Understanding the UK Grading System in Universities

The United Kingdom is renowned for its world-class higher education institutions and numerous application requirements from all corners of the globe. One aspect that sets the UK apart is its unique university grading system, which may be unfamiliar to international students. In this blog post, we will delve into the UK grading system for universities, shedding light on its structure, terminology, and significance.

UK Grading System

Do you know that the grading system of the UK’s constituent countries varies to a certain level? The education grading system that is applicable in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is quite similar, while the Scottish grading system is totally different.

UK Grading System in Compulsory Education (GCSE)

Compulsory education in the UK is categorised into four major main stages. At each key stage, students’ academic score is evaluated against national curriculum levels. Additionally, other factors like student’s project work, academic qualification and participation in coursework are also evaluated.

There are mainly two GCSE grading systems in the UK; old and new systems.

Old GCSE System

The old system is usually used in universities in Northern Ireland and Wales. In this system, the student’s academic achievement and performance are evaluated using a letter grading scale from A* to G. A is considered the highest grade, D is the passing grade and G is the lowest grade.

New GCSE System

This grading system is used by universities in England and grades are indicated by the numbers 1 to 9. The highest grade is 9, and the average passing grade is 4. The students who score lower grades are assigned a ‘U’ grade. However, this grading system is not eligible for Indian students.

UK Grading System in Higher Education

The UK has unique and efficient grading criteria for higher education. Its evaluation method is highly valued because of its various benefits. It highlights students’ level of achievement and specific skills. This gives employers a clear picture of their potential. Because of its efficiency, many countries like Canada, Australia and India have also started using the same grading system with tiny changes as per their own local educational system.

UK universities use letter grading criteria from A to F to indicate their students’ academic performance. Where A means an outstanding performance, F means not sufficient scores to pass the exam.

The following table demonstrates the grading system at universities in the UK.

Grade Letter	% Score	Definition
A	70% – 100%	Excellent to Outstanding
B	60% – 69%	Good to Very Good
C	50% – 59%	Satisfying
D	40% – 49%	Sufficient
E	30% – 39%	Unsatisfactory
F	0 – 29%	Unsatisfactory

UK Grading System for Undergraduates

Undergraduate level degree programs (Honours degree) are classified into four main categories depending on the students’ academic achievement.

• First class / Distinction
• Upper second class / Merit
• Lower second class / Pass
• Third class / Pass

Let’s learn more about these undergraduate-level degrees and their grading policies:

• First-Class Honours (1st): The highest attainable merit grade, awarded to outstanding students who demonstrate exceptional performance and skills. A first-class degree is equivalent to a minimum of 70% or above and the letter ‘A’.
• Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1): This grade is awarded to students whose academic performance is impressive, displaying a strong grasp of the subject matter but needs improvement. An upper-second-class degree is equivalent to a minimum requirement of 60%-69%. The students who wish to enrol in a master’s degree in the UK must have an upper-second-class degree. Moreover, this degree is most sought-after by employers in the job market.
• Lower Second-Class Honours (2:2): Awarded to students who have demonstrated a satisfactory understanding of the course material. An upper-second-class degree is equivalent to a minimum percentage grade of 50%-59%. The students whose academic grade is low get this degree.
• Third-Class Honours (3rd): Awarded to students who meet the minimum percentage mark for passing but may have struggled in certain areas. This is the lowest degree in an undergraduate program. A third-class degree is equivalent to a minimum requirement of 40%-49%. Students with third-class degrees and poor academic scores get fewer opportunities to pursue postgraduate courses or even in getting jobs.

The following table demonstrates the academic grading at universities in the UK.

Marks	Degree	Definition
70% or more	First-Class Honours (1st)	Distinction
60-69%	Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1)	Merit
50-59%	Lower Second-Class Honours (2:2)	Pass
40-49%	Third-Class honours (3rd)	Pass
0-39%	Fail	Fail

UK Grading System for Postgraduates

At the master’s level, two lecturers or professors assess a student’s work and then mutually agree on a grade based on the assignment and its presentation. The postgraduate degrees in the UK are broadly divided into two categories – Standalone Master’s Degree and an Integrated Master’s Degree. Both postgraduate degrees are graded differently based on the performance of students.

Standalone Master’s Degree

Standalone Master’s Degree is further divided into two categories:

Taught Master’s Degree – This degree includes dissertations, projects, and modules. The UK grading system for this degree is as follows:

• Distinction – for 70%+
• Merit or Commendation – for 60–69%
• Pass – for 50–59%
• Borderline Pass – for 40–49%

Master’s Degree By Research- This degree mostly includes research work. Most of the universities pass or fail students along with few distinctions.

Integrated Master’s Degree

Integrated degrees are integrated with other programs. The UK’s grading system for the integrated master’s degree is as follows:

• First-class
• Second class honours, upper-division (2:1)
• Second class honours, lower division (2:2)
• Third class
• Fail 

UK Grading System for Undergraduates

Undergraduate level degree programs (Honours degree) are classified into four main categories depending on the students’ academic achievement.

• First class / Distinction
• Upper second class / Merit
• Lower second class / Pass
• Third class / Pass

Let’s learn more about these undergraduate-level degrees and their grading policies:

• First-Class Honours (1st): The highest attainable merit grade, awarded to outstanding students who demonstrate exceptional performance and skills. A first-class degree is equivalent to a minimum of 70% or above and the letter ‘A’.
• Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1): This grade is awarded to students whose academic performance is impressive, displaying a strong grasp of the subject matter but needs improvement. An upper-second-class degree is equivalent to a minimum requirement of 60%-69%. The students who wish to enrol in a master’s degree in the UK must have an upper-second-class degree. Moreover, this degree is most sought-after by employers in the job market.
• Lower Second-Class Honours (2:2): Awarded to students who have demonstrated a satisfactory understanding of the course material. An upper-second-class degree is equivalent to a minimum percentage grade of 50%-59%. The students whose academic grade is low get this degree.
• Third-Class Honours (3rd): Awarded to students who meet the minimum percentage mark for passing but may have struggled in certain areas. This is the lowest degree in an undergraduate program. A third-class degree is equivalent to a minimum requirement of 40%-49%. Students with third-class degrees and poor academic scores get fewer opportunities to pursue postgraduate courses or even in getting jobs.