UK universities will give every student first class degree if grade inflation continues

Universities will hand first-class degrees to every student within 38 years if grade inflation continues at its current rate.

Critics said an emerging ‘top prize for all’ trend in degree results risks making the qualifications ‘meaningless’.

The University of West London and University of Wales Trinity St David will be awarding top honours to all of their students within just 11 years if the current rate of inflation continues, according to research by The Times.

Across all institutions it will take about 38 years in total if the number of firsts dished out continue to rise at its current rate.

Universities minister Chris Skidmore, responding to the findings, said the ‘increasing and unexplained’ number of first class degrees is ‘undermining the faith in our world-leading universities’.

Tom Richmond, who has advised government education ministers and is the director of the EDSK think-tank, said: ‘If it becomes a case of ‘top prizes for all’ then the degree classification could, regrettably, become meaningless.’

The analysis also found St Mary’s Twickenham would be offering firsts to all students in 14 years, while Anglia Ruskin and Greenwich universities would take 15 years if current inflation rates continue.

By about 2033 at some institutions, the 2:2 – now regarded as a disappointing grade – would be all-but obsolete.

Data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency was used to calculate the year-on-year increase across four years, then create a projection.

Last year 27 percent of students were awarded a first. Six year ago, before fees were hiked to £9,250 per year, the level was 18 per cent. 

The University of West London and University of Wales Trinity St David will be awarding top honours to all of their students within just 11 years if the current rate of inflation continues