How UK degree classifications work
UK universities award honours degrees in four classes based on a weighted average of module marks (out of 100). Most institutions weight the final year most heavily than the second year, and exclude or down-weight the first year. The exact algorithm varies by university — always check your institution's official policy.
UK degree classification boundaries
| Class | Percentage |
|---|---|
| First-class honours (1st) | 70% and above |
| Upper second-class (2:1) | 60–69% |
| Lower second-class (2:2) | 50–59% |
| Third-class honours (3rd) | 40–49% |
| Pass / Fail | Below 40% |
Borderline rules: if your average is within 1–2% of a higher boundary, many universities look at the spread of your individual marks and may push you up if a majority sit in the higher band.
Weighting by year
Common weightings across UK universities:
- 0:40:60 — first year excluded, second year 40%, final year 60% (traditional)
- 0:33:67 — used by Leeds and others; final year weighted more
- 20:40:40 — first year counts a little
- Open University stage-weighting — see our Open University calculator
Master's / postgraduate classifications
Master's degrees use different classifications: Distinction (70%+), Merit (60–69%), and Pass (50–59%). The dissertation is often weighted 30–50% of the final mark. Use our UK Masters Degree Calculator for postgraduate calculations.
Converting to a US 4.0 GPA
Applying to US grad school or comparing degrees internationally? Try our UK ↔ US GPA converter. Rough conversions: a First-class honours ≈ 3.7+ GPA, a 2:1 ≈ 3.3–3.7, a 2:2 ≈ 2.7–3.3.
Worked example
Final year: 30-credit dissertation marked 72, plus five 20-credit modules at 68, 65, 71, 60, and 58.
(72×30 + 68×20 + 65×20 + 71×20 + 60×20 + 58×20) ÷ 130 = 66.0% — Upper Second (2:1)