Awards and classifications
In this area
Undergraduate awards
The classification boundaries for Honours Degrees are:
| Perecentage range | Classification |
|---|---|
| 70% | First class |
| 60% | Upper second class |
| 50% | Lower second class |
| 40% | Third class |
Minimum module pass requirements for Honours and Degree
To be eligible for consideration for any particular award, a student must have met the following requirements including any additional constraints imposed by a Professional Statutory or Regulatory Body or other external agency):
*of which 60 must be work based
** For specific courses only, where passing 380 credits is a requirement of the Institute of Apprenticeships
***Please note Diploma, Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate are NOT fall back awards
These credit totals are the minimum University requirements. The specific requirements for your course may exceed this minimum and are described in your course handbook/ course specification. If you were admitted with ‘advanced standing’ (APL), i.e. without studying the first and/or second stages of your course, some of the rules will be slightly different.
How your classification is calculated can be found in section 6 of the Academic Regulations
However, some courses require specific modules to be included in the classification calculations even if they do not carry the highest marks (e.g. final year project). Check your course specification for details.
If you do not meet the specific requirements for your named award, the PAB may consider you for an alternative award, if available. If you do not achieve the required number of credits for an Honours Degree, you may be considered for a lower award (e.g. unclassified Degree, DipHE or CertHE). This ‘cascade’ of awards should be explained in your course handbook/course specification.
Postgraduate awards
Awards of Masters, Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate may be made with Merit or Distinction. The credit requirements are as set out below:
| Academic Award - This is not a cascade of awards | Total credits | Level 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate Certificate | 60 | 40 |
| Postgraduate Diploma | 120 | 90 |
| Masters | 180 | 150 |
Minimum Credits to be Passed (The difference between total credit specified at Level 7 and total minimum credit may be met by modules at Level 6).
Thresholds for Merit and Distinction are normally 60% and 70% respectively. How your classification is calculated can be found in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations.
If you have passed enough modules to be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma but intend to proceed to the next stage of your programme, you are normally not entitled to receive a certificate, or to attend an awards ceremony, at that time. An award is only made when you have completed your programme of study and you have informed the University of your decision.
If you do not meet the specific requirements for your named award, the PAB may consider you for an alternative or lower award if this is available.
Last updated: 19 September 2025
