What is a "2:1 honors degree"?

A 2:1 or upper second class honors degree is a British undergraduate degree classification. It is the second highest classification; a first-class honors is the top degree awarded in the United Kingdom. In the United States, the equivalent qualification would be a Grade Point Average of between 3.3 and 3.7.

The majority of postgraduate courses in the United Kingdom require a candidate to possess a minimum of a 2:1 before they can enroll. To obtain this classification, most universities require students to obtain an average mark of over 60 percent in their second and final year. The number of people who are awarded a 2:1 varies greatly by subject and university.