If you are aiming to study in the UK, you must know how the university or academic process their functions. UK’s grading system varies from location to location; not all places have the same grading criteria. You may find some commonality within the marking schemes in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. However, the marking scheme in Scotland is entirely different.

1. Grading System
in the UK

2. Grading System in the UK
If you are aiming to study in the UK, you must know
how the university or academic process their
functions.
UK’s grading system varies from location to location;
not all places have the same grading criteria. You may
find some commonality within the marking schemes in
England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. However, the
marking scheme in Scotland is entirely different.
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3. Academics in the
United Kingdom
The academic system in the UK
can be divided into four
sub-sections: Primary,
Secondary, Further Education,
and Higher Education.
Following is a detailed
overview of the academic
system in the UK:
Obtaining basic education
is mandatory for all
children aged between
5 to 16 years.
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4. The students are assessed regularly
throughout these stages of education. The
GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary
Education) are an essential part of UK
students’ lives. They appear for these exams
once they are 16 years of age.
As soon as a student has completed their
GCSEs, they can opt for Further Educational
studies and then Higher Educational studies.
Or they could complete their schooling and
move on to their professional lives.
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╸ Primary Education
The Primary Educational phase takes
place within 5 to 11 years of age in a
student’s life, including the first and
second key stages of their academics. You
can visit the British Council website for
further assistance.
╸ Secondary Education
Moving onto ages of 11 to 16, the
students then move onto their Secondary
Educational phase that includes key
stages three and four for their academics.
these educational stages are compulsory
for all students – once completed, further
education is based upon preference.

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╸ Further Education
The Primary Educational phase takes
place within 5 to 11 years of age in a
student’s life, including the first and
second key stages of their academics. You
can visit the British Council website for
further assistance.
╸ Higher Education
Moving onto ages of 11 to 16, the
students then move onto their Secondary
Educational phase that includes key
stages three and four for their academics.
these educational stages are compulsory
for all students – once completed, further
education is based upon preference.

7. GRADING SYSTEM
IN THE UK
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It is important for you to
familiarise yourself with the
UK grading schemes and
systems if you plan on
completing your Higher
Education here.
We have prepared a
detailed review of the
UK grading system
below:

8. Available Degree Options in the UK
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An undergraduate degree within the UK gives you two options: you can choose to do
an ordinary degree or an honours degree.
Now you may wonder what is the difference between the two?
The ordinary degree is your regular UK degree that lets you take up to 15 credit
hours in total and 3 years, such as a BA or BSc degree.
However, an honours degree requires you to choose a specialisation area along with
a few other subjects and is of a total of 20 credit hours that make it 4 years long.
If you are opting for an ordinary degree, you must ensure that you clear all the
subjects that you have chosen. If you fail to pass a subject, you will fail to receive
admission.
Whereas an honours degree is more evaluative, it focuses on you clearing your
subjects and assesses your performance throughout the duration to give future
employers a clear assessment of your skills. Hence, this makes an honours degree of
more value than an ordinary one.

9. ETCS Grades and the UK Grading Scheme
The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System is how European
states go through converting international grades to the UK grading.
The table below defines percentage scores that are equivalent to the ETCS
Grade in the UK:
First-Class
Degree
70% -100% A First-Class
Degree
Upper
Second-Class
Degree
60% – 69% B Upper
Second-Class
Degree
Lower Second-
Class Degree
50% -59% C Lower Second-
Class Degree
Third Class
Degree
40% -49% D Third Class
Degree
Fail 0-39% E/F Fail
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Although, ETCS is an optional measure, and some universities can have their own grading criteria and policies.
Normally an international student’s grade transcript holds an extra column for the ETCS grading.

10. 1.First-class Degree
As the name suggests, a first-class degree is offered
to students who perform exceptionally and score a
70% or higher. This makes the students’ overall
grade an A, and it is the highest grade attainable.
Most students strive for an A grade, and if not in
one subject, they can opt to specialise in multiple
subjects through a joint honours degree. Such
degrees are called ‘double firsts’ in the UK and are
widely offered at the University of Oxford,
Cambridge, and Glasgow.
A first-class degree reflects your performance
throughout your academic tenure and also reflects
really well on your overall potential to land great
opportunities in the corporate world.

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2. Upper second-class Degree
Equivalent to a B grade, an upper second-
classdegree is awarded to students who
manage to obtain a percentage between 60
and 69%.
Being in the upper second class depicts that
you have high knowledge of the subject and
good command – it places you right under the
first-class degree holders. Most top hiring firms
have an upper second-class degree as their
minimum eligibility set-off.

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3. Lower second-class Degree
Suppose you have achieved anywhere between a 50-59%
That places you within the Lower second-class degree,
and it accumulates to a C grade. A-C grade is the
Minimum Grade requirement for a student to
meet any employment opportunities or even
a post-graduate degree

13. The third-class degree is the lowest on the tier. It accumulates to a
D grade and means that the student has managed to receive a total
of 40-49%, which is considered to be very poor.
While not many students end up getting a D grade; if you do, your
employment options or choices for higher education are very
limited. A D grade is the lowest of all grades, and you should
in no circumstance be aiming for it.
While some universities in the UK have a policy that if
students fail to achieve even a D grade by a small margin,
then they are given an ordinary degree instead of an
honours one. This way shows that the students have
completed the necessary undergraduate education
and obtained a degree but has not
qualified for honours.
4.Third-class Degree

14. FINAL THOUGHTS
Before deciding on an
international higher
educational degree, it is
important you to understand
the university’s policies and
grading criteria. It is of
utmost importance when it
comes to comparing your
local grades with the
university grading system
and how to convert them
efficiently.
When it comes to the UK,
it is one of the top five
most preferred locations
for an undergraduate
degree. This is why it has
become essential for all
international students to
be aware of the grading
scheme system for
undergraduates within
the UK.
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