Top-class degree awards drop at two-thirds of UK universities

Two-thirds of UK universities awarded fewer top class degrees last year, figures show, although more than 90 per cent of students at some of the country’s most elite institutions received a first or a 2:1 degree.

Following years of rising grades, recent data revealed that the number of students awarded first-class honours degrees has fallen to its lowest level since before the pandemic.

Much-delayed data finally released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa) shows that 77.1 per cent of first-degree students at UK universities were awarded a first-class or upper second-class honours degree in 2022-23 – down from 78.7 per cent in 2021-22.

An analysis of institutional level awards by Times Higher Education shows Imperial College London awarded 93.7 per cent of its students a first or a 2:1 – a slight increase on the year before, and the highest proportion of all UK universities.

It was followed by the University of Oxford (93.6 per cent), and the University of Cambridge (91.7 per cent).

At the other end of the scale, University College Birmingham (52.7 per cent), Regent’s University London (54.5 per cent) and Buckinghamshire New University (55.5 per cent) recorded the lowest number of firsts and 2:1s. 

The analysis includes every English institution recognised as a university by the Office for Students (OfS), along with selected others across the UK. A small number were excluded for reporting fewer than 100 total degree classifications.

All 147 universities included in the analysis awarded at least 50 per cent of students a first or a 2:1 in the most recent year’s figures – just as they did in 2021-22. However, around two-thirds (65 per cent) of them handed out fewer of these top degree marks than they did the year before.

The news of grade deflation was previously welcomed by Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi), who said the change has made top grades a “little more meaningful for employers”.

And the OfS said the figures are testament to the sector’s commitment to addressing unexplained increases in grades in recent years. 

Students at Imperial also received more firsts (52.1 per cent) than any other university in the analysis. In contrast, just 14.1 per cent of students at Arden University received a first.

And Imperial was not alone in the capital for awarding top degrees, with the analysis showing that 32.7 per cent of students at London universities received a first in 2022-23 – the highest of all UK regions. Those in the East Midlands were awarded the lowest proportion – 26.2 per cent.

patrick.jack@timeshighereducation.com