Although it is now usually impossible for students to study two full undergraduate subjects, some universities award “double firsts” when a student achieves a first class degree in two separate subjects, while studying one joint honours degree. A first class is the highest honours degree achievable. The table below shows the different honours degree classifications and their average alternative grading descriptions (it is worth noting that Open University (OU), which is a distance learning university with an open entry policy, has different grade boundaries):įirst Class Honours degree (1st), commonly known as a “first”. For this reason, it is far more popular, as it gives employers an opportunity to understand a graduate’s competency. It is similar to a driving test, where passing will gain you a license and failing will not give you a licence.Īn honours degree will not only give students a degree, but it will specify your level of achievement and speciality in that subject by awarding classifications. You will not get a failed degree, but you will fail to achieve a degree. If you do not pass, you simply do not get a degree. When you study for an ordinary degree, the aim is to pass and achieve a degree in your subject.

If you were to apply for an ordinary science degree, you will see “Bsc”.

The “Hons” states that you will be studying an honours degree for that course. If applying for a bachelor’s degree in science, for example, you will see “Bsc (Hons)” as the qualifications you will receive. The latter is the most popular degree applied for in the UK. When applying to study for an undergraduate degree in the UK, many students are not aware that they have an option to study for a regular degree or a degree with honours.

It has been applied in other countries, with slight variations. The British undergraduate degree classification system is a university grading scheme for undergraduate degrees (bachelor's degrees and integrated master's degrees) in the UK.

Updated to include 21/22 HESA Qualifying Rates.

1st class work