Degree Classification Calculator
Your UK honours classification from your weighted year averages - or the final-year mark you need for a First, 2:1 or 2:2.
Weighted average of honours years · By Stuart Mathieson · Updated November 2026
Common splits are 40/60, 30/70, 25/75 and 50/50.
Results
Overall average
Classification
Distance to next class
Final-year average needed for each class
| Class | Overall needed | Final year needed |
|---|
Universities set their own rules for weighting, rounding and borderlines. Check your programme or course handbook for the method your university uses.
How UK degree classes work
Most UK honours degrees are classified from a weighted average of your marks in the years that count. First year almost never counts - it just has to be passed.
| Class | Usual average |
|---|---|
| First | 70% and above |
| Upper second (2:1) | 60% to 69% |
| Lower second (2:2) | 50% to 59% |
| Third | 40% to 49% |
- England, Wales and Northern Ireland - a three-year degree is usually classified on years 2 and 3, with the final year weighted more heavily. 40/60, 30/70 and 25/75 are all common, and some universities count only the final year.
- Scotland - an honours degree takes four years, and classification is based on the two honours years, third (junior honours) and fourth (senior honours). The split varies by university and subject, often 40/60 or 50/50, and some only use fourth year.
- Integrated master's degrees (MEng, MChem and similar) usually weight three or four years and are classified the same way.
Worked example
You averaged 62% in second year, which counts for 40%, and want to know what you need in final year (60%):
- For a 2:1 (60%): (60 - 24.8) ÷ 0.6 = 58.7%
- For a First (70%): (70 - 24.8) ÷ 0.6 = 75.3%
So a final-year average just under 60% would still give you a 2:1, but you'd need over 75% for a First.
Borderlines
Many universities don't stop at the average. If you're within a mark or two of the next class, they'll often look at the "preponderance" of your credits - whether most of your final-year credits were at the higher class - or round up from, say, 69.5%. Some discount your weakest module. These rules vary a lot, so the handbook for your course is the place to check. If you're close, it's worth knowing the rule before your final exams, not after.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage is a 2:1?
A 2:1, or upper second-class honours, is usually an average of 60% to 69% across the years that count towards your degree.
Does first year count towards my degree?
At most UK universities, no - you need to pass it to progress, but the marks don't count towards your classification. Check your course handbook, as a few courses are different.
How are Scottish honours degrees classified?
Usually on your third and fourth years (junior and senior honours), with a weighting set by the university, such as 40/60 or 50/50. Some universities use fourth year only.
Can I still get a First?
Enter your earlier-year average and weighting and leave the final-year mark blank. The calculator shows the final-year average you need for each class, or tells you if it's out of reach.
Sources
- The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies - Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education
- Principles for effective degree algorithm design - UK Standing Committee for Quality Assessment (Universities UK)