A 2:1 is an upper second-class honours degree. At UK universities it usually means an overall weighted average of 60 to 69%. Your overall mark is a credit-weighted average of your modules, and many universities count only your final two years. Nearly half of UK graduates get one.
- The usual boundaries are 70 for a First, 60 for a 2:1, 50 for a 2:2 and 40 for a Third.
- In 2023/24, 48% of UK first degree graduates with a classified degree got a 2:1. Another 29% got a First.
- Your overall mark is an average weighted by credits. A 40 credit dissertation counts twice as much as a 20 credit module.
- Years are often weighted too, and your first year may not count at all. Check your university’s rule.
- A mark within about two points of a boundary may get a second look. Rules differ by university.
What a 2:1 means
UK honours degrees come in classes. A 2:1 is pronounced "two-one" and is short for upper second-class honours. It sits between a First and a 2:2.
| Class | Overall percentage |
|---|---|
| First (1st) | 70 and above |
| Upper second (2:1) | 60 to under 70 |
| Lower second (2:2) | 50 to under 60 |
| Third (3rd) | 40 to under 50 |
| Below a Third | Under 40 |
These are the boundaries Swansea publishes, and they match what most universities use. Your own university publishes its regulations, and some award a pass degree from 35%. Check yours.
How many graduates get a 2:1
The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) publishes the share of UK first degree graduates in each class. In 2023/24 the split among those with a classified degree was:
| Class | Share of graduates |
|---|---|
| First | 29% |
| 2:1 | 48% |
| 2:2 | 20% |
| Third or pass | 3% |
HESA says the share of Firsts fell each year from 2020/21 until 2024/25, when it rose by 1%. So a 2:1 is the most common result, and a First is rarer than the headlines suggest.
How your class is worked out
- Each module has a mark out of 100 and a number of credits.
- For each year, the university finds a credit-weighted average. A 40 credit module counts twice as much as a 20 credit module.
- It then weights the years. For example, Leicester counts only years 2 and 3 on a three year degree, at 33% and 67%.
- The weighted result is your overall percentage, and the class comes from the boundaries above.
A worked example
Take a student on a three year degree, weighted 33:67 across years 2 and 3. In year 2 they take six modules of 20 credits, with marks of 62, 58, 71, 65, 55, 68. The average is 63.17. In year 3 they take four modules of 20 credits and a 40 credit dissertation, with marks of 66, 72, 61, 70, 68. The credit-weighted average is 67.50.
The overall mark is (33 × 63.17 + 67 × 67.50) ÷ 100 = 66.07. That is a 2:1, and 3.93 marks short of a First.
Now suppose the dissertation comes back at 78 and not 68. Year 3 rises to 70.83, the overall mark to 68.30, and the class to Upper second (2:1). A 40 credit module with a ten mark swing moves the whole degree.
Year weighting changes the answer
Two students with identical marks can land in different classes at different universities. Suppose a student averages 62 in year 2 and 76 in year 3. The weighting decides the class:
| Weighting | Overall | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Year 2 33%, Year 3 67% | 71.38% | First (1st) |
| Year 2 40%, Year 3 60% | 70.40% | First (1st) |
| Years 2 and 3 equal | 69.00% | Upper second (2:1) |
| Year 3 only | 76.00% | First (1st) |
The same marks give a First under three of these weightings and a 2:1 under one. Find your university’s rule early, because it tells you which year to protect. Leicester also weights an integrated master’s across years 2, 3 and 4 at 20%, 30% and 50%.
Does your first year count?
At some universities, no. Leicester, for example, counts only years 2 and 3 on a three year degree. Others give year 1 a small weight. If your first year does not count, it still has to be passed. Look for "classification" or "award" in your university’s assessment regulations.
What if you are close to a boundary
Many universities review a student who sits just under a boundary. Swansea uses a window of 2 marks. It looks again at a student within the window, and counts how many credits are in the higher band. Take a student averaging 66 in year 2 and 70 in year 3 at 33:67. Their overall mark is 68.68, which is 1.32 marks under a First. Half their credits are in the First band, so under a rule like Swansea’s they would be considered for the higher class.
Do not count on this. Each university sets its own rule, and the exam board decides each case. The safe plan is to aim for the boundary mark.
How to get from where you are to a 2:1
Say a student averaged 58 in year 2, which is a 2:2 mark, and has all of year 3 still to take. With 33:67 weights, they need an average of about 61.0% across year 3 to land on 60. The calculation is: (60 – 0.33 × 58) ÷ 0.67. One decent year can lift a weaker one when the later year counts more.
What moves your class the most
- Credits. A 40 credit module has twice the pull of a 20 credit one. Dissertations and projects often carry the most.
- The heaviest year. Where the last year counts for about two thirds, a 5 mark rise there lifts your overall mark by about 3.35 if every module rises 5 marks. The same rise in the lighter year adds about 1.65.
- Your weakest module. A low mark pulls down the average by its credits, so one 20 credit module at 45 costs that year about 0.8 of a mark against a 50.
- Early feedback. Marks on early assignments show which modules are heading for a boundary. Ask your tutor what separates the bands.
Enter your marks as you get them. The calculator shows the average you need in the remaining modules, so you can see the effect of each result.
Is a 2:1 the same as a GPA of 3.3?
No official conversion exists. Universities, employers and credential services use their own tables, and the results differ. If you need a US GPA for an application, use the evaluation service the school names, or ask the school how it reads UK degrees.
Calculators that help
- Degree Classification Calculator: your likely class, with year weights and a target mode.
- Final Grade Calculator: the mark you need on a final to reach a grade.
- Percentage Calculator: percentages and weighted averages, with the steps.
Questions students ask
What percentage is a 2:1?
A 2:1 is an overall average of 60 to 69.99% at most UK universities. Check your university’s regulations, because the exact rule can vary.
Is a 2:1 a good degree?
It is the most common class, with 48% of classified UK graduates getting one in 2023/24. Some graduate employers and master’s courses ask for a 2:1 as a minimum, so check the listing for the one you want.
What is the difference between a 2:1 and a 2:2?
A 2:1 is 60 to 69% overall and a 2:2 is 50 to 59%. Ten marks of overall average separate the two classes.
Does my first year count towards my degree?
It depends on your university. Leicester counts only years 2 and 3 on a three year degree. Look in your assessment regulations for how the overall mark is worked out.
Can I get a 2:1 with 59%?
It depends. Some universities review students within a mark or two of a boundary. Swansea uses a window of 2 marks, and looks at how many credits sit in the higher band. Ask your university for its rule.
