11 tips for getting a FIRST in your degree (2024)

FAQs

How do you get a first in a degree? ›

To get a first-class degree at university, you'll usually need an average of around 70 percent or above overall. This average is calculated across coursework, presentations, projects and exams, so you'll need to achieve consistent good grades throughout university.

In 2018 and 2019, less than 1% received honour's degrees. These numbers have steadily grown since 2015. Over recent years, receiving a first-class degree has become more common. For every student who got a first in the early 1990s, nearly 20 do now.

As a rigorous academic honour, gaining a first-class degree takes hard work and dedication. They are not given easily and will require you to spend a significant amount of time studying and doing wider reading and work to engage in your subject to the highest level.

Law. Law is officially the hardest subject to get a first class degree in⁴, so we all know it's hard going. If you think you know what it's like to have a lot of reading, go and talk to a Law student.

This is the lower division of a second-class degree. It is commonly known as a 2:2 or (2.2 degree) “Desmond” (as in Desmond “two-two”). A 2:2 degree is often the minimum grade required for most opportunities in employment and further education. In the 2020/21 academic year, 14% of students achieved a 2:2.

your final overall mark is less than or equal to 0.5% below the higher classification (for example, a final overall mark between 69.5% – 69.9% would become a First)

First-class honours (1st): this is the highest degree classification. Usually, the average overall score of 70%+ Second-class honours, upper division (2.1): usually, the average overall exam score of 60%+ Second-class honours, lower division (2.2): usually, the average overall score of 50%+

New figures from the Higher Education Statistics Authority show that 70% of today's students leave university with a 2:1 or above. Now, one in five graduates is awarded a first class degree – a score that has almost doubled in the past decade. The proportion receiving a 2:1 has also risen sharply in that time.

Medicine. What's the hardest degree to study in the UK? Well, many agree that it's Medicine. It should come as no surprise that Medicine tops our list as one of the hardest degrees in the UK.

What is a good 1st degree? ›

Degree classifications

First-Class Honours (First or 1st) (70% and above) Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1, 2. i) (60-70%)

The proportion of students in England awarded first-class degrees has more than doubled in a decade, the university watchdog says. About 36% of students were awarded the top grade in 2019-20 and 38% in 2020-21, according to analysis by the Office for Students (OfS). In 2010-11, it was just under 16%.

Only 6% of graduates graduate with a 1st class degree.

Universities can consider people 1-2% below a grade as "borderline candidates" and bump them up to the next grade. They would usually have certain policies surrounding it. Eg. if someone had a 69% average but had a lot of first class marks, their university may decide to give them a first.

To achieve the first rank in your class, you will have to stay disciplined and study hard throughout the year. Take part in class activities and do all of your homework on time, including reading assignments. Organize your study time, test yourself, and eliminate distractions that will reduce your productivity.

Can you do a Master's with a 2.2? The short answer is yes, absolutely. Many postgraduate courses will even include a 2.2 or above in their Master's entry requirements.

Third-Class Honours (40-50%): known as a 'third' or 3rd, this degree is the lowest honours degree achievable. Ordinary Degree: If an honours student fails to achieve a third class by a small margin, they may be awarded an ordinary degree i.e. without honours.

Is a 3 year degree worth anything? ›

A three-year degree would greatly benefit students, starting with the thousands of dollars of savings from an entire year's tuition, room and board fees, textbook fees and other ancillary fees. That money could be used to fund a post-graduate degree later on.

A D+ letter grade is equivalent to a 1.3 GPA, or Grade Point Average, on a 4.0 GPA scale, and a percentage grade of 67–69.

It is easier to do well at a lower ranked uni as the workload is less and they expect less.

Marks and Grades

The pass mark is 40% and it is relatively unusual for students to regularly achieve marks of 70% or above (in fact, only 10% of students receive marks this high).

Students fail elements of their degree for a number of reasons. The most common issues are not attending lectures, not keeping up with course reading, confusion or lack of understanding of course content, and personal problems that distract students.

A 2:1 degree is sometimes nicknamed an Attila the Hun (two-one) in the UK. The term Bren gun is also sometimes used as rhyming slang.

What is the easiest degree UK? ›

Architecture Major

Architecture major is currently the hardest college major in the US. A study conducted by Indiana University (National Study of Student Engagement) has shown some of the reasons why major in architecture is so difficult.

