Chemistry Degrees and Classification

The School of Chemistry runs six undergraduate degree programmes and three taught postgraduate programmes. Links to each of these programmes are listed below.

Undergraduate degrees

Students complete 120 credits in each year with credits usually at Level 8 in Years 1 and 2, Level 9 in Year 3, Level 10 in Year 4, and for integrated masters students taking MChem or MChemPhys, Level 11 in Year 5. These levels align with the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).

Degree Classifications

Years 1 and 2 are “pre-honours years” and while students must achieve 120 credits, the results from these years do not count toward degree classification. Year 3 (Junior Honours) and Years 4 and 5 (Senior Honours) are honours years, with the marks from these years counting towards degree classification.

Degree classifications are determined from the combination of marks in honours years as described below. One a numeric value has been determined, the grade classification is awarded according to the University common marking scheme. Note that students receive a transcript describing each of the course grades and an overall grade classification; the overall computed average is not officially published. The common marking scheme, more fully described elsewhere, awards:

  • a 1st (a “First Class Honours”) for a computed mark over 70%;
  • a 2.1 (a “Two-One”, or an “Upper Second Class Honours”) for a computed mark between 60 and 69%;
  • a 2.2 (a “Two-Two”, or a “Lower Second Class Honours”) for a computed mark between 50 and 59%, and;
  • a 3rd (a “Third” or a “Pass”) for a computed mark between 40 and 49%.

Calculating BSc Classification Mark

For BSc students, the mark for degree classification is based on the average Year 3 mark and average Year 4 mark, which are combined in a 1:2 ratio. Therefore 1/3 of the Year 3 average and 2/3 of the Year 4 average are combined to compute the mark for classification, with grades awarded according to the University common marking scheme.

Calculating MChem/MChemPhys Classification Mark

For integrated masters students, the mark for degree classification is based on the average Year 3 mark, average Year 4 mark and Year 5 mark (solely derived from the final year project), which are combined in a 1:2:2 ratio. Therefore 1/5 of the Year 3 average, 2/5 of the Year 4 average, and 2/5 of the Year 5 average are combined to compute the mark for classification, with grades awarded according to the University common marking scheme.

Degree Classification Borderlines

Where a student’s final classification mark is within 2% of a borderline (e.g. between 68.00 and 69.99% at the 1st/2:1 borderline), the overall proportion of credits in the higher class will be calculated using the same weighting that is used to calculate the overall average mark in the degree. The higher degree will be awarded if the greater proportion of marks falls into the higher class (i.e. 50% or above).


Taught postgraduate degrees

Students complete 180 credits in the course of the one-year programme, with credits usually at Level 11. These levels align with the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).

Degree Classifications

Students who do not meet the threshold for a Merit or Distinction (set out below) will have their MSc award classified as a Pass.  

Students who achieve a mark of 60% or more on the Research Project course, and achieve an average of at least 60% in the taught component of the degree (their 120 taught course credits) will have their degree awarded with Merit. 

Students who achieve a mark of 70% or more on the Research Project course, and achieve an average of at least 70% in the taught component of the degree will have their degree awarded with Distinction. 

Degree Classification Borderlines

PGT students will receive the higher classification than their results would indicate if their marks fit one of the two sets of criteria below.  

  • When the average of a student’s taught components (the 120 credits of taught courses) is within 2% of a borderline (e.g. between 58.00 and 59.99 at the Pass/Merit borderline), AND at least 50% of the student’s taught course credits are in the higher class, AND the student’s MSc Research Project and Dissertation course mark is in the higher class, the higher degree classification will be awarded.
  • When the average of a student’s taught components is in the higher class, AND the student’s MSc Research Project and Dissertation course mark is borderline, AND at least 50% of the student’s Research Project assessment components are in the higher class, the higher degree classification will be awarded.

This article was published on