How Does UK University Grading System Work? First Class, 2:1 and 2:2 Explained

UK university grading system classifies bachelor’s degrees as First Class Honours (usually 70% and above), Upper Second or 2:1 (60 to 69%), Lower Second or 2:2 (50 to 59%) and Third (40 to 49%). 

Here is how UK grades compare with Indian percentages and CGPA, based on what UK universities publish for Indian applicants:

UK grade	UK mark	Approx. Indian percentage
First Class Honours (1st)	70%+	65 to 75%
Upper Second (2:1)	60 to 69%	55 to 70%
Lower Second (2:2)	50 to 59%	50 to 65%
Third Class	40 to 49%	Not published
Master’s: Distinction / Merit / Pass	70%+ / 60 to 69% / 50 to 59%	N/A

Sources-

• UK marks: University of Leicester, Reading Your Transcript. 
• Indian percentages: the range published by Edinburgh, Southampton, Sheffield and Oxford Brookes for master’s entry

Most Indian students are used to percentages or a 10-point CGPA. UK degrees work differently. You finish with one class, such as first class honours or a 2:1, and it shapes your options for a master’s and graduate jobs.

Read our guide to the education system in UK for detailed insights. 

UK Degree Classification Explained

A UK degree classification is the grade on a bachelor’s degree with honours. 

It places your final marks in one of four classes: First, Upper Second (2:1), Lower Second (2:2) or Third.

QAA, UK’s quality body, describes what each class should show in terms of knowledge and skills, but all universities in UK sets its own marks and rules.

• First Class Honours is the highest class.
• Upper Second (2:1) is the most common result.
• Lower Second (2:2) sits between a 2:1 and a Third.
• Third is the lowest honours class (A pass mark at university is generally 40%)

In 2024/25, 30% of classified UK first degrees were firsts, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), as published in January 2026 (as of Nov 2026).

Your final class comes from a weighted average of your module marks. Universities weight each year differently, so read your own university’s regulations.

What Is First Class Honours?

First class honours is the highest classification a UK bachelor’s degree can earn, and most universities award it for an overall average of 70% or above.

It goes to a minority of graduates, as the latest HESA figures for classified UK first degrees show:

Class	Graduates, 2024/25	Share
First Class Honours	132,460	30%
Upper Second (2:1)	217,380	49%
Lower Second (2:2)	82,875	19%
Third Class or Pass	13,005	3%

Source: HESA, Higher Education Student Statistics 2024/25, published January 2026, as of Nov 2026.

The share of firsts in England more than doubled between 2010-11 and 2020-21 and has fallen back since its peak, though it edged up in 2024/25. This is why the Office for Students (OfS) monitors how universities award their degrees.

Is a 2:1 Good in UK?

Yes, a 2:1 is a good result in UK, and it is also the most common one, with about 49% of classified UK first degrees in 2024/25 earning it.

Together with firsts, 2:1s account for nearly eight in ten classified degrees, which is why the two classes are often grouped as good honours.

A 2:1 is also the usual minimum for the next step after a bachelor’s degree, as these examples show:

Route	What is usually asked for
Taught master’s	A 2:1 or the equivalent from your home country
PhD	A 2:1 in a relevant degree, and often a master’s as well
Civil Service Fast Stream (Finance)	A 2:1 or higher in any subject

If you get a 2:2, you can still apply to many master’s courses, but fewer employers and universities will accept it. Check each course’s entry requirement.

UK Master’s Grading System

Taught masters degrees in UK are graded as Distinction, Merit or Pass rather than with the first, 2:1 and 2:2 classes used for bachelor’s degrees. 

Imperial College London’s bands are shown below as an example:

Master’s grade	Mark
Fail	Below 50%
Pass	50% or more and below 60%
Merit	60% or more and below 70%

Source: Imperial College London, MSc Computing noticeboard, as of Nov 2026.

These bands are from Imperial College London. Other universities may set different boundaries, so check your own course’s regulations. 

A master’s degree in England, Wales and Northern Ireland generally carries at least 180 credits, and you can find a fuller breakdown of how these marks work in our guide to UK masters grading system.

UK Grades vs Indian Percentage and CGPA

There is no single official formula for turning an Indian percentage or CGPA into a UK grade, because each UK university publishes its own equivalents and they differ from one university to the next.

The table below shows what three UK universities publish for Indian bachelor’s degrees when you apply for a master’s, using the percentage you would need for each UK class.

UK grade	University of Edinburgh	University of Southampton	Oxford Brookes University
First Class	65 to 75% (CGPA 7.5 to 8.5)	65 to 75%	Not listed
2:1	55 to 60% (CGPA 7.0 to 8.0)	60 to 70%	55 to 65%
2:2	Not listed	55 to 65%	50 to 60%

Source: University of Edinburgh, University of Southampton and Oxford Brookes University India entry pages, as of Nov 2026. Requirements can change by course, so check the page for your course.

If your degree gives a CGPA instead of a percentage, use the CGPA figures where a university publishes them, as Edinburgh does, rather than converting the number yourself. Our guide to the CGPA grading system explains how Indian CGPA scales work.

UK Grades vs US GPA

There is no single official formula for turning a US GPA into a UK grade. Each UK university sets its own minimum GPA for each class. 

The table below shows what three universities ask for when you apply for a master’s with a US bachelor’s degree:

UK grade	University of Edinburgh	University of Leeds	University of Exeter
First Class	3.67	3.5	3.75+
2:1	3.25	3.0	3.2+
2:2	Not listed	2.5	2.6+

Source: University of Edinburgh, University of Leeds and University of Exeter USA entry pages, as of Nov 2026. Requirements can change by course, so check the page for your course.

• What is a 4.0 GPA in UK?

A 4.0 is the top of the US scale. It is above the First Class level that all three universities ask for, so it is treated as a First.

• How do US letter grades compare?

Edinburgh matches an A to a UK mark of 70% and above, an A- or B+ to 60 to 69%, and a B or B- to 50 to 59.

If you want to see your GPA as a percentage as well, our guide on GPA to percentage shows how.

How the UK University Grading System Affects Admission and Jobs?

Your degree class affects which courses accept you and how many graduate employers will consider your application. 

The table shows what is usually asked for.

Your next step	Usual grade or requirement
Taught master’s	2:1 (some courses accept a 2:2)
MBA	2:1 plus 2 - 3 years of work experience
PhD	2:1 in a relevant degree, plus a master’s
Graduate jobs	2:1 (47% of employers) or 2:2 (20% of employers)
Jobs or study in India	UGC equivalence certificate, where the employer or course asks for one

Sources: UCAS, University of Sheffield, ISE Student Recruitment Survey 2025, University Grants Commission. As of Nov 2026.

Some universities and employers may accept a lower grade, so a 2:2 does not always rule you out. A few master’s courses consider a 2:2, some universities also weigh relevant work experience, and a number of employers have dropped their 2:1 minimum. Always check the entry requirements on the individual course page or job listing.

Now that you know how UK grades work, see the list of UK universities to compare courses and their entry requirements. If you need further help planning your study abroad journey, book a free 1:1 counselling session with upGrad’s study abroad experts to discuss your options.