Undergraduates
Undergraduate Degree Classification Explained
Which degree class are you aiming for?
In the UK degrees are classified into five groups with a first class degree being the highest level and a pass the lowest.
A degree may also be awarded with or without honours. Honours degrees are based on the average mark of the student throughout their degree; usually the first year does not count towards this final classification.
- First Class Honours (First or 1st)
- Upper Second Class Honours (2:1)
- Lower Second Class Honours (2:2)
- Third Class Honours (Third or 3rd)
- Ordinary degree (Pass)
The majority of law firms look for candidates with a 2.1 degree grade or above although it is not uncommon for some firms to accept candidates with a 2.2 degree grade. Most candidates with a 3rd will struggle to even get an interview unless they can display mitigating circumstances and with a pass it is extremely unlikely you will be considered. The degree classification you achieve will make a large impact on your future and it will stay with you throughout your working life as a bench mark of your ability.
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"the first year does not count towards your final degree classification and although this is true in law poor first year marks can seriously damage you potential in the future"
As you will undoubtedly hear around university the first year does not count towards your final degree classification and although this is true in law poor first year marks can seriously damage you potential in the future. In the second year any want to be lawyers will need to build up their legal work experience acceptance on to vacation schemes and pupillages are usually based on your first year performance.
First Class Honours
70% +
Strangely, although you could potentially get 100% it is very rare to see marks over 80. The First is the highest degree classification and was awarded to just 12.6% of undergraduates in 2008. This mark requires sustained excellence throughout the degree and graduates holding such a qualification clearly stand out from their counter-parts. This degree grade is difficult to achieve but the rewards for your future career should make it the aim of every undergraduate.
Upper Second Class Honours
60-69%
The upper second class degree is the most common degree that was awarded in 2008 and has been for some years. In 2008, 46% of undergraduates were awarded this degree classification. This is the bench mark classification the majority of employers will be looking for candidates to have obtained. In order to achieve and maintain this degree grade you will need to work consistently throughout your time at university and with some relevant work experience can make yourself a very attractive proposition for any law firm or Barristers Chambers.
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Lower Second Class Honours
50-59%
The lower second class degree is the second most common degree classification and 29% of undergraduate degrees awarded in 2008 were at this level. Sometimes known called a Desmond, although to be honest I have never heard anyone under 30 describe it as one. This is slightly below the level the majority of firms are looking for; however, it is not uncommon for candidates with a 2.2 degree grade to achieve pupillage or a training contract. The fact that 58.6% of other graduates will have achieved a better grade means that you will have to show why you stand out from the crowd with a gleaming CV or show that mitigating circumstances led to the classification you achieved. Although, I would not rely on the latter and even if those with mitigating circumstances will require relevant legal work experience.
Third Class Honours
40-49%
A third class honours is joint least common degree classification with 6.4% of undergraduates attaining this level. Following the traditional route into law with a degree grade such as a third is going to be unlikely due to the high level of competition that outweighs the positions available (it is not unheard of, but really we would not advise undertaking the LPC or BVC with a third as it would, most likely, be waste of money). There are other alternatives though, such as the ILEX graduate route to become a Legal Executive or one of the other alternative careers aligned to law or that would compliment law.
Ordinary degree
30-39%
This level of degree is really very poor and it is clear law isn’t for you. Around 6.4% of law undergraduates received a pass in 2008. If you received this level of degree grade without mitigating circumstances of the highest order then you probably are not reading this anyway. If you do have legitimate reasons for attaining this classification we recommend you speak with a careers advisor which can be found at your local connexions centre. It may be best to re-train and if you are still set on becoming a lawyer we suggest you try the ILEX route to become a Legal Executive which can take up five years if you are not accepted onto the graduate program.
In conclusion, the degree classification you are awarded is really up to you and assuming your want to get a good degree grade means lots of time in the library and plenty of effort but it will be worth it. Make sure you mix in some legal work experience too because this is really competitive career path. It is simple the number of jobs outweighs the number of positions every year. Many people with some work experience and 2.1 degree classifications are currently unemployed so beware and do all you can if you want to pursue a legal career.
All statistics were calculated using 2008 HESA figures, currently the latest available www.hesa.ac.uk
22-09-2009
