What percentage of UK students get a first class degree?

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.

What percentage of the UK has a first class degree?

Percentage of undergraduate degrees awarded each grade in the UK 2011-2022. In the 2021/22 academic year, 32 percent of undergraduate students obtaining their degree were awarded a degree with first-class honors, the highest possible grade for UK graduates.

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

If you're aiming for a first class degree, you have to be prepared to put in maximum effort. Students who achieve a first class honours degree tend to be those who consistently try their hardest throughout the year. It's usually not good enough to get the occasional top grade to pull up a few bare-minimum passes.

What is the most common degree grade UK?

University grading: degree classifications explained

Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1) (60-70%): Strong performance, most common degree class. Lower Second-Class Honours (2:2) (50-60%): Satisfactory performance, widely accepted by employers. Third-Class Honours (3rd) (40-50%): Minimum passing grade for an honours degree.

What GPA is first class in UK?

Similarly, here are the following grade points for honour classes: First class honours (70+) = 4.0 GPA. Upper Second Class honours (65-69) = 3.7 GPA. Upper Second class honours (60-64) = 3.3 GPA.

British University Grading System explained in 3 Mins

How rare is a first class degree?

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.

What is first class average UK?

Degree classifications

First-Class Honours (First or 1st) (70% and above) Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1, 2.i) (60-70%) Lower Second-Class Honours (2:2, 2.ii) (50-60%) Third-Class Honours (Third or 3rd) (40-50%)

Is UK grading easier than us?

There is nothing “easier” about a grading system for a student. A teacher might find it easier to mark in grades A to F than 0 to 100, but in my experience when I marked my UK maths homework I assigned I used a ten out of ten system that was used by my math teacher when I was a student in the US.

What percentage of the UK has a Masters degree?

Focus on tertiary education. Among 25-64 year-olds in the United Kingdom, bachelor's degrees are the most common tertiary attainment at 26% of the population followed by master's degrees with 13% and short-cycle tertiary qualifications with 9%.

Is the UK grading system better than us?

A “First” would be similar to a 4.0 GPA, while 2:1 and 2:2 would be similar to a split of the 3.0 GPA range. A failing grade is also different. For example, you can score below 59% in the UK and still obtain an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. However, this isn't possible in the US.

What is the hardest degree to get a 1st in?

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.

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%.

Is a 2.1 from Oxford good?

Yes! A 2.1 from any reputable University is good. It is very difficult to get into Oxford as an undergraduate and their examination standards are rigorous. A first should rightly be accepted as exceptional.

What percentage of Oxford students get a first?

It varies a bit from subject to subject, but roughly 35% of Oxford undergraduates will graduate with a first. That sounds high, but it is actually somewhat lower than a number of other quality UK universities. Durham and UCL (just to pick two) award a far higher proportion of firsts.

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.

Are UK degrees valued in the US?

Because of this, the US recognizes UK degrees for both further education and employment in the US. As always, there are some exceptions to the rule. For some specialty fields in the US, you may have to take extra exams or classes upon your return to practice in your field.

Does the US recognize UK Masters degrees?

Yes, international degrees are valid in the United States. However, their recognition and equivalency may vary depending on several factors, such as the country of origin, the educational institution, and the type of degree.

Is a Masters harder than a degree UK?

"There is no denying that a postgraduate course is harder than an undergraduate course. You will have to put in a lot more work than what you have previously. If you expect and prepare to put in a lot of work, you will find it easier when it comes to doing it, which will then be reflected in your results."

Are British universities harder than American?

It's difficult to say whether the British education system is harder than the American education system because both systems have their own unique challenges and strengths. In the UK, there is a strong emphasis on independent learning and critical thinking, with a heavier focus on exams and a more narrow subject focus.

What is US GPA equivalent to a 2.1 UK degree?

Grade Equivalence (of a UK 2:1 degree) by country

i.e. GPA of 3.3 out of 4 for Study Abroad entry requirement. If your country is not listed, Admissions will assess on a case by case.

What percentage of Masters students get a merit UK?

Masters degree results and classifications

Merit – 60-69% Pass – 50-59% Fail – 40-49%

What percentage of the UK population has a bachelor's degree?

In 2017, 45.7 per cent of British people aged 25 to 64 attained some form of post-secondary education. Of British people aged 25 to 64, 22.6% attained a bachelor's degree or higher, whilst 52% of British people aged 25 to 34 attained some form of tertiary education, about 4% above the OECD average of 44%.

What is the graduation rate for university in the UK?

What is the typical graduation rate in the UK? An 85% graduation rate is the average among students enrolled in public universities within a six-year timeframe. Private non-profit universities show a lower rate of 60%, while private for-profit colleges lag behind at 25%.