How common is a first class degree UK?

First Class Honours, referred to as a "first", is the highest honours classification and indicates high academic achievement. Historically, First Class Honours were uncommon, but since 2019 a first has been awarded to nearly thirty percent of graduates of British universities.

Is it hard to get a first class degree in UK?

Getting a first-class degree in the UK can be challenging, as it requires a high level of academic achievement and a consistent level of performance throughout your course of study.

How valuable is a first class degree?

With all available control variables, we estimate an average conditional earnings premium of a first class degree over an upper second of around 3.5% for women and 7.0% for men, measured at age 30.

How hard is it to get a first class degree?

A first class honours degree, often just called a first, is the highest grade you can achieve on an undergraduate degree in the UK. The benchmark for a first is an average of 70% or more throughout your studies, which will be calculated across the exams, essays, and projects you receive a grade for.

Does it matter if you get a first class degree?

Getting a first class honours degree isn't the only way to improve your job prospects at uni. You could get a lower grade and still make yourself more employable than some first class students.

British University Grading System explained in 3 Mins

What is the UK equivalent of a US bachelor's degree?

Some British sources, such as the Dearing Report, consider British honours degrees equivalent to a US master's degree and US bachelor's degrees as equivalent to British pass degrees in terms of the standard reached in the major subject, due to the higher degree of specialisation in the UK.

What GPA is needed for first class honours?

Honours I (First Class Honours): Honours GPA of 6.20 to 7.00; Honours IIA (Second Class Honours, Division A): Honours GPA of 5.65 to 6.199; Honours IIB (Second Class Honours, Division B): Honours GPA of 5.00 to 5.649; Honours III (Third Class Honours): Honours GPA of less than 5.00.

Is a first-class degree from Oxford good?

What does Oxford mean by a first-class or strong upper-second-class undergraduate degree with honours? A 'First' is the highest grade achievable for a UK undergraduate degree. This typically represents a score of 70% or more. An 'Upper second' (2:1) is the next highest band, typically representing a score of 60%-69%.

Does Masters have first-class honours?

Instead of a 1st, 2.1, 2.2. or 3rd, Masters students usually receive a Distinction, Merit or Pass.

What are the benefits of a first-class honours degree?

What is the most unpopular degree?

Among the least common majors in the US between 2020 and 2021 was Architecture and Related Services with only about 9,296 students earning their degree in the major. The area of study focuses on engineering, art, drawing, designing, the theory of design, layouts, and the history of architecture.

What is the hardest degree to get a first in the UK?

Law. According to statistics, Law is officially the hardest course to get a first-class degree in. It demands a lot of time from students, reading, understanding, and scrutinising various case studies and legislation from around the world – often looking at texts that date back by hundreds of years.

What percentage of UK is upper class?

Elite. Members of the elite class are the top 6% of British society with very high economic capital (particularly savings), high social capital, and very 'highbrow' cultural capital.

Are UK degrees respected in the USA?

These rigorous accreditation practices make the UK one of the most trusted and accepted degrees around the globe. Because of this, the US recognizes UK degrees for both further education and employment in the US.

Is university better in UK or USA?

7. UK Universities' Rankings. The UK is home to some of the world's most prestigious universities that rank higher than US institutions. In the 2024 QS World University Rankings, four UK universities feature in the top 10, compared to four from the US.

Are UK degrees valued in the US?

Is a UK Master's recognised in the US? For university appointments and research positions in US universities, the answer is yes. A UK master's will be highly regarded and very much respected for the work and research involved. Companies in the US respect UK master's degrees.

What is a 3.7 GPA equivalent to in the UK?

A GPA of as low as 3.7, for example, is sometimes considered equivalent to a first-class or distinction grade in the UK.

What is a 4.0 GPA for Harvard?

Average GPA: 4

The average GPA at Harvard is 4. (Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA. With a GPA of 4, Harvard requires you to be at the top of your class. You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants.

How is the UK grading scale different from the US?

The United Kingdom uses letter grades, but not in the same way that the United States does. In the UK, an A is anything above 70%, rather than each letter representing 10%. And each letter after that represents a 10% reduction. A failing grade is also unique.

Which degree is hardest to get a first?

Law. Law is officially the hardest subject to get a first class degree in⁴, so we all know it's hard going. If you think you know what it's like to have a lot of reading, go and talk to a Law student.

What is a first class degree equivalent to?

A First-Class Honours (a '1st') = Grade A** An Upper Second-Class Honours (a '2:1', pronounced two-one) = Grade A* A Lower Second-Class Honours (a '2:2', pronounced two-two) = Grade A. A Third-Class Honours (a 3rd) = Grade B.

How do I get first class honours UK?

As a whole, you'll need 70% or more to achieve first class with honours. But each course will get there in different ways. Understand whether your course uses mostly exams, coursework, group work, work placements, closed book exams, open book exams or something else entirely.