How UK degree classifications are worked out
Most UK universities mark each module out of 100. Each module carries a number of credits, usually 15, 20, 30 or 40, and a full year of undergraduate study is normally worth 120 credits. Your average for a year is weighted by credits, so a 40-credit dissertation counts twice as much as a 20-credit module.
Your final classification then combines the averages of the years that count. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, most three-year degrees use only the second and final years, with the final year weighted more heavily. Four-year degrees in Scotland usually base the classification on the two honours years (Years 3 and 4). The first year normally has to be passed but does not count towards the final mark, although some universities do include it.
This calculator applies those steps for you: it averages your module marks by credits within each year, applies your year weightings, and compares the result with the usual UK grade bands.
| Average mark | Undergraduate honours | Taught Master's |
|---|---|---|
| 70 and above | First Class (1st) | Distinction |
| 60 to 69 | Upper Second Class (2:1) | Merit |
| 50 to 59 | Lower Second Class (2:2) | Pass |
| 40 to 49 | Third Class (3rd) | Fail at most universities |
| Below 40 | Fail or an ordinary (non-honours) degree | Fail |
Master's degree classification in the UK
Taught Master's degrees such as an MSc, MA or MBA are not classified as a First or a 2:1. Most UK universities award them as a Distinction, a Merit or a Pass, based on your credit-weighted average across all modules, including the dissertation.
A full taught Master's is usually worth 180 credits (90 ECTS credits), and the dissertation or final project is often 60 of those credits, so it has a big effect on your final average. Students who leave early may receive a Postgraduate Diploma (usually 120 credits) or a Postgraduate Certificate (usually 60 credits).
- Distinction: usually an overall average of 70 or above
- Merit: usually 60 to 69
- Pass: usually 50 to 59
- Some universities also set a minimum dissertation mark for a Distinction or a Merit
- Choose "Master's" in the calculator above to see your grade and the marks you need
Common year weightings
Universities publish their weighting in their academic regulations, usually in a section called "degree classification" or "award rules". Common patterns include:
- Second year 50%, final year 50%
- Second year 40%, final year 60%
- Second year 33%, final year 67% (a 1:2 ratio)
- Second year 25%, final year 75% (a 1:3 ratio)
- Second year 20%, final year 80%
- Final year only (100%)
- Scottish honours degrees: often based on Years 3 and 4
Borderline marks, rounding and other rules
Your average is not always the end of the story. Many universities round averages, so 69.5 may become 70. Many also have a borderline zone, often one or two marks below a boundary, where the exam board looks at how many of your credits were in the higher band. Some universities discount your lowest-scoring credits, or calculate your result in two different ways and award the better one.
Master's degrees can have extra conditions too. For example, some universities require a dissertation mark of 70 or more for a Distinction, even if your overall average is above 70. The result here is a guide based on the numbers you enter, and your official result always follows your own university's regulations.
How to use this calculator
- 1Choose undergraduate or Master's.
- 2For an undergraduate degree, pick your university's year weighting, or enter your own.
- 3Add each module with its credits and mark. Leave the mark empty for modules you have not finished yet.
- 4Check the total credits for each year (usually 120 for undergraduate years and 180 for a Master's).
- 5Read your current classification and the average you need in your remaining credits for each band.
If the next band looks hard to reach
Seeing the average you need can be motivating, or worrying. The modules with the most credits left, usually the dissertation or final project, give you the most room to move your average, so it is worth planning those carefully and starting early.
Read your marking criteria and past feedback, and look for the points that come up again and again: structure, critical analysis and referencing are the most common. If you would like an expert to look at a draft before you submit it, our Master's and PhD-qualified team can give clear, practical feedback from £20 per 1,000 words.