University grades explained

If you have just come from secondary school and you are trying to work out how university grades work then it can be a little confusing.  In school, you may have been used to A*, A, B, and C's for your grades but at university it's different.

How University Grades Differ from Secondary School Grades

If you're coming straight from secondary school or college, you're probably used to grades being expressed in percentages or letters, like A, B, and C, or even starred grades for GCSEs and A-levels. 

However, once you go to university, things change. Universities use a classification system that might look a bit cryptic at first. But don't worry, it's simpler than it seems.

Bachelor's Degree Grades Explained

When you're studying for an undergraduate degree (like a BA, BSc, or BEng), your final degree classification will fall into one of these categories: a 1st, a 2:1, a 2:2, and a 3rd. But what do these classifications mean, and what scores do you need to achieve them?

1. First-Class Honours (1st): This is the highest degree classification you can achieve. To secure a 1st, you'll typically need an average mark of at least 70% across your modules.
2. Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1): This is the second highest classification and a very common degree result in the UK. To bag a 2:1, you'll need to score an average of 60-69%.
3. Lower Second-Class Honours (2:2): While not as high as a 1st or 2:1, a 2:2 is still a respectable grade. This classification is awarded for an average score of 50-59%.
4. Third-Class Honours (3rd): A 3rd class degree is given to students who achieve an average mark of 40-49%.

The key takeaway here is that even if your grades dip for one or two modules, your degree classification will depend on your average score across all your modules.  Therefore it's important to score as high as possible across all modules to get the grades that you want in your final year.

How Are Masters Degrees Graded?

If you have passed your bachelor's degree and want to continue your study then master's degrees are graded differently yet again. The grading for a masters degree becomes simpler. There are four possible outcomes: Distinction, Merit, Pass, and Fail.

1. Distinction: This is the highest honour for a Masters degree. For most universities, you'll need to achieve an overall mark of 70% or above.
2. Merit: This is the second-highest classification. To achieve a merit, you'll typically need an overall score of 60-69%.
3. Pass: A Pass is awarded for an average score of 50-59%.
4. Fail: An average mark below 50% would typically be classified as a fail.

How Are PhDs Graded in the UK?

For those venturing into the territory of a Doctorate or PhD, the grading system changes again. It becomes less about numerical scores and more about the quality and originality of your research.

PhDs aren't typically classified like undergraduate and Masters degrees. 

Instead, the outcome is often binary: either pass or fail. However, there may be different categories of pass, such as 'Pass with minor corrections' or 'Pass with major corrections'. These corrections refer to changes the examiners want you to make to your thesis.

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