5. University of Manchester
Not just great for a night out! As of May 2021, Manchester have awarded 36% of their students a First, placing them in fifth place of institutions who award the highest grades. They also were awarded 50th place in the Times’ World University rankings for 2022, beating their rivals the University of Leeds by quite a way.
4. University of Oxford
Officially the best University in the world and clearly not just for their rich history and beautiful campus! Oxford Uni reportedly awarded 37.2% of their students a First in 2021. Considering the infamous work load at Oxbridge, this seems pretty justified…
3. Durham University
It seems Durham University can actually beat Oxford and Cambridge in one league table! The uni place at number 3 on our list of unis that give out the most Firsts, with 37.5% of their students achieving the highest grade.
2. UCL
UCL are the runners up as one of the universities dishing out the most Firsts, with a whopping 40.3%. Considering that 29 UCL alumni have been awarded Nobel Prizes for their work, this stat seems pretty legit.
5. Imperial College London
Imperial College London have bagged the top spot for the uni whose students achieve the highest grades over all, with 46.4% (nearly half!) of their students getting a coveted First. Imperial boasts one of the most diverse student populations in the UK, hailing from 125 countries worldwide. With the odds of getting a First at Imperial being so high, it seems that the journey oversees to attend would definitely be worthwhile!
So, why is this inflation in firsts being awarded not necessarily a good thing? A rise this large indicates that there’s something fishier going on than meets the eye. Universities UK have made it clear that grades should be ‘meaningful…to improve transparency, fairness and reliability in the way they award degrees’. We’d all love to know the chances are high of getting that grade we all wished for. But, it’s also fair to say that these should be earned- honesty is always the best policy!
If this has got you feeling driven, competitive (or desperate) – here’s our tips on how to get a first. 
FAQs on UK Universities Awarding the Most First-Class Degrees
Imperial College London awards the most Firsts, with 46.4% of students graduating with the top classification. UCL follows at 40.3%, with Durham (37.5%), Oxford (37.2%), and Manchester (36%) also among the highest according to 2021 data.
The percentage of Firsts awarded has risen by 90% in the past eight years. This is attributed to better teaching, student effort, and changes in assessment—but also to grade inflation, prompting concern from education regulators.
Statistically, yes. Some universities have higher proportions of Firsts awarded, but this doesn't always reflect easier grading. Factors like teaching quality, subject mix, and assessment style can all influence outcomes—even at top-ranked institutions.
Yes. The Office for Students has raised concerns that rising Firsts could reduce confidence in degree classifications, calling for better transparency and consistent academic standards across institutions.
At Imperial College London, nearly 1 in 2 students (46.4%) receive a First. UCL has a 40.3% rate, while Oxford and Durham hover around 37%. These figures are well above the national average, making top-class degrees more common at elite institutions.
