Every country follows a standardised structure for academic grading across universities. The UK has 5 degree classes, that includes first class, upper and lower second classes, third class and fail, depending on your percentage scores. If you’re planning to study in the United Kingdom, or are looking to compare its grading system with other countries, read this blog as we discuss everything about the UK grading system.
Key Highlights:
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The UK grading system is divided into undergraduate and postgraduate levels, each with distinct classification standards.
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Undergraduate degrees feature five classifications, from First Class Honours (70%+) to Fail (below 40%), with 2:1 being the most commonly sought benchmark.
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Postgraduate degrees maintain higher standards with four classifications: Distinction (70%+), Merit (60-69%), Pass (50-59%), and Fail (below 50%).
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What is the UK Grading System?
The UK grading system is the standardised form of evaluating the academic performance of students across the country. For the undergraduate students, you have two kinds of degrees - honors and ordinary. Whereas for PG, you have a more holistic approach, that includes classroom and research courses, tailored to your research interests and professional goals.
The UK grading system differs between
Undergraduate
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Honours Degrees: These degrees are classified (e.g., First, Upper Second).
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Ordinary Degrees: These typically use a pass/fail system.
Postgraduate
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Assessments combine classroom performance and research projects, personalized to your academic and career aspirations.
UK Undergraduate Grading System
The UK undergraduate degree is a uniform method of assessing academic success. It has various constituents like the first class honours, upper second class, lower second class, third class honours and fail. The grading system is employed by all British universities to represent a student's overall performance across their degree course.
|
Degree Classification |
Percentage Range |
Description |
|---|---|---|
|
First-Class Honours (1st) |
70% – 100% |
Outstanding academic achievement (equivalent to A). |
|
Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1) |
60% – 69% |
Very good performance; widely accepted for postgraduate entry. |
|
Lower Second-Class Honours (2:2) |
50% – 59% |
Satisfactory performance with room for improvement. |
|
Third-Class Honours (3rd) |
40% – 49% |
Minimum standard to obtain an Honours degree. |
|
Fail |
Below 40% |
Insufficient performance to meet degree criteria. |
Masters Grading System in the UK
The masters grading system in the UK acts as a uniform method of assessment for postgraduate academic scores for students. The PG grading system consists of classroom and research courses, along with professional courses. They are discussed below:
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Taught Courses: Master’s degrees (such as MSc, MA, MBA) and shorter qualifications like Postgraduate Diplomas (PGDip).
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Research Courses: Doctoral programs (e.g., PhDs) typically pursued after completing a master’s degree.
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Conversion Courses: Programs designed for students seeking to switch disciplines.
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Professional Qualifications: Specialized courses tailored for specific career paths or industries.
The master’s degree, the most common postgraduate qualification, provides opportunities for advanced academic study, professional specialization, and enhanced career prospects.
Below is the standard grading scheme for master’s degrees in the UK:
|
Masters Classification |
Mark |
Letter |
|---|---|---|
|
Distinction |
70 – 100% |
A |
|
Merit |
60 – 69% |
B |
|
Pass |
50 – 59% |
C |
|
Fail |
Below 50% |
- |
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UK Grading Scale & Percentage Conversion Table
The British postgraduate degree system emphasizes advanced analysis competencies, research skills, and the potential to make meaningful, original contributions to the subject. If you want to understand how to translate your UK grade to the percentage ranges, read this below:
|
Grade |
Percentage Range |
Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Distinction |
70% – 100% |
Exceptional performance and deep subject mastery. |
|
Merit |
60% – 69% |
Very good performance with a strong overall understanding. |
|
Pass |
50% – 59% |
Acceptable performance demonstrating basic competence. |
|
Fail |
Below 50% |
Does not meet the minimum requirements. |
Do UK Universities Use the GPA System?
No, UK universities don't use GPAs like in the US. They use a simpler classification system (like "First Class Honours") for undergrad and different grades for postgraduate studies. While some universities might calculate GPAs internally, they mainly rely on degree classifications to represent your academic performance.
UK Grading System vs. India Grading System
Understanding how different countries grade academic work can feel tricky. We're here to break down how Indian marks translate to the UK grading system.
In the UK, universities typically use letters (A, B, C, etc.) for individual assignments. These then contribute to your overall degree classification: First, Upper Second (2:1), Lower Second (2:2), or Third for Honours degrees. Foundation degrees use a similar system with Distinction, Merit, and Pass.
On the other hand, Indian universities often use percentages or GPAs (out of 10 or 7). While the numbers look different, we can help you see the rough equivalents between Indian marks and UK classifications. For example, a high-achieving Indian student with marks around 75% or above would typically land in the UK "First" category.
Check out these tables to see how the two systems compare:
UK University Grading System
The UK university grading system follows this pattern:
|
Grade Letter |
Percentage Score |
Definition |
Foundation Degree Class |
Honours Degree Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A |
70% – 100% |
Excellent to Outstanding |
Distinction |
First |
|
B |
60% – 69% |
Good to Very Good |
Merit |
Upper Second (2:1) |
|
C |
50% – 59% |
Satisfactory |
Pass |
Lower Second (2:2) |
|
D |
40% – 49% |
Sufficient |
Pass |
Third (3) |
|
E |
30% – 39% |
Unsatisfactory |
Fail |
Fail |
|
F |
0% – 29% |
Unsatisfactory |
Fail |
Fail |
Converting Indian Marks to UK Grades
If you want to convert your Indian marks to UK grades for a more clear understanding, this table will help. This will be particularly useful if you’re applying to the UK for higher studies:
|
Indian Qualification Type |
Mark Equivalent to UK First |
Mark Equivalent to UK 2:1 |
Mark Equivalent to UK 2:2 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bachelor of Arts/Science/Commerce (Percentage Classifications) |
75% or above |
60% |
50% |
|
Bachelor of Arts/Science/Commerce (GPA 10-point system) |
8.5 or above |
7 |
6 |
|
Bachelor of Arts/Science/Commerce (GPA 7-point system) |
7 or above |
5 |
4 |
|
Professional Bachelor Degree (Percentage Classifications) |
75% or above |
60% |
50% |
|
Professional Bachelor Degree (GPA 10-point system) |
8.5 or above |
7 |
6 |
|
Professional Bachelor Degree (GPA 7-point system) |
7 or above |
5 |
4 |
UK Grading System to GPA Conversion
Converting UK degree classifications to a US-style GPA is not fixed, as there is no universally accepted standard. However, approximate conversions are often used by employers and international institutions:
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First-Class Degree: Roughly equivalent to a GPA of 3.7–4.0 on a 4.0 scale.
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Upper Second-Class (2:1): Often approximated to a GPA of 3.3–3.6.
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Lower Second-Class (2:2): Might translate to a GPA of 2.7–3.0.
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Third-Class Degree: Typically seen as equivalent to a GPA around 2.0–2.5.
These figures are only indicative. The conversion can vary depending on the specific criteria set by employers or educational evaluators.
From the Desk of Yocket
Trying to figure out how your grades measure up in the UK system? We at Yocket understand that it can be confusing to compare grading systems across different countries, and that's why our expert counselors are here to make it easy for you by helping you understand how your home country's grading system compares to the UK's unique classifications and what your current marks mean for your dream UK degree program so you can unlock your academic potential – schedule a personalized consultation with a Yocket counselor today!
