UK Degree Classifications: First, 2:1, 2:2 and Third Explained

UK honours degrees come in four classes: a First, an upper second (2:1), a lower second (2:2) and a Third. At many universities a First means a final average of 70% or more, a 2:1 means 60 to 69%, a 2:2 means 50 to 59% and a Third means 40 to 49%. Each university sets its own exact rules.

If you're still at school or college, this can feel a long way off. It's worth knowing now, though, because the class you graduate with is the "grade" people will ask about next, in the same way sixth form is all about UCAS points. Here's how the system works, in plain English.

What are the four UK degree classifications?

The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), which publishes the UK's qualification frameworks, describes "four main degree outcome classifications for bachelor's degrees with honours - 1st, 2.1, 2.2 and 3rd". The names are shared, but each university decides for itself how marks turn into a class: the QAA says universities are "responsible for setting their own curricula and assessment criteria".

The QAA also makes a point that surprises a lot of students: the minimum standard for an honours degree is a Third. In its words, the frameworks set the "minimum expectations necessary for awarding bachelor's degrees with honours (in other words, a 3rd-class degree)". So a Third is still an honours degree. It isn't a fail.

What percentage do you need for each degree class?

Many universities use the same broad percentage bands. The table below comes from two universities' published regulations, the University of Bristol and Manchester Metropolitan University, which use identical bands.

Two things to keep in mind. First, the percentage is a weighted average across the years that count, not the mark on one exam. Second, the edges of each band are handled differently from place to place:

• Bristol rounds your final programme mark to the nearest whole number. If it lands within two marks of a higher boundary, it's reviewed, and you get the higher class when "50% or more of the weighted unit marks fall within that higher classification".
• Manchester Metropolitan says "Rounding is never used to determine classification of an award". It runs two methods and gives you the better result. One is the usual average; the other looks at your final year, for example 68% with at least 60 credits marked 70% or more earns a First.

So "is 69.5% a First?" has no single UK answer. It depends entirely on your university's regulations, which are always published on its website.

What is an ordinary degree or an unclassified degree?

Not every bachelor's degree gets a class. The QAA describes two types of degree without honours:

• Ordinary degree. Universities "may permit students to study slightly fewer credits and achieve an Ordinary degree". It can be a qualification in its own right, and it's "sometimes awarded to students who take the full honours degree but do not succeed in all assessments". Ordinary degrees are "awarded a pass/merit/distinction, or a fail" rather than a First, 2:1, 2:2 or Third.
• Pass degree. In England and Wales, students who study the full honours degree "but do not achieve all the required credits may be awarded a Pass degree". Pass degrees aren't classified.

How is your degree class worked out?

In short, your university takes your module marks from the years that count, weights them, averages them, and compares the result with its bands. The details differ, but here's how two universities do it:

At Manchester Metropolitan, Level 6 marks carry three times the weight of Level 5, and at Bristol the first year doesn't count at all. That's good news if your first year is a bumpy one: at universities like these it's a chance to settle in rather than a year that decides your result.

For a three- or four-year view, the QAA notes that "full-time honours degrees usually take place over three years" in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and over four years in Scotland. Scottish degrees still end in the same four honours classes.

Is a 2:2 a good degree?

A 2:2 is a full honours degree, and it's a solid result. Whether it's "enough" depends on what you want to do next.

For further study, entry rules vary course by course:

So a 2:1 opens the widest range of Masters courses, but a 2:2 doesn't close the door. Graduate employers are the same: each sets its own criteria, and there's no single national rule. If a particular career or course matters to you, look up its requirements early, while your marks are still in play.

How are Masters degrees graded?

Taught Masters degrees are graded differently from bachelor's degrees. At Manchester Metropolitan, for example, a taught Masters is awarded Pass, Merit or Distinction, worked out from "a weighted average calculated from your 180 taught credits":

Notice that at Manchester Metropolitan the Masters pass mark is higher than the undergraduate one (50% rather than 40%). Other universities publish their own Masters rules, so check the regulations for any course you're considering.

How do UCAS points relate to your degree class?

They don't carry over. UCAS points measure your Level 3 results, such as A-levels, BTECs or an Access to HE Diploma, and universities use them to decide on offers. Once you start your degree, you're marked on your university work alone, and your points play no part in your final class.

What UCAS points do is get you onto the right course in the first place, and that matters. A course that suits you is one you'll enjoy, work hard at and do well in. If you're choosing now, these guides help:

• Check what your grades are worth with the UCAS points calculator.
• Read what UCAS points are if the Tariff is new to you.
• See how many UCAS points you need for different kinds of course.
• Turn your total into a shortlist with what you can study with your UCAS points.

Work out your UCAS points

What should you do next?

If you're applying to university, focus on today's step: getting the grades and the offer for a course you'll love. The degree class comes later, and it's built up module by module over two or three years, so there's plenty of time to find your feet.

When you do start your degree, find your university's classification regulations in your first term. Look for three things: which years count, how they're weighted, and how borderline marks are treated. Knowing those early takes the mystery out of the whole thing and helps you plan where to put your effort. And if money is on your mind before you go, our guide to student finance basics covers the loans that pay for your course and living costs.