More than a quarter of students awarded Firsts

MORE than one in four students graduated from university with a First last year, as the proportion awarded the highest honours soared.

New official figures show the proportion with the highest possible result has risen by almost 50% in five years. The statistics are likely to spark fresh debate about grade inflation and whether the classification system is fit for purpose.

Overall, 26% of graduates who completed their first undergraduate degree in the 2016-17 academic year achieved a first – up from 18% in 2012-13. This means the proportion achieving the highest honours has increased by 44% in five years.

The data, published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency, also shows a hike in the proportions gaining a First or 2:1, with three in four (75%) achieving this benchmark in 2016-17, up from just over two-thirds (68%) in 2012-13.

The figures show women were more likely to graduate with a First or upper Second than men (77% compared to 72%). Those who studied fulltime were more likely to obtain one of these results, at 76%, compared to 54% of part-time students. There were also regional differences, with 75% of students at English universities gaining a First or 2:1, 78% in Scotland, 71% in Wales and 76% in Northern Ireland. The figures also show: The number of part-time students fell by 4% between 2015-16 and 2016-17;

414,340 First degrees were awarded in 2016-17;

Overall student numbers increased by 2% between 2015-16 and 2016-17;

81% of students at UK universities and colleges came from the UK in 2016-17. This figure has been the same since 2013-14.