Grade inflation fears over number of firsts

University firsts have risen six-fold in eight years at some institutions, amid a grade inflation “race to the bottom”, says the Reform think tank, which is reporting that there has been an “unrelenting” increase in top degrees being awarded over the past 20 years. In the Nineties, just one in 14 undergraduates was awarded a first class honours degree, but now 40 institutions – a quarter of all universities in the UK – have handed firsts to one in three students.

UNIVERSITY firsts have risen six-fold in eight years at some institutions, amid a grade inflation “race to the bottom”.

According to the Reform think tank, there has been an “unrelenting” increase in top degrees over the past 20 years. In the Nineties, seven per cent of students graduated with first class hon- ours but now 40 institutions – a quarter of all universities – have handed firsts to almost a third of students.

The report’s authors identified 54 institutions that had seen soaring firsts. The University of the West of Scotland saw its proportion increase six-fold, while Southampton Solent reported a quadrupling over the same period. There was “considerable evidence”, the report said, to suggest universities fiddled with degree algorithms “to ensure they do not disadvantage students compared with those in similar institutions”.

The report said: “Research has also identified serious concerns about how these algorithms treat ‘borderline’ cases.” Authors cited an expert who concluded that “universities are essentially massaging the figures, changing algorithms and putting borderline candidates north of the border”.

Another factor, they said, was the pressure on academics to give higher grades for assignments. Last year, two academics told of university managements pushing for higher scores in the National Student Survey.

The report recommended that universities be stripped of their powers to award degrees, with students sitting national assessments for each degree.

Tom Richmond, a senior research fellow at Reform and author of the report, said: “Rocketing degree grade inflation is in no one’s interest.

“Universities may think easier degrees are a way to attract students, but eventually they lose currency and students will go elsewhere, even overseas.”

A spokesman for Universities UK said: “The independence of universities to decide what they teach and how is at the heart of successful systems around the world, of which the UK is a leading example.”

The spokesman added that Universities UK had been carrying out research about grade inflation, and intended to set out proposals for “effective and sustainable solutions” in a report to be published later this year.