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How do Universities calculate your degree classification?

I’ve been trying to find out how Universities calculate degree classifications. You’d have thought it would be quite a simple system, but it looks like the 2nd year “weighs” less than the third year and god knows what else.

Can anyone explain to me in simple terms how to calculate degree classifications?

Reply 1

AT82

It depends on the university and some times the course.

This is a rough guide though

1st year = 0% but you must pass 100/120 credits to go level 2 (although really you need to pass 120/120)
2nd year = 25% again you need to pass 100/120 credits.
3rd year = 75% and you need to realy pass 120 credits.

40% = 3rd
50% = 2:2
60% = 2:1
70% = 1st

I hope this helps a little.

Reply 2

ancientone

8

Spot on, but at Manchester the 25% from Y2 is made up of the best module mark and the average mark of all other modules. In Y3 the marks on every module count, but some moduules are double credit. In addition to this there is a complex formula of possible boundaries of marks within which you will be awarded a particular classification. It's explained in your course handbook.

Reply 3

martynwilliams

OP

7

AT82

It depends on the university and some times the course.

This is a rough guide though

1st year = 0% but you must pass 100/120 credits to go level 2 (although really you need to pass 120/120)
2nd year = 25% again you need to pass 100/120 credits.
3rd year = 75% and you need to realy pass 120 credits.

40% = 3rd
50% = 2:2
60% = 2:1
70% = 1st

I hope this helps a little.

Yeah, I’ve got all that, what I’m trying to work out is how they work out the final classification after giving each module its own “mark”.

They don’t just work out the average do they?

Reply 4

homoterror

On my course they go "your mark = number of marks from questions + 3x number of fully correct questions answered + 2x number of decently answered question (-24 if you answered more than 8 questions), and that's your mark, your degree classification is whatever we feel you deserved"

Reply 5

not1

15

hm, well on my four year course it goes 10 20 30 40% over the 4 years. You guys have it easy. :p:

Reply 6

Fluffy

15

At Swansea, you had to pass everything - none of this 100/120 credit point malarke!

1st year didn't count - although it does at some unis - UoL for instance year 1 = 10% for 'normal' degrees (i.e. not medicine!)

The degree was calculated as follows:

top 80 credit points from year 3 had a weighting of 3
the next top 80 credit points from years 2 and 3 had a weighting of 2
remaning 80 credit points from year 2 had a weighting of 1

Then apply formula (can't remember what it was anymore!) and volia!

Reply 7

chriswhit

1

martynwilliams

Yeah, I’ve got all that, what I’m trying to work out is how they work out the final classification after giving each module its own “mark”.

They don’t just work out the average do they?

It depends on wierd and wonderful things called "conventions" - which set out the methods of calculation and criteria for the awarding of degrees. For example at Warwick, the conventions stated that you had to get 4 and a half 2.1's to get a 2.1 overall, with no fails etc etc. Conventions vary from place to place. Sorry that I can't provide a clear and simple answer.

Reply 8

martynwilliams

OP

7

Fluffy

At Swansea, you had to pass everything - none of this 100/120 credit point malarke!

1st year didn't count - although it does at some unis - UoL for instance year 1 = 10% for 'normal' degrees (i.e. not medicine!)

The degree was calculated as follows:

top 80 credit points from year 3 had a weighting of 3
the next top 80 credit points from years 2 and 3 had a weighting of 2
remaning 80 credit points from year 2 had a weighting of 1

Then apply formula (can't remember what it was anymore!) and volia!

Yeah, I need 240 credits over the two years to graduate.

So basically, my best 4 modules from the third year (20 credits each) will weigh 3, the next 4 from the 3rd and 2nd year will weigh 2 and the next 4 will weigh 1?

Reply 9

AT82

But you can get whats called compensated passes this why you could get 100 credits and still pass. If say you got 38% in two modules but passed everything else they would give you a compensated pass.

Reply 10

Kingspharm

10

edders

hm, well on my four year course it goes 10 20 30 40% over the 4 years. You guys have it easy. :p:

Mine's the same, I'm expecting a 2:2.

Reply 11

Fluffy

15

AT82

But you can get whats called compensated passes this why you could get 100 credits and still pass. If say you got 38% in two modules but passed everything else they would give you a compensated pass.

Not everywhere they don't!

Reply 12

Fluffy

15

martynwilliams

Yeah, I need 240 credits over the two years to graduate.

So basically, my best 4 modules from the third year (20 credits each) will weigh 3, the next 4 from the 3rd and 2nd year will weigh 2 and the next 4 will weigh 1?

That's how the biological sciences degrees worked. Not sure about other departments - it should be in your course handbook...

Reply 13

KingsComp

6

It depends from uni to uni AND from course to course, but you can use this for a general guide:

http://brahms.mth.kcl.ac.uk/~database/Database/Indicator.html

Reply 14

greenmuzz

2

But be aware that for some courses, even if you do really well in all the modules, failing the final year project fails the degree. (even if the proportion of marks on the project would still let you pass).

Reply 15

Segat1

16

Hiya

Just moved here from Australia. We dont have the 1st class, 2:1, 2.2 thing here with your degrees cos we're too backward, but if i averaged 80% for my degree - what is that? A 2:1 approx? Just so when I go for interviews with prospective employers, i can tell them. CHeers

Reply 16

viviki

14

nope 80% is normally a first. First range begins normally from around 70-75%
60% and above a 2.1
50 ish and above 2.2 varies slightly from uni to uni.

But its not really marked in percentages in the same way as other countries. For example 70-80% are the main range of firsts you would have to be a serious genius to get more than 80% for anything on the courses I've studied at least and in fact its very rare for someone to get over 75%, although there are probably a few geniuses lurking on this forum.

Reply 17

GerardT

From what I hear a first is quite an achievement, as you need to grade highly and consistently throughout your course, apparently one bad term is enough to spoil your chances of a first. I only know one person who got a first actually... my mum :P