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Proportion of first-class degrees reaches record high

Image: John Walker [CC BY 2.0], via Flickr

An unprecedented number of first-class degrees were awarded in 2017-18, data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency show.

According to Hesa data released on 17 January, 110,475 graduates received a first, representing 28 per cent of all awards for bachelors degrees. 

The proportion of first-class awards has risen by two percentage points each year since 2013-14. The figures add fuel to the row over grade inflation, which the Office for Students has promised to tackle.

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