More than one in three students awarded first-class degrees amid pandemic

A record one in three students obtained a first-class degree last summer, something attributed in part to universities adopting a “no detriment” policy to final assessments during Covid-19.

In total, 35% of students at UK universities graduated with a first in 2019/20, compared with 28% in 2018/19, according to data published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

A ‘no detriment’ policy was introduced by many institutions as a safety net for students after campuses were closed and teaching moved online last March. It ensured that students were awarded a final grade no lower than their most recent in-year assessment.

However, this news comes as the government announced efforts to crack down on grade inflation, and it is expected that fewer universities will offer ‘no detriment’ policies for the 2020/21 academic year.

Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), said: “I think we are already seeing the pushback with, for example, more reluctance to impose no detriment policies this year.

“Institutions are worried about the political storms ahead on this as politicians are never keener to tread on universities’ autonomy than on the number of firsts.”

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of the Office for Students (OfS), said: “This latest set of figures covers students graduating during the early stage of the pandemic. This was a period of intense disruption, with universities needing to move studies online very rapidly.

“As a result of this many universities implemented ‘no detriment’ policies, and these policies lie behind the significant increase in first class honours awarded to students graduating in 2020.

Institutions are worried about the political storms ahead on this as politicians are never keener to tread on universities’ autonomy than on the number of firsts

– Nick Hillman

“Before the pandemic, OfS analysis found evidence that unexplained grade inflation at our universities had begun to slow. However, there is more to be done to ensure that students, graduates and employers can maintain their confidence in the value of a degree and temporary changes in response to the pandemic should not bake in further grade inflation.

“This will require careful work which balances the importance of standards being maintained with recognition of – and response to – the exceptional pressures that students remain under this year.”

University and College Union (UCU) general secretary Jo Grady said: “Throughout the pandemic, university staff have gone above and beyond to support students and adjust quickly to new ways of working.

“Any rise in the number of first-class degrees being awarded is a reflection of the incredible efforts made by staff to adapt their teaching.

“We also know that students have endured a rollercoaster year and it’s important that no student is unfairly disadvantaged.”

A Universities UK (UUK) spokesman said: “The outcomes presented in this data represent the hard work of students who have had to navigate their studies during an unprecedented time.

“The exceptional circumstances have meant many institutions made changes to recognise the additional pressures facing students, who should not be unfairly disadvantaged by circumstances outside of their control.

“It is the responsibility of individual providers to assess their own approach to ‘safety net’ policies – in accordance with OfS regulation.”

He added that the higher education sector had taken action through statements of intent to protect the value of degree classifications and UUK will “continue to set strong expectations for speedy progress in this area”.