THE number of first class degrees hase risen sharply at Essex University, as well as a host of other UK institutions, according to new data.

According to the Office for Students, almost 40 per cent of graduates in Britain were awarded first class degrees.

The statistics are part of a national trend which has seen grade inflation soar, with more and more students gaining double firsts.

Some institutions are now awarding twice as many top class degrees compared to ten years ago.

Essex University, which was ranked 43rd out of 132 UK universities in the Times league table last year, awarded 41 per cent of its students first class degrees in the 2020-21 university term.

It is an increase of 27 per cent from ten years ago when only 14 per cent of Essex students received top degrees.

The number of unexpected first class degrees has also risen sharply. Whereas only two per cent of students received so-called unexplained (or unexpected) double firsts in 2010-11, a total of 30 per cent of students received unexplained first class degrees in 2020-21.

In response to the figures, Pro vice-chancellor for education at Essex University, Professor Madeline Eacott, said the level of support the university offered its students was something that had been commended by a charity working to benefit students and higher education.

Professor Eacott said: “We’ve transformed the way we support our students in recent years to help them achieve their potential and provided further support during the pandemic.

“Our students have worked incredibly hard in unprecedented times and we ensure their efforts are recognised in a fair and appