Tell us how you're using degree algorithms

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Last year, the Office for Students (OfS) published a report setting out things that institutions should consider when making changes to the algorithms they use to determine bachelors’ degree classifications.

This includes testing the classes of award given to students against their actual attainment, and taking reasonable steps to ensure any award accurately reflects their academic achievements.

The report also discusses our concerns about the use of two steps sometimes included in an algorithm:

  • steps that discount students’ credit with the lowest marks
  • steps that take the best result from a choice of multiple algorithms.

About this survey

We are asking institutions with degree awarding powers (DAPs) to let us know if they are intending to continue using those steps by filling out this short questionnaire. If your institution does not intend to use those steps, you do not need to respond.

The deadline to respond is 31 July 2026.

To help institutions understand why we are asking them to do this and why we think it’s important, we have published a guide to our work on degree algorithms, with some answers to questions we're received:

Read our guide

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Lauren Sloan at regulation@officeforstudents.org.uk.

Who needs to respond to the survey

You do not need to submit a response if:

  • you do not use, or do not intend to continue using, degree algorithms
  • you use degree algorithms but from September 2026 these will not include either discounting or multiple algorithms as defined in our report.

If you do intend to continue using discounting or multiple algorithms, please submit a response.

Definitions:

  • Discounting: 'an algorithm step that includes a specified volume of module credit in the calculation to determine a student’s class of degree and automatically excludes (‘discounts’) credits with the lowest marks from the calculation.'
  • Multiple algorithms: 'the practice that concerns us is where a provider feeds module marks for a student into two or more different algorithms and awards the student the highest class of degree determined by any of the algorithms.’
  • Multiple algorithms and borderline rules: some providers have borderline rules that adopt the following general approach:

    The student receives the highest class awarded out of either:

      • a simple average (e.g. ‘a first class degree will be awarded where a student has an overall weighted average of 70%); or
      • a lower average and preponderance rule (e.g. ‘a first class degree will be awarded where a student has an overall weighted average of 68% provided they have achieved 70% in modules totalling at least x credits’.

      We see this sort of borderline rule as an attempt to give a fair outcome across a profile of student achievement. That means you do not need to tell us if you intend to continue using borderline rules of this sort. 

      The rules relating to awarding the best result from multiple algorithms that we would like you to tell us about are rules where:

      • a student is awarded the better result from two or more algorithms
      • the weightings of the years of study or the use of discounting rules are different between those algorithms.

      So, for example, the following would be an example of multiple algorithms about which you should tell us (example is for a three year full time degree):

      • A student is awarded the better result from the following two algorithms:
        • Algorithm one: year one is weighted 0%, year two is weighed 30% and year three is weighted 70%.
        • Algorithm two: year one is weighted 0%, year two is weighted 50% and year three is weighted 50%.

      The following would also be an example of multiple algorithms about which you should tell us:

      • A student is awarded the better result from the following two algorithms:
        • Algorithm one: year one is weighted 0%, year two is weighted 50% and year three is weighted 50% with the 20 credits of year two with the lowest marks discounted from the calculation.
        • Algorithm two: year one is weighted 0%, year two is weighted 0% and year three is weighted 100%.