Degree Classification Calculator
Add your modules, enter the mark and credit value for each, then select your year weighting scheme. The calculator works out your weighted average and predicted degree class.
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Year 2 Modules
Year 3 (Final Year) Modules
UK Degree Classifications Explained
UK undergraduate Honours degrees are classified into four main categories based on your weighted average mark. These classifications are recognised by employers and higher education institutions worldwide.
| Classification | Abbreviation | Percentage Range | Common Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Class Honours | 1st | 70% and above | Many competitive grad schemes, funded PhDs |
| Upper Second Class | 2:1 | 60–69% | Minimum for many grad employers, most Masters |
| Lower Second Class | 2:2 | 50–59% | Some employers, some Masters programmes |
| Third Class Honours | 3rd | 40–49% | Minimum for an Honours degree |
| Pass (some institutions) | — | 35–39% | Ordinary (non-Honours) degree at some universities |
How Weighted Degree Averages Are Calculated
Your degree classification is based on a weighted average of your module marks, taking into account both the credit value of each module and the year weighting scheme of your university.
Credit-Weighted Module Average
Each module is worth a number of credits (typically 10, 15, 20, 30, or 40). A 40-credit module contributes four times as much to your average as a 10-credit module. The formula is:
Year Weighting
Most UK universities do not give equal weight to all three years of an undergraduate degree. Year 1 typically does not count towards the final classification (pass/fail only). Year 2 and Year 3 are weighted, with Year 3 usually carrying more weight. Common weighting schemes include:
- Year 2: 30% / Year 3: 70% — the most common scheme
- Year 2: 40% / Year 3: 60% — used at some universities
- Year 3 only (100%) — used at some institutions, particularly in Scotland
- Year 1: 10% / Year 2: 30% / Year 3: 60% — some integrated Masters programmes
Always check your university's specific regulations. This information is usually found in the "Academic Regulations" or "Programme Handbook" section of your university website or student portal.
Worked Example
Suppose you have the following Year 2 modules (total 120 credits):
- Statistics (20 credits): 62%
- Research Methods (20 credits): 58%
- Core Theory A (20 credits): 67%
- Elective 1 (20 credits): 70%
- Elective 2 (20 credits): 55%
- Group Project (20 credits): 64%
Year 2 average = (62×20 + 58×20 + 67×20 + 70×20 + 55×20 + 64×20) ÷ 120 = (1240+1160+1340+1400+1100+1280) ÷ 120 = 7520 ÷ 120 = 62.7%
If Year 3 final average is 72%, and weighting is 30%/70%:
Overall = (62.7 × 0.30) + (72 × 0.70) = 18.81 + 50.4 = 69.2% — borderline First
Borderline Policies and Module Retakes
Borderline Uplift
If your weighted average falls within a borderline zone (typically 68–69.9% for First, 58–59.9% for a 2:1, etc.), your university may apply a borderline policy. Common criteria for uplift include:
- At least half of your credit-bearing modules (in the counted years) are at or above the higher classification
- Your dissertation or final project is at or above the higher classification
- A positive trajectory — final year marks higher than second year marks
- Individual module transcript shows predominantly higher-level marks
Borderline policies are not automatic — they are reviewed by exam boards and are not guaranteed. Some universities do not have a borderline policy at all, so knowing yours is important.
Module Retakes
If you fail a module (typically below 40%), most universities allow a resit. Resit marks are usually capped at the pass mark (40% for undergraduate) unless mitigating circumstances apply. This means a resit module can at most contribute 40% to your average, even if you achieve 75% on the resit. Capped marks can significantly impact your classification if you have multiple resits.
Placement Year Impact
Students on a sandwich degree with an integrated placement year (e.g., a 4-year programme with Year 3 being a placement) typically have the placement assessed on a pass/fail basis. It usually does not contribute numerically to the degree average. However, some universities include a small percentage weighting for placement performance.
Pass/Fail Modules
Some modules (such as professional skills, language modules, or placement years) are graded pass/fail rather than with a percentage mark. These are excluded from the weighted average calculation. They must still be passed to qualify for the degree, however.
Postgraduate Degree Classifications
Masters degrees (MSc, MA, LLM, MBA, etc.) use a different classification system from undergraduate degrees. The three main classifications are:
| Classification | Typical Percentage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Distinction | 70%+ | Equivalent to a First class at undergraduate level |
| Merit | 60–69% | Broadly equivalent to 2:1 |
| Pass | 50–59% | Minimum passing standard (some institutions use 40–49%) |
| Fail | Below 50% | May be eligible for resubmission with mitigating circumstances |
Masters degrees typically require 180 credits: 120 taught credits (modules and assignments) plus a 60-credit dissertation or research project. The dissertation often carries significant weight and a poor dissertation can prevent a Distinction even if taught module averages are high.
Professional Courses
Some professional programmes — including Medicine (MBBS/MBChB), Dentistry (BDS), Law (LLB), and Architecture (BArch) — use different classification systems or competency-based assessments. Medical schools, for example, assess students using Pass/Merit/Distinction across clinical placements and written examinations, and graduates receive an MBBS rather than a classified Honours degree.