Luckily, we've figured out which degrees are the most likely to get you a first. Medicine and dentistry tops the table, with 42.9 per cent of classified degrees awarded as firsts, according to data released by uni stats boffins HESA. Maths is just behind, with 41.7 per cent of degrees awarded as firsts.

The initial findings are simple. People with firsts are less likely to be out of work than people with lower grades. The unemployment rate after six months was 4.7% for firsts, 7.1% for 2:1s, 11% for 2:2s and 15.2% for thirds. That's a pretty serious difference.

First-degree murders are the most serious and punished accordingly, involving premeditated murder and intentional murder. Second-degree murders are the next step down but still involve intent to harm or to kill. Third-degree murders are the lowest level of criminal homicide but can still result in serious sentences.

Yes, at better unis the degrees are usually harder. This is evident from the fact that at higher tier unis a fair number of people get 2.2s/3rds and at lower tier unis a fair number of people get 1sts/2.1.

In criminal law, a 1st-degree offense is the worst felony. It's worse than a 2nd-degree offense, which is worse than a 3rd-degree offense, and so on. So the higher the degree, the lesser the crime.

Does your first degree matter? ›

Your degree is a prerequisite for the competitive workforce; the topic is irrelevant. It used to be important and special for someone to have a degree, and now it just stands as a prerequisite in the workforce. While your job will most likely require a Bachelor's degree, it probably won't matter what field it is in.

Asian Americans had the highest educational attainment of any race, followed by whites who had a higher percentage of high school graduates but a lower percentage of college graduates.

70% or above is the top band of marks. It is still relatively rare for a student to receive higher than an 80%, though it does happen. Anything in the 60% range—what is known as a 2:1—is considered a “good” grade. Half of all UK university students graduate with a 2:1.

Page 1. Grading System. The grades of A, B, C, D and P are passing grades. Grades of F and U are failing grades. R and I are interim grades.

There's nothing you can do to change your grade on a completed degree.

Compared to the national average of a 3.0 GPA, a 2.1 GPA is significantly under par. A 2.1 GPA is pretty low, however, if you dedicate yourself to your studies, you may still be able to raise it significantly, depending on how many semesters you have until graduation.

Degree classifications

First-Class Honours (First or 1st) (70% and above) Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1, 2. i) (60-70%) Lower Second-Class Honours (2:2, 2.

Does it matter if I get a first or 2 1? ›

First-Class Honours (70% and above): a first class degree, usually referred to as a 'first' or 1st, is the highest honours degree you can achieve. Upper Second-Class Honours (60-70%): there are two levels of second class degree. An upper second class, known as a 2:1 or two-one, is the higher of the two levels.

A 2.1 GPA indicates that you have around a C average across all of your classes. This is a low GPA, so you may end up experiencing some difficulties in the college admissions process. 0.45% of schools have an average GPA below a 2.1. You can apply to colleges and have a good shot at getting admitted.

An F letter grade translates to zero grade points on the GPA scale. Thus, an F would significantly decrease your overall GPA because it contributes course credits to the GPA calculation without any grade points—the more weighted the class, the higher the drop in GPA.

Marks and Grades

The pass mark is 40% and it is relatively unusual for students to regularly achieve marks of 70% or above (in fact, only 10% of students receive marks this high).

A 'First' is the highest grade achievable for a UK undergraduate degree. This typically represents a score of 70% or more. An 'Upper second' (2:1) is the next highest band, typically representing a score of 60%-69%. A 'strong upper second' would typically be taken to mean 65% or more.

A 2.1 is not hard as long as you put in a decent amount of work. A first does take quite a lot of extra effort and intelligence, in most cases.

Figures released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa) today revealed that 36% of undergraduate students achieved a first in 2020-21 – an increase of one percentage point compared to the previous year.

Can you get a first with 69? ›

Universities can consider people 1-2% below a grade as "borderline candidates" and bump them up to the next grade. They would usually have certain policies surrounding it. Eg. if someone had a 69% average but had a lot of first class marks, their university may decide to give them a first.

Is a 1.1 GPA Good? A 1.1 GPA isn't good, especially considering the national average is a 3.0 GPA. A 1.1 GPA is extremely low, and implies either significant barriers to learning or a bare minimum effort. Depending on how far along you are in your schooling, you may be in danger of not graduating on time.

Is a 3.0 GPA in high school considered good? A 3.0 GPA indicates a grade average of “B” and makes you eligible to apply to a wide range of schools, so yes! A 3.0 GPA is generally considered “good.”