The number of UK students getting top-class degree awards has dropped for the third year in a row, new figures show, with the proportion falling by a fifth at some universities.

After heavy criticism of the number of firsts and upper seconds awarded by institutions ¨C particularly?during the Covid-19 years?¨C grades have slowly been returning to more typical levels?in the past few years.?

According to the latest Higher Education Statistics Agency data, 29 per cent of UK students achieved a first-class degree in 2023-24 ¨C down slightly from the year before and the lowest level since 2018-19.

With the awarding of 2:1s unchanged at 48 per cent, it meant that the proportion of students getting top-class degrees fell to 77 per cent. This was down from the peak of 82 per cent during the pandemic and the third annual fall in a row. A further 20 per cent of students achieved a 2:2 in 2023-24 and the remaining 3 per cent a third.

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The universities of Oxford and Edinburgh, and Imperial College?London, were the most likely to give out a first or upper second ¨C awarded to 92 per cent of students at all three institutions.

Across all 24 members of the Russell Group, 85 per cent of students once again received a top degree. Meanwhile, 72 per cent achieved the same at post-1992 universities.

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At Imperial, more than half (51 per cent) of students graduated with a first, although this was slightly less than in 2022-23.

In contrast, just 12 per cent of graduates at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) received firsts ¨C the lowest of all 145 universities included in Times Higher Education¡¯s analysis.

The analysis?includes every English institution recognised as a university by the Office for Students, along with selected others across the UK. A small number were excluded for reporting fewer than 100 total degree classifications, or for reporting inaccurate figures.

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The RAU also saw the biggest shift in grades awarded. Just 58 per cent of its students were awarded top degrees in 2023-24 ¨C down from 77 per cent the year before. The University of Law also saw a large change in this metric ¨C falling from 79 per cent to 61 per cent in just one year.

The majority (57 per cent) of institutions in the sample reduced the proportion of firsts and 2:1s handed out. The biggest increases came at the universities of Gloucestershire and Bedfordshire, where top grades increased by 8 percentage points.

Dan Shaffer, director of academic services at the RAU, said?2022-23 was an "exceptional year" for graduates, with 2023-24 being more in line with results from a decade ago.

¡°We take the responsibility of awarding degrees seriously and apply rigorous scrutiny to ensure the classifications we grant are truly merited, so that employers can trust the value of hiring a RAU graduate."

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The University of Law was approached for comment.

patrick.jack@timeshighereducation.com