What you'll get from your time at uni
Most universities award a class of degree based on the average mark of the assessed work the student has completed.
Below is a list of the possible classifications with the usual percentages for each class - but these percentages vary between subjects and universities:
| Classification | Mark | Open University Mark |
| First-Class Honours (a '1st') | 70% and above | 85% and above |
| Upper Second-Class Honours (a '2:1') | 60 - 69% | 70-85% |
| Lower Second-Class Honours (a '2:2') | 50 - 59% | 55-70% |
| Third-Class Honours (a '3rd') | 40 - 49% | 40-55% |
| 'Ordinary' degree | Pass | Awarded at 300 CATS Points |
First-Class Honours
In most universities, First-Class Honours is the highest grade which can be achieved.
Although it's highly uncommon for students to study two full undergraduate subjects nowadays, universities such as Oxbridge and Glasgow have previously awarded “double firsts” when students achieve a First in two separate subjects, while studying just one joint honours degree.
A handful of universities also award a 'First-Class Honours with Distinction' too, informally known as a 'Starred First'.
Second-Class Honours
The Second-Class Honours bracket is divided into Upper Second-Class Honours and Lower Second-Class Honours. These divisions are commonly abbreviated to 2:1 and 2:2.
Despite 2:1s and 2:2s just being divisions of the same class, the perceived difference between them can be high. For example, employers usually make the distinction between graduates with 2:1s and above, or 2:2s and below. For some institutions or employers, the minimum grade they accept for graduate positions is a 2:1 - but 2:2s are still accepted for certain positions.
Third-Class Honours
Third-Class Honours is the lowest honours classification in most modern institutions. In some unis, if an honours student fails to achieve a third class by just a couple of marks, they will be awarded an ordinary degree at 'pass' level.
Why are some students awarded a Certificate of Higher Education?
In some universities, students who successfully complete one or more years of degree-level study - but choose not to complete a full degree - may be awarded a lower qualification. This is called a 'Certificate of Higher Education' or 'Higher National Certificate' if one year was studied, or a 'Diploma of Higher Education' or 'Higher National Diploma' for two years.
