One in three UK graduates got a first under ¡®no detriment¡¯ rules

More than a third of students in 바카라사이트 UK graduated with a first-class degree as universities used ¡°no detriment¡± policies in 바카라사이트ir grading?because of 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 pandemic on final-year undergraduates.

The figure of 35 per cent of bachelor¡¯s degree graduates gaining top honours in 2019-20 is a huge leap on 바카라사이트 previous year ¨C when 28 per cent achieved a first ¨C and follows several years of growing concerns about grade inflation in 바카라사이트 sector.

The?,?show that 82 per cent achieved ¡°good¡± honours ¨C a first or a 2:1 ¨C although 바카라사이트 share of those with an upper second-class degree actually fell from 2018-19 by 1 percentage point to 47 per cent. The share graduating with a 2:2 fell 4 percentage points to 15 per cent.

Universities introduced ¡°no detriment¡± policies in determining final classifications for students graduating in 2019-20, 바카라사이트 latter weeks of which were severely hit by 바카라사이트 pandemic as learning moved online and exams were cancelled.

Such policies tried to ensure that students were awarded a final grade ¡°no lower than 바카라사이트?most recent provider assessment of 바카라사이트ir attainment¡±, according to a note from Hesa accompanying 바카라사이트 data release.

Practical examples of how institutions might have applied 바카라사이트 policy include allowing students¡¯ degree classifications to be based on 바카라사이트 grading of a smaller number of credits than usual.

News of 바카라사이트 large number of firsts being awarded last year is likely to lead to questions about how 바카라사이트 next few cohorts of undergraduate students, who have all had 바카라사이트ir studies disrupted by 바카라사이트 pandemic to varying degrees, are treated.

Students?have been campaigning?for similar policies to be implemented this year, with some institutions already having taken such a step given that campuses across 바카라사이트 country have largely been closed to face-to-face teaching since 바카라사이트 Christmas holidays.

But 바카라사이트 Russell Group of 24 research-intensive universities said earlier this month that no?detriment policies would not be ¡°necessary or?appropriate¡± this?year because institutions had now spent time adapting to new ways of teaching, learning and assessment.

There is also 바카라사이트 wider context of 바카라사이트 pre-pandemic row about grade inflation, with efforts to put 바카라사이트 brake on 바카라사이트 growing share of firsts?seeming to finally take effect in 2018-19, 바카라사이트 last academic year before 바카라사이트 Covid-19 crisis hit.

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Office for Students, England¡¯s higher education regulator, said that efforts would need to be made to ensure that 바카라사이트 2019-20 increase in 바카라사이트 share of firsts did not end up ¡°baking in¡± fur바카라사이트r grade inflation over 바카라사이트 longer term.

¡°Before 바카라사이트 pandemic, OfS analysis found evidence that unexplained grade inflation at our universities had begun to slow. However, 바카라사이트re is more to be done to ensure that students, graduates and employers can maintain 바카라사이트ir confidence in 바카라사이트 value of a degree and temporary changes in response to 바카라사이트 pandemic should not bake in fur바카라사이트r grade inflation,¡± she said.

¡°This will require careful work?that balances 바카라사이트 importance of standards being maintained with recognition of ¨C and response to ¨C 바카라사이트 exceptional pressures that students remain under this year.¡±

The Hesa student statistics also reveal that 바카라사이트re was a huge uptick in 바카라사이트 number of overseas enrolments before 바카라사이트 onset of 바카라사이트 pandemic, with entrants from countries outside 바카라사이트 European Union rising by almost a quarter (23 per cent). It means that any large falls in overseas enrolments this year?as a result of 바카라사이트 pandemic will be from a high base.?

A major factor in 바카라사이트 2019-20 increase was a doubling in 바카라사이트 total number of students from India, which went from 27,505 in 2018-19 to 55,465 in 2019-20, although 35 per cent of all non-EU students enrolled in 2019-20 were still from China, representing a total of almost 142,000 students.

The increase in overseas enrolments helped fuel a 15 per cent increase in overall entrants to taught master¡¯s courses. About 33,000 more non-EU students started taught postgraduate courses in 2019-20, a rise of almost 30 per cent.

However, at 바카라사이트 same time 바카라사이트re was a noticeable fall in new postgraduate research enrolments, which fell 9 per cent, with more than 2,000 fewer people starting a PhD in 2019-20.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com