Explaining what’s on your transcript

Explaining the grades, module/unit outcomes and terminology on your transcript.

On

Undergraduate 

Grades (100 point scale)

70-100 – work of a Class 1 standard

60-69 – work of a Class 2.1 standard

50-59 – work of a Class 2.2. standard

45-49 – work of a Class 3 standard

40-44 – work of a Pass standard

0-39 – fail*

*If you’re commencing Level 3 or 4 and have taken a unit / module at FHEQ level 7, any grade between 0 - 49 is deemed a Fail.

Medicine grades (MBChB): students commencing study before 2020

3 - 5 = Pass

1 = Fail

0 = Work not Submitted

Medicine grades (MBChB): students commencing study in or after 2020

Pass grades:

A = 5D

B=5

C=4

D=3

E=2

Fail grade:

F = 1

Dentistry grades

50 - 100 = Pass

0 - 49 = Fail*

*Before 2009-10, a grade of 0 was defined as Work not Submitted.

For MBChB and undergraduate Dentistry courses, a D alongside a grade or module outcome indicates a Distinction. This is the same for any Achieve More modules, which ran from 2014-2017.

Module / unit outcome codes

P (Pass): you’ve been awarded an overall pass numerical grade.

CP (Compensated Pass): your overall numerical grade was a fail but you have been awarded a pass due to your performance in your other modules.

F (Fail): you’ve been awarded an overall fail numerical grade.

DE (Deferred Result): your module / unit result has been delayed but is expected to be available shortly.

EX (Exempt): you’ve been formally exempted from the module / unit due to previous study or work experience.

MD (Module Dropped): If you were allowed to drop a module/unit after the Add/Drop period (third week of semester), this module will still show on your record as MD.

NA (Not Assessed):

  • you haven’t attempted an assessment / exam by arrangement with your department; or
  • your department has requested that you be recorded as NA for legitimate reasons (eg medical)

NC (Not Completed)

  • you have not submitted work / sat an exam without the agreement of your department; or
  • the work you submitted is deemed to be of no academic merit; or
  • the department or University Discipline Committee have decided to invoke the relevant General Regulations to refuse or deny you credit for the module / unit.

Degree classifications

1 – Class 1 Honours

2.1 – Class 2 Division 1 Honours

2.2 – Class 2 Division 2 Honours

3 – Class 3 Honours

H – Unclassified Honours

P – Pass

AG – Aegrotat  (for an explanation, see section 14-15 of the General Regulations for First Degrees)

Fail (Final) – Fail

WH (Final) – Results withheld

DE (Final) – Deferred result

NA (Final) – Not Assessed

A star (*) against a unit on your online UG results statement means that unit isn’t for credit and won’t affect your ability to progress to the next level of study or your final degree award.

For information on how we calculate your final degree classification, visit:


Postgraduate

Postgraduate modules/units have a pass mark of 50 or above. Next to each module/unit on your transcript you’ll receive one of the following codes:

P (Pass): you’ve been awarded an overall pass numerical grade.

AG (Aegrotat): for an explanation, see section 11-12 of the General Regulations for Higher Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas and Postgraduate Certificates.

F (Fail): you’ve been awarded an overall fail numerical grade.

DE (Deferred Result): your module / unit result has been delayed but is expected to be available shortly.

EX (Exempt): you’ve been formally exempted from the module / unit due to previous study or work experience.

MD (Module Dropped): If you were allowed to drop a module / unit after the Add/Drop period (third week of semester), this module will still show on your record as MD.

CP (Compensated Pass): your overall numerical grade was a fail but you have been awarded a pass due to your performance in your other modules.

NA (Not Assessed):

  • you haven’t attempted an assessment / exam by arrangement with your department; or
  • your department has requested that you be recorded as NA for legitimate reasons (e.g. medical).

NC (Not Completed):

  • you have not submitted work/sat an exam without the agreement of your department; or
  • the work you submitted is deemed to be of no academic merit; or
  • the department or University Discipline Committee have decided to invoke the relevant General Regulations to refuse or deny you credit for the module / unit.

Fail (final) or Not Assessed (final): you haven’t been successful in the final examinations for your programme of study. Visit the page below for information on what to do next.

Deferred result (final): the results for one or more of your units or your award recommendation aren’t available yet. Your transcript will be re-issued when we have all your results. 

WD Fail (Left after unsuccessful completion): you’ve exhausted all possible opportunities for examination on your programme of study and your registration will be terminated.


Visiting students

How your course is structured

Your programme has a modular structure. Each unit/module of study within your programme is assigned a unit code and has a credit value.

If you’re studying with us for a full academic year on an undergraduate programme, you’ll study units/modules to the value of 120 credits in each academic year. If you’re on a postgraduate programme, you’ll study units/modules to the value of 180 credits.

One overall result is recorded for each unit/module. Your home University can convert this to a grade on their marking scale.

European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)

The table below outlines the grading scale we use for your units/modules and the equivalent in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

Two UK credits = one ECTS credit

The same grades are used for postgraduate units, but 50 and above on the below scale is deemed a pass.

