Understanding university grades
The UK university grading system can be complicated. Discover the different types of degrees and how university grades work.
UK university grades explained
This article will help you understand how university grades and classifications work. You can find out about:
How do university grades work?
There are four main grades or classifications that you can receive for a bachelor’s degree. For a foundation degree or a master’s, usually there are three main grades. Postgraduate research degrees are only classified by pass or fail.
There are many different award types for both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees too. This usually refers to the type of degree you will be studying. For example, a Bachelor of Science (BSc) would usually be a science based degree. A Bachelor of Arts (BA) is usually more focused on arts, humanities arts or social sciences.
Undergraduate degrees
Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are categorised into qualification levels. This is according to the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). An undergraduate degree is considered anything from Level 4 to Level 6 on the RQF.
Undergraduate degrees are usually taught at universities. They involve studying one or more subject in detail. There are different types of undergraduate degrees that you can study. The amount of time you study will depend on your type of qualification.
Undergraduate degree classifications
A bachelor’s degree is known as a Level 6 qualification (RQF). A bachelor’s degree typically takes around three or four years to complete. Most standard bachelor's degrees are with honours but some more specialist degrees aren't.
Types of bachelor’s degree include:
- Bachelor of Arts with Honours - BA (Hons)
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery - BDS
- Bachelor of Engineering with Honours - BEng (Hons)
- Bachelor of Laws with Honours - LLB (Hons)
- Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery - MBBS
- Bachelor of Science with Honours - BSc (Hons)
- Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery - BVMS
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| Classification | Percentage mark |
|---|---|
| First-class honours (First or 1st) | 70% and above |
| Upper second-class honours (2:1 or 2.i) | 60-69% |
| Lower second-class honours (2:2 or 2.ii) | 50-59% |
| Third-class honours (Third or 3rd) | 40-49% |
You can also achieve an ordinary or pass degree without honours. This is usually an exit award given if you don’t meet the criteria for an honours classification.
Another common type of undergraduate degree is a foundation degree, which is a Level 5 qualification (RQF). Other Level 5 qualifications include a Higher National Diploma (HND) or Diploma of Education (DipHE). They usually take two years to complete full-time. After you complete your foundation degree you can choose to ‘top-up’ to a full bachelor’s degree.
The main types of foundation degree include:
- Foundation in Arts - FdA
- Foundation in Engineering - FdEng
- Foundation in Science - FdSc
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| Classification | Percentage mark |
|---|---|
| Distinction | 70% and above |
| Merit | 60-69% |
| Pass | 40-59% |
Courses with a foundation year involve an extra year of study at the beginning of your undergraduate course. They are usually Level 3 (RQF) and sometimes called a foundation year. Courses with a foundation year are different to foundation degrees.
What are the grades for courses with a foundation year?
Foundation year is not a standalone qualification, so you will not receive a certificate. Your work will still be assessed and graded but you will receive a pass or fail at the end of your course. If you are successful, you will usually be able to progress directly onto your chosen course. You may also wish to change your course, which is sometimes possible provided you successfully pass.
Some courses do not offer automatic progression after a foundation year, such as medicine or veterinary medicine. You will need to apply for these courses and pass an interview even after your foundation year. Please check this information carefully.
Integrated or undergraduate master’s degrees are usually a four-year qualification. They comprise at least three years of undergraduate level study, with a further year to gain a master's qualification. The fourth or final year of an integrated master’s degree is equivalent to Level 7 (RQF). Like bachelor's degrees, most integrated master's degrees are awarded with honours.
Types of integrated masters include:
- Master of Engineering with Honours - MEng (Hons)
- Master of Pharmacy with Honours - MPharm (Hons)
- Master of Physics with Honours - MPhys (Hons)
- Master in Science with Honours - MSci (Hons)
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| Classification | Percentage mark |
|---|---|
| First-class honours (First or 1st) | 70% and above |
| Upper second-class honours (2:1 or 2.i) | 60-69% |
| Lower second-class honours (2:2 or 2.ii) | 50-59% |
| Third-class honours (Third or 3rd) | 40-49% |
Postgraduate degrees
A postgraduate degree is an advanced qualification. They are usually studied after completing an undergraduate degree. Postgraduate qualifications are usually Level 7 and Level 8 on the Regulated Qualification Framework. Some graduate level qualifications are Level 6.
You can study for a taught postgraduate qualification, or you may wish to study a postgraduate research course. Taught postgraduate qualifications include master’s degrees and postgraduate diplomas (PGDip) or certificates (PGCert).
Postgraduate degree classifications
A master’s degree is the most common type of postgraduate degree. They usually take one year to complete full-time or two to three years part-time. On successful completion, you will be awarded a master’s level qualification.
