How the Open University Works Out Your Degree Classification

The Open University works out your degree class from your best 240 graded credits at Level 2 and Level 3. Each module's credits are multiplied by its grade (Distinction counts as 1, then Pass grades 2, 3 and 4), and Level 3 results are doubled. The lower your total, the better: 360 to 630 is a First, and 631 to 900 is a 2:1.

It looks complicated at first, but once you've done it for one set of modules it's quick to repeat. You also don't have to do it yourself, because the OU calculates your class automatically. This guide explains the rules from the OU's own regulations so you can see where you stand and which modules matter most.

How are OU modules graded?

Most undergraduate OU modules that count towards your class give one of four pass grades:

The OU's Academic Regulations call these "Distinction (1; the highest grade), Pass grade 2, Pass grade 3, or Pass grade 4". Its Module Results Determination Policy labels the top grade "Pass 1 (distinction)". It's the same grade under two names.

What score do you need for each OU grade?

The OU's results policy sets the scores that guarantee each grade on an undergraduate module with a pass mark of 40:

OCAS is your continuous assessment score and OES is your exam or end-of-module assessment score. On a two-component module you need the grade's minimum in both parts and in the overall weighted average. If they land in different bands, the lowest one decides your grade.

These figures are ceilings, not fixed cut-offs. Each module's results panel can set the boundaries lower, apart from the pass mark itself, and the boundaries it sets are kept confidential. So the same score can earn different grades on different modules. You can check your module's assessment strategy, including its pass mark, on the Assessment tab in StudentHome.

One more rule: if you pass after a resit or resubmission, your result is normally capped at Pass 4.

Which modules count towards your OU degree class?

An OU bachelor's degree with Honours needs at least 360 credits (480 for a Scottish Honours degree). But only part of that decides your class.

So for a standard 360-credit degree, the OU uses 240 credits. Stage 1 still matters because you have to pass it, but your grades there don't affect your class.

If you've studied more than 240 eligible credits, the OU uses a maximum of 240. Compulsory Stage 2 and Stage 3 modules always count, whatever their grade. After that, the OU picks your best grades first.

How do you work out your weighted grade credit score?

This is the heart of the OU method. For each module that counts:

1. Take the module's credits (30 or 60).
2. Multiply by its grade (1, 2, 3 or 4).
3. If it's a Level 3 module, multiply the result by 2.
4. Add up the results for all your counted modules.

Here's what each module is worth, from the OU's own guidance:

With 240 credits, your total will be somewhere between 360 (Distinction in everything) and 1440 (Pass 4 in everything).

What score do you need for a First, 2:1 or 2:2 at the OU?

With the full 240 credits, the class bands are:

What is the OU borderline rule?

If your score is within 60 points of the class above, you can still get the higher class. You need at least 60 Level 3 credits at that class's grade or better.

This is why a strong result in one 60-credit Level 3 module can make such a difference. The OU's own guide gives an example: a student scoring 930 sits in the 2:2 band, but because they have 60 Level 3 credits at Pass 2, they're awarded a 2:1. Without those credits, the 2:2 would stand.

Worked example: an OU degree classification

This example is illustrative: the modules and grades are made up to show the method. Imagine a student with these results:

A score of 780 falls in the 631 to 900 band, so this student gets a 2:1. It isn't within the First borderline (631 to 690), so the borderline rule doesn't apply.

Now imagine Module C had been a Distinction instead of Pass 2. It would score 120 rather than 240, bringing the total down to 660. That's inside the First borderline, and the student would then have 60 Level 3 credits at Distinction, so they'd be awarded a First.

What if you transferred credit into your OU degree?

If credit transfer (RPL) leaves you with fewer than 240 credits of OU study, the OU uses reduced bands based on how much OU credit you have:

The borderline rule works the same way: the first 60 points of each lower band count as the borderline.

Is there an Open University degree calculator?

You don't need one to get your result. The OU says it calculates the classification for your qualification automatically. If you want to estimate your class along the way, the method and tables above are all you need, using your module grades from StudentHome. If something about your own result doesn't look right, contact your Student Support Team, who can put you in touch with the OU's Qualifications Centre.

Where do UCAS points fit in?

UCAS Tariff points measure qualifications like A-levels, BTECs and Access to HE Diplomas when you apply to university. Your OU degree class is a separate measure of how well you did on the degree itself, so the two don't convert into each other. Our guide on whether all universities use UCAS points explains how Tariff points are used. If you're weighing up other study routes, our guides to online courses with UCAS points and the Access to HE Diploma are good next reads.