Unit grade (100 point scale)

ECTS Grade

ECTS Definition 

70-100 - Class 1 standard

A

Excellent – outstanding performance with minor errors

60-69 - Class 2.1 standard

B

Very Good – above average but with some errors

50-59 - Class 2.2 standard

C

Good – generally sound work with a number of notable errors

45-49 - Class 3 standard

D

Satisfactory – fair but with significant shortcomings

40-44 - Pass standard

E

Sufficient – performance meets minimum criteria

1-39 Fail

FX

Fail – some more work required before credit can be awarded

0 Fail

F

Fail – considerable further work required

For units at FHEQ Level 7 taken by students commencing Level 3 or Level 4 in or after September 2014, any grade between 0-49 is defined as Fail.

Module / unit outcome codes

Next to each module on your transcript, you’ll be given one of the following codes:

P (Pass): you’ve been awarded an overall pass numerical grade.

F (Fail): you’ve been awarded an overall fail numerical grade.

DE (Deferred Result): your module / unit result has been delayed but is expected to be available shortly.

EX (Exempt): you’ve been formally exempted from the module / unit due to previous study or work experience.

MD (Module Dropped): If you were allowed to drop a module / unit after the Add/Drop period (third week of semester), this module will still show on your record as MD.

CP (Compensated Pass): your overall numerical grade was a fail but you have been awarded a pass due to your performance in your other modules.

NA (Not Assessed):

  • you haven’t attempted an assessment / exam by arrangement with your department; or
  • your department has requested that you be recorded as NA for legitimate reasons (e.g. medical).

NC (Not Completed):

  • you have not submitted work / sat an exam without the agreement of your department; or
  • the work you submitted is deemed to be of no academic merit; or
  • the department or University Discipline Committee have decided to invoke the relevant General Regulations to refuse or deny you credit for the module / unit.

Postgraduate units

Grades for postgraduate units (where the number part of the unit code begins with a six, eg MAS6100) are not normally available until the November after you completed the module/unit. The same grades and codes are used for postgraduate units, but grade 50 on the 100 point scale indicates work of a pass standard. 


If you studied between 1994-2000 

Between 1994 and 2000 we used the 16-point scale below to grade your modules. 

Unit grade (16 point scale)

Undergraduate 

14-16 – Work of a Class 1 standard 

11-13 – Work of a Class 2.1 standard 

8-10 – Work of a Class 2.2 standard

5-7 – Work of a Class 3 standard 

4 – Work of a pass standard 

1-3 – Fail 

0 – Work not submitted 

Postgraduate and UG School of Clinical Dentistry 

8-16 – Pass

1-7 – Fail 

0 – Work not submitted

Degree classifications

The University of Sheffield first degrees, in common with other UK universities, are classified as:

1 -  Class 1 Honours

2.1 - Class 2 Division 1 Honours

2.2 - Class 2 Division 2 Honours

3 - Class 3 Honours

P - Pass degree (meaning a pass at the minimum standard required for graduation but without honours)


Explanation of other terminology

Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ)

The FHEQ is a nationally agreed system for defining Higher Education qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Key purpose:

  • assist in identifying potential progression routes
  • provide a point of reference for setting and assessing academic standards
  • promote a common understanding of the expectations associated with typical qualifications

It’s also designed to align with the Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Arena (FQ-EHEA).

The FHEQ has eight levels in total, with undergraduate qualifications starting at Level 4.

  • Levels 1-3: precede undergraduate study
  • Level 4: the first part of an undergraduate Bachelor’s degree
  • Level 5: the middle part of an undergraduate Bachelor’s degree
  • Level 6: the last part of an undergraduate Bachelor’s degree
  • Level 7: a Master’s degree
  • Level 8: a Doctorate

Bachelor’s degrees with Honours typically consist of 360 credits in total with a minimum of 90 credits at FHEQ Level 6.

Integrated masters degrees typically consist of 480 credits with a minimum of 120 credits at FHEQ Level 7.

Qualifications Framework Level (QF Level)

QF levels refer to the general level at which you should be working in a particular academic year.

  • eg your first year of undergraduate study will be at QF level 4, your second at level 5, and your third at level 6.

The FHEQ levels of the modules you take within the year may vary, with some being higher or lower than the overall QF level of your course in that year.

  • eg if you’re a second year undergraduate and you’re taking a beginner’s language module at FHEQ level 4, your QF level will still be level 5.

Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Arena (FQ-EHEA)

The FQ-EHEA organises national higher education qualifications across Europe into an overarching European framework, in order to define their relative levels of complexity and difficulty.

Within the FQ-EHEA, the three higher education levels are defined as “cycles”.

First cycle: broadly corresponds to undergraduate qualifications in the UK (FHEQ Level 6).

Second cycle: broadly corresponds to postgraduate qualifications, typically at Masters level in the UK (FHEQ Level 7).

Third cycle: broadly corresponds to postgraduate qualifications, typically at Doctoral level in the UK (FHEQ Level 8).

European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS)

The ECTS was developed to promote the international recognition of qualifications and student mobility within Europe.

Two UK credits are equivalent to one ECTS credit.


Questions?

For queries about graduation:

For queries about your individual grades:

For general queries about what happens next:

For immigration advice:

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Information for students

The Student Services Information Desk (SSiD) answers a range of general student related enquiries