How the UK Honours Classification Compares to GPA Internationally

 

The UK undergraduate degree classification system is one of the most widely recognised in the world — but it is also one of the most misunderstood by institutions outside the UK and Commonwealth countries.

If you have a UK degree and are applying abroad, or if you are applying to a UK university and need to present your foreign GPA in UK terms, this guide explains exactly how the UK Honours system works and how it maps to international grading scales.

How the UK Honours classification system works

UK undergraduate degrees are classified based on your overall average mark across your degree programme, typically weighted towards your final year performance. The classifications are:

• First Class Honours (1st): 70% and above

• Upper Second Class Honours (2:1): 60 to 69%

• Lower Second Class Honours (2:2): 50 to 59%

• Third Class Honours (3rd): 40 to 49%

• Pass (Ordinary degree): below 40% in some institutions

The specific weighting between years varies by university and programme. Some universities weight the final year at 100% of the classification. Others split it 25/75 between second and final year. Always check your specific institution’s regulations.

How UK Honours classifications convert to a US 4.0 GPA

• First Class (70% and above) = approximately 3.7 to 4.0 US GPA

• Upper Second 2:1 (60 to 69%) = approximately 3.3 to 3.6 US GPA

• Lower Second 2:2 (50 to 59%) = approximately 2.7 to 3.2 US GPA

• Third Class (40 to 49%) = approximately 2.0 to 2.6 US GPA

How UK Honours classifications compare to other international systems

Nigerian CGPA:

• First Class = 4.5 to 5.0 CGPA

• Upper Second 2:1 = 3.5 to 4.49 CGPA

• Lower Second 2:2 = 2.4 to 3.49 CGPA

• Third Class = 1.5 to 2.39 CGPA

Indian CGPA (10.0 scale):

• First Class equivalent = 8.5 and above

• Upper Second equivalent = 7.0 to 8.4

• Lower Second equivalent = 5.5 to 6.9

Australian GPA (7.0 scale):

• First Class equivalent = 6.0 to 7.0 (Distinction to High Distinction)

• Upper Second equivalent = 5.0 to 5.9 (Credit to Distinction)

• Lower Second equivalent = 4.0 to 4.9 (Pass to Credit)

What do UK employers and universities look for?

In the UK, a 2:1 is widely considered the minimum competitive grade for graduate employment and postgraduate study. Many graduate schemes and competitive employers specify a 2:1 or above as a minimum requirement. A First Class degree significantly strengthens both job applications and academic research programme applications.

For international postgraduate study, a UK First Class or 2:1 is generally well received globally, though some institutions will want to see your underlying percentage marks rather than just the classification.

Applying to UK universities with a foreign degree

If you are applying to a UK postgraduate programme with a foreign degree, UK universities typically look for the equivalent of a UK 2:1 as a minimum. What constitutes a 2:1 equivalent varies by country:

• USA: approximately 3.3 GPA and above

• Nigeria: approximately 3.5 CGPA and above on a 5.0 scale

• India: approximately 60% or 6.5 CGPA and above on a 10.0 scale

• Australia: approximately Credit average (5.0) and above on a 7.0 scale

• Germany: approximately 2.5 or better on the 1.0 to 5.0 scale

Always check the specific entry requirements of the programme you are applying to as these thresholds vary.

Convert your grade to UK Honours equivalent

GPA Bridge at https://www.gpabridge.com converts any international grade to its UK Honours equivalent instantly, using the same normalisation methodology as professional evaluators. You can also download a PDF report showing the full conversion methodology to include with your application.