First Class Honours, referred to as a ‘first’, is the highest honours classification and indicates high academic achievement.
What does a first from Cambridge mean?
First-Class Honours (70% and above): a first class degree, usually referred to as a ‘first’ or 1st, is the highest honours degree you can achieve. Upper Second-Class Honours (60-70%): there are two levels of second class degree.
Is it harder to get a first at Cambridge?
Definitely harder at Cambridge, it’s only common sense. There’s no way the majority of Cambridge students wouldn’t be able to achieve the 1sts which plenty of people from every other university are able to achieve.
What percentage is a first at Cambridge?
Full table showing % of classified degrees awarded by university
| Institution | % of firsts | % of firsts and 2:1s |
|---|---|---|
| University of Cambridge | 33.5 | 91.6 |
| Imperial College London | 44.7 | 91.5 |
| Conservatoire for Dance and Drama | 38.3 | 91.5 |
| University College London | 39.5 | 91 |
Is a 2 1 from Cambridge good?
yeah it depends on the course… a 2:1 in Maths from Cambridge is almost certainly better than a first from anywhere else except for Oxford…
How rare is a first-class degree?
Receiving a First-Class honours degree is a relatively rare thing to achieve. In 2018 and 2019, only 18% of students received a First-Class honours degree. This is a number that has been gradually increasing since 2015.
How do you get to first-class at Cambridge?
Generally, you’ll need a very high marks aggregate and consistent firsts across your modules; not necessarily firsts in everything, but close to it – and with high firsts (75+) featuring in your marks. I had a 73 average across my papers, and two were 75+.
What is the hardest course to get into at Cambridge?
Getting into Oxford or Cambridge University is an achievement in itself, but cracking your way into economics and management is another feat entirely. The subject has been revealed as the hardest Oxbridge course to gain access to, with an acceptance rate of just 7%.
Is Cambridge harder than Oxford?
No. For some subjects it might be (maths at Cambridge, PPE/SPS at Oxford), but overall there’s really no difference. Both universities are ranked equally(ish, depending on who you talk to) overall, yet can be are better or worse for different subjects.
Is Cambridge better than Oxford?
The University of Oxford marginally outranks Cambridge in the QS World University Rankings® 2022, with Oxford placing in second and Cambridge placing in joint third.
Is a first-class degree from Cambridge good?
Of course a first-class degree from Oxford or Cambridge will be impressive – they are top-ranked world-class institutions. However, your passion for your chosen undergraduate subject(s) and the way that you communicate in your CV and interview will certainly be of more value to an employer.
What is the hardest degree UK?
List of 20 Hardest Degrees in the UK, Ranked
- Psychology. Kicking off our list of the hardest degrees in the UK is Psychology.
- Microbiology.
- Economics.
- Philosophy.
- Computer Science.
- Finance.
- Fine Art.
- Astrophysics.
What is a good grade at Cambridge?
Candidates who score between 160 and 179 will receive a Cambridge English certificate stating they demonstrated ability at Level B2. Candidates scoring between 142 and 159 will not receive a certificate, but will be given a Cambridge English Scale score which will be shown on the Statement of Results.
Does it matter if I get a 21 instead of a first?
The 2:1 cut-off
But degree grade inflation has not really inflated employers’ expectations to want a first. Mr Isherwood says many are not that bothered whether students get a first or a 2:1, not least because no-one really understands how such distinctions are made or whether they are comparable between universities.
How common is a 21?
New figures from the Higher Education Statistics Authority show that 70% of today’s students leave university with a 2:1 or above. Now, one in five graduates is awarded a first class degree – a score that has almost doubled in the past decade. The proportion receiving a 2:1 has also risen sharply in that time.
Is there a big difference between 21 and a first?
It depends on your career aspirations. It probably won’t make much of a difference outside of academia but within academia, especially in very highly technical field of study, the difference in quality of a student who gets a First and 2.1 can be quite remarkable. I heard other people say the opposite.
What is the hardest degree to get a first in?
Law
Law. Law is officially the hardest subject to get a first class degree in4, so we all know it’s hard going. If you think you know what it’s like to have a lot of reading, go and talk to a Law student.
What percentage of UK degrees are firsts?
The proportion of students in England awarded first-class degrees has more than doubled in a decade, the university watchdog says. About 36% of students were awarded the top grade in 2019-20 and 38% in 2020-21, according to analysis by the Office for Students (OfS).
Is a first class degree hard to get?
As a rigorous academic honour, gaining a first-class degree takes hard work and dedication. They are not given easily and will require you to spend a significant amount of time studying and doing wider reading and work to engage in your subject to the highest level.
What mark do you need for a first at Cambridge?
If you achieve a scale score of 180–190 (grade A) in your exam, you will receive the First Certificate in English stating that you demonstrated ability at Level C1.
How many hours do Cambridge students study a day?
In a not-so-shocking turn of events, it appears Cambridge students are the most studious in the UK, working on average nearly 48 hours per week, with Oxford students studying only a meagre 40 hours per week by comparison.