Admissions·United Kingdom & Ireland· 9 min read

Converting an Indian Percentage or CGPA to a UK 2:1/2:2 and an Irish Honours Grade

UK master's entry is stated as a First/2:1/2:2 and Ireland in honours classes. How your Indian percentage or CGPA maps to these — the concept, not a fixed table. Verify each university's India band + UK ENIC.

Last updated 3 July 2026

Key facts

What UK entry is stated in: Degree classifications: First, Upper Second (2:1), Lower Second (2:2), Third
What Irish entry is stated in: Honours classes: First Class Honours, 2.1, 2.2 — similar to the UK
Typical master's bar: Often a 2:1 (sometimes 2:2) — set by each course
How your marks map: Each university publishes its own India percentage/CGPA bands
No universal table: There is no single official India-to-UK conversion — it varies by university
Where to verify: Each university's India country page + UK ENIC

Why classifications confuse Indian applicants

UK and Irish universities state their entry requirements as degree classifications, not percentages. A UK master's will typically ask for a 'First' or an 'Upper Second (2:1)', and sometimes a 'Lower Second (2:2)'. Irish universities use honours classes — First Class Honours, 2.1 and 2.2 — that work very similarly to the UK.

Coming from India, you have a percentage or a CGPA, so the natural question is: 'What percentage equals a 2:1?' The honest answer is that there is no single official conversion — the mapping is set by each university, and it varies. This guide explains what the classifications mean and how to find the band that applies to you, without inventing a table that would mislead you.

UK/Irish entry is stated as classifications, not raw percentages
'2:1' (Upper Second) is the most common master's requirement
There is no single official India-to-UK percentage conversion

What the UK classifications mean

A UK undergraduate honours degree is awarded in one of four classes: First-Class Honours (the highest), Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1), Lower Second-Class Honours (2:2), and Third-Class Honours. Universities describe broad percentage bands for these on their own marking scales, but each university sets its own boundaries and calculation method.

For postgraduate entry, the 2:1 is the classic benchmark: many master's courses ask for the equivalent of a UK 2:1, with some accepting a 2:2, especially with relevant experience or a strong profile. What matters for you is not the UK internal percentage, but what Indian marks the university treats as equivalent to a 2:1 or 2:2 for applicants from India.

First-Class Honours — the highest class
Upper Second (2:1) — the usual master's benchmark
Lower Second (2:2) — accepted by some courses
Third-Class Honours — the lowest honours class
Boundaries and calculation are set by each university

The Irish honours system

Irish honours bachelor's degrees use classes that mirror the UK closely: First Class Honours, Second Class Honours Grade 1 (2.1) and Second Class Honours Grade 2 (2.2), and a Third Class/Pass. So an Irish master's asking for a '2.1' is, in practice, looking for a level equivalent to a UK 2:1.

One point of confusion: the H1/H2 grades you may have seen are part of Ireland's Leaving Certificate (school exam) grading, not the university honours-degree classification. For degree-level entry, think in terms of First Class Honours, 2.1 and 2.2.

Irish honours classes: First Class Honours, 2.1, 2.2 — like the UK
An Irish '2.1' requirement is broadly equivalent to a UK 2:1
H1/H2 grades are the Leaving Certificate (school), not the degree, system

How your Indian marks actually get mapped

Universities do not convert your percentage to a UK class using one global formula. Instead, each university publishes India-specific entry requirements — usually on an India country page — that state, for a given classification, the minimum percentage or CGPA they expect, often differentiated by the category or tier of your awarding institution.

That means the percentage a university treats as a '2:1 equivalent' can differ from one university to the next, and can differ for graduates of different Indian institutions. This is why a fixed India-to-UK conversion table is misleading: the same 65% might meet a 2:1 requirement at one university and only a 2:2 at another. Always read the target university's own India band.

Each university sets its own India percentage/CGPA bands per classification
Bands are often tiered by the category/reputation of your Indian institution
The same mark can map to different classes at different universities
Read the specific university's India entry page — do not use a generic table

How to find your equivalent — the right way

Start from the course, not from a converter. Open each target university's India entry requirements and note the exact percentage or CGPA it lists against the classification your master's needs (usually a 2:1). Compare that to your own marks and your institution's category. If a university does not publish clear India bands, or your case is borderline, email its admissions team with your degree, institution and marks.

A UK ENIC Statement of Comparability tells you the UK level your degree compares to, which is useful context — but note it compares the qualification level, not your grade, and it does not decide admission. Combine the university's India band (for the grade) with UK ENIC (for the level) to build an accurate picture of where you stand.

Read the university's India band for the classification your course needs
Match it to your percentage/CGPA and institution category
Ask admissions directly if the band is unclear or you are borderline
Use UK ENIC for the qualification level; the university decides the grade fit

Frequently asked questions

What Indian percentage equals a UK 2:1?

There is no single official figure — each university sets its own India band for a 2:1, often tiered by the category of your institution. Read the specific university's India entry page rather than relying on a generic conversion table.

What classification do UK master's courses usually require?

Most ask for the equivalent of a UK Upper Second (2:1); some accept a Lower Second (2:2), especially with relevant experience. The exact requirement is set by each course.

How do Irish honours grades compare to the UK?

Irish honours classes (First Class Honours, 2.1, 2.2) mirror the UK closely, so an Irish '2.1' requirement is broadly equivalent to a UK 2:1. Note H1/H2 grades are the Leaving Certificate school system, not the degree classification.

Can I use one conversion table for all universities?

No — a single table would mislead you. The percentage a university treats as a 2:1 equivalent varies by university and often by your institution's category. Always check the target university's own India requirements.

Does UK ENIC tell me my grade equivalent?

Not exactly. A UK ENIC Statement of Comparability compares your qualification's level to the UK system; it explicitly does not comment on grade comparisons. Use it for level context and the university's India band for the grade.

My CGPA is on a 10-point scale — how is that read?

Universities publish India bands in either percentage or CGPA terms and will state how they read a 10-point CGPA. Check the target university's India page, and ask admissions if the conversion from your CGPA is unclear.

Official sources

This guide explains the process and is for guidance only. Eligibility, dates, fees and rules change every year — always confirm the current details on the official site before you act.

Verified against: UCL — The UK honours degree system for undergraduates (official); UK ENIC — Statement of Comparability (official); Quality and Qualifications Ireland — National Framework of Qualifications (official).

Last verified: 3 July 2026.