Types of taught master’s degree include:
- Master of Architecture - MArch
- Master of Arts - MA
- Master of Business Administration - MBA
- Master of Education - MEd
- Master of Laws (LLM)
- Master of Sciences (MSc)
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| Classification | Percentage mark |
|---|---|
| Distinction | 70% and above |
| Merit | 60-69% |
| Pass | 50-59% |
Postgraduate diplomas and certificates are the same level of study as a master’s degree (Level 7, RQF) but are generally shorter. They consist of fewer modules than a full master’s degree. You do not usually need to write a dissertation or final project.
Types of postgraduate diplomas and certificates include:
- Postgraduate Diploma - PGDip
- Postgraduate Certificate - PGCert
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education - PGCE
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| Classification | Percentage mark |
|---|---|
| Distinction | 70% and above |
| Merit | 60-69% |
| Pass | 50-59% |
Postgraduate research degree classifications
A postgraduate research degree usually involves working on a single in-depth research project. It’s for those considering a career in academia or research. Typically they are studied after completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree. They are not graded in the same way as taught postgraduate degrees. You either pass or fail, with recommendations for improvement.
Master’s by research are postgraduate degrees that allow you to take your first steps into research. They help prepare you for doctorate level study. You’ll undertake an independent research project to develop qualitative and quantitative research skills. This is under the supervision of a research mentor.
Types of research master’s degrees:
- Master of Research - MRes
- Master of Philosophy - MPhil
- Master of Surgery - MCh
A doctorate is the highest postgraduate level qualification offered by universities in the UK. It is Level 8 on the Regulated Qualification Framework. The most common doctoral qualification is a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). A PhD gets awarded on the successful completion of a programme of supervised research. You can also study a professional doctorate. These combine academic research with professional practice.
Types of doctoral qualifications
- Doctor of Business Administration - DBA
- Doctor of Education - EdD
- Doctor of Medicine by Research - MD (Res)
- Doctor of Philosophy - PhD
- Professional Doctorate - DProf
How university grades are calculated
The way university grades are calculated depends on your course and the institution you’re studying at. You should check your university's academic regulations for full information.
Your course will be made up of several individual modules or units, with each module being worth a certain number of credits. You will need to take complete a specific number of credits from the modules to successfully complete your course.
Modules are usually worth 20, 40 or 60 credits and each module will align to a minimum level on the Regulated Qualification Framework.
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Minimum credits for bachelor’s degree with honours Level 4 or above (usually Year 1)
100 credits
Level 5 or above (usually Year 2)
220 credits
Level 6 or above (usually Year 3)
360 credits
Total credits
360 credits
Each module is assessed separately, and you will be awarded an individual module grade. Within each module you will take at least one assessment, but usually two or three.
Assessments include:
- Coursework (essays, reports, or portfolios)
- Group work
- Presentations
- Written exams
- Practical exams
You will be awarded a percentage mark for each assessment, which will equate to the undergraduate classifications listed above. The assessment grades will then be used to calculate your final module grade.
Each assessment within a module will carry a weight or percentage of your final module grade. For example:
Sam is in their first year studying BSc (Hons) Psychology full-time at UCLan. They are currently taking a module called Topics in Psychology, which is worth 40 credits at Level 4. The module will be assessed by a group poster presentation, coursework, and an exam. They will receive a grade for each which will be weighted as follows:
- Group poster presentation: 30%
- Coursework: 30%
- Exam: 40%
Each assessment grade will be given as a percentage. The grade for each piece of work Sam completes will then be combined. Based on the weighting of each assessment, they will be given an average overall grade for the module. This will usually be given as a percentage mark. This will equate to the standard undergraduate classifications.
Sam received the following marks:
- Group poster presentation: 58% (2:2)
- Coursework: 65% (2:1)
- Exam: 72% (1st)
Due to the weighting of each assessment, they final module average is 65.7%, which is an upper-second class honours (2:1).
Just as each assessment carries a weighting towards your final module grade, each module will carry a weighting towards your final degree grade. This will depend on the number of credits your module is worth. So if a module is worth 60 credits, the grade from this module will have more weighting towards your final grade classification than a 20-credit module.
You’ll receive an overall grade at the end of each year you study. For some courses and universities, the grades from your first year of study won’t count towards your final overall grade. You will need to check your academic regulations for more information. This does not mean that first year modules and assessments aren’t important though. It’s a good way to predict your final grade average and help you to improve.
How to work out university grades
Once you have successfully completed all the modules on your course, your final overall grade will be calculated. You will also likely have a dissertation or final year project that will count towards your final grade. This usually carries a lot of weighting so is a key element to your final degree classification. There are several online grade calculators that can help you work out the grades for modules, years and your final grade average.
Each university will have a Board of Examiners, usually one per school or college. This is the group responsible for deciding the outcome of your assessments and your final grade.
After you graduate, you will receive a transcript that includes the marks for each of your modules. It will also have your name, award, final overall grade, and course name on the front. For example:
Bachelor of Science
with Second Class Honours (First Division)
in
Psychology
