree even when you score lower than 59% overall marks. However, you must confirm the exact grade boundaries with your university’s authoritative bodies. 

Also Read: How to convert 10 point CGPA to 4 point GPA?

Classification of Degree in the UK Grading System 

The degrees in the UK are classified in certain “honours-levels” as mentioned in the previous section. On this basis, the final degrees awarded to students are classified into classes such as a first-class degree, upper and lower second-class degrees and a third-class degree. 

Below is a brief description of each class of degrees awarded to the graduates as part of their graduation ceremonies. 

First-class Honours Degree

Also represented as First or 1st class, this is the highest classification for a university degree awarded in the UK. A degree classified as a first-class degree signifies exceptional performance by the students and is typically awarded for the overall GPAs of 70% and above. 

Upper Second-class Honours Degree 

This classification is also represented as 2:1, 2 1, 2.i or two one degrees in some places in the dreading system in UK universities. The 2 1 degree in the UK grading system refers to the percentage of marks ranging from 60-70%. The degree signifies a very good level of performance from the student in their chosen majors. Most students studying at the universities in the UK pass out with a 2:1 degree which means a good performance of the degree recipients. 

Lower Second-class Honours Degree

If you receive a lower-second-class honours degree on graduating from a UK university then, it means that you have performed satisfactorily throughout your academic journey. This class of degree signifies a percentage range from 50% to 60% and is also represented as a 2:2, 2.ii or 2 2 degrees.

Third-class Honours Degree

This class of the academic degree signifies a percentage range of 40% to 50%. However, this does not imply a good performance from the student and rather just a status of passing the qualifying exams. 

Relatable Reads: Grading System in USA

UK Grading System: Additional Points 

Here are a few more points to consider about the UK grading system.

• Variations within Higher Education: While the classifications mentioned above are common, some universities might use slightly different terminology (e.g., "Distinction" instead of "First Class Honours"). 
• International Students: International qualifications need to be evaluated and compared to the UK grading system for university admissions. This process is typically handled by organisations like UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) or individual universities.

This was all about the UK grading system and the degrees classifications in the UK universities. If you wish to study abroad, then you can get assistance from Shiksha Counselling Services for free. You can also drop your queries in the comments section below.