A wide range of factors are behind the increase in the number of graduates receiving first and upper-second class degrees.
This report by UUK, GuildHE and QAA, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, on behalf of the UK Standing Committee for Quality Assessment (UKSCQA) looked at the reasons behind the increase in the number of graduates receiving first and upper-second class degrees.
Key findings show that a wide range of factors could be driving the increase in upper degrees, including additional investment in teaching and learning and heightened student motivation. However, there is a risk that a continued increase in the number of top degrees may undermine confidence in the value of a degree from a UK university, making the classification system less useful for employers and students.
The report recommends that universities should issue a sector-wide statement of intent, leading to actions to protect the value of qualifications over time. This includes commitments such as:
- Reviewing and publishing evidence on their degree outcomes at the institutional level – the skills and knowledge demonstrated by graduates at every grade with external assurance of the data – in a statement. This should enable a university’s governing body to ensure the university is protecting the value of its qualifications.
- Agreeing common criteria, to be used by all universities, to describe the quality of work required for each degree classification.
- Publishing and explaining scoring systems and processes that universities follow to determine a student’s final degree classification in an accessible format, including why any practice differs from accepted norms.
The drivers of degree classifications
This publication and research was carried out by Dr Ray Bachan, University of Brighton on behalf of the UK Standing Committee for Quality Assessment.
Degree classification consultationDegree classification: transparent, consistent and fair academic standards (consultation document)
The UK wide UKSCQA degree classification consultation, run by QAA on behalf of the UKSCQA, invites respondents to consider these recommendations in line with national regulatory contexts, how they might be taken forward, and what further action might need to be taken.
Responses should be made through the online portal by 8 February 2019.