First Class Honours, referred to as a ‘first’, is the highest honours classification and indicates high academic achievement. Historically, First Class Honours were uncommon, but as of 2019 are awarded to nearly thirty percent of graduates from British universities.
How impressive is a first class degree?
Getting a First-Class Honours Degree: What Does it (Actually) Mean?
| Classification | Mark |
|---|---|
| First-Class (1st) | 70%+ |
| Upper Second-Class (2.1) | 60-69% |
| Lower Second-Class (2.2) | 50-59% |
| Third Class (3rd) | 40-49% |
Is graduating with a first good?
In your first year at university, achieving a grade of 50% or more is a good thing. You can build on your work and improve as you work towards your final grade. Scores above 70% are classed as “First”, so you should be very excited to get a grade in that range.
How hard is it to get a first class 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.
Is first class the highest degree?
First class honours degree (70% and above) – A first class degree, also known as a ‘first’, is the highest honours degree you can get. Upper second-class honours (60 – 70%) – An upper second class (or 2:1) degree. Lower second-class honours (50 – 60%) – A lower-level second class degree, otherwise known as a 2:2.
How common is a first class degree?
Historically, First Class Honours were uncommon, but as of 2019 are awarded to nearly thirty percent of graduates from British universities.
Does a first class matter?
A 2:1 or even a first-class degree is not enough to impress employers. It is certainly a great personal achievement and testament to your strong work ethic. However, as tens of thousands of graduates achieve these grades each year, it is no longer a differentiator.
Does getting a first make you more employable?
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.
Do employers care about degree classification?
A poor degree grade is not a cross you will have to bear for the rest of your life. Employers do care about your arc through life-whether you went to school then university and are now applying for jobs.
What jobs require a first class degree?
First Class Graduate jobs in London
- new. Graduate Recruitment Consultant (OTE £50k)
- Graduate Analyst and Consultant Intake 2022.
- Trainee Recruitment Consultant (Start Now)
- Trainee Recruitment Consultant (Immediate Start Available)
- Broadcast Media Internship at Radio & TV PR Agency.
- new.
- Human Resources Apprenticeship.
- new.
What percentage of the UK population has a first class degree?
Percentage of undergraduate degrees awarded each grade in the UK 2011-2021. In the 2020/21 academic year, 36 percent of undergraduate students obtaining their degree were awarded a degree with first-class honors, the highest possible grade for UK graduates.
Is a first class degree the same at all universities?
Each university will have set its own criteria for what deserves a first/second/third class degree grade, so you can’t expect the standards to be the same.
How do you write a first class degree on a CV?
How to Write a First-Class Honours Degree on Your CV (The Proper…
- There are many variations and abbreviations of the words ‘first-class,’ however, the way we recommend is writing simply ‘1st’ or ‘first’.
- [Degree Type] [Degree Name] (Degree Class), [Years Attended]
- BA (Hons) History and Politics (1st), 2017-2020.
What does first class mean in university?
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.
What percentage is first class with distinction?
75%
They have and give First Division at 60% Marks and Distinction / Honors at 75%.
Is first class or distinction higher?
Distinction means you have scored 75 or above percentage % where as first class means 65–74.99 %.
What is the hardest degree to get a first in?
Law
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.
How many people graduate with firsts?
In total, 35% of students at UK universities graduated with a first in 2019/20, compared with 28% in 2018/19, according to data published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). This is more than double the percentage who gained a first in 2009/10 (14%).
Is a 21 from Oxford Good?
Employers may consider a 2:2 from Oxford a better result than a higher class degree from many other universities. See some employers’ views on how they view degree results below.
Do employers care about first class degrees?
The best employers look beyond the always subjective exam grade, so as long as a student gets their degree and builds their experience from ground level, they should be looked at as favourably as anyone who happens to have got a first.
Do employers prefer a first or 2 1?
It’s official, getting a 2:1 makes you more employable after you’ve finished university. Lately it’s been reported that graduates with a 2:1 tend to have better job prospects than those graduating with a first, and now questions are being raised about how useful a first really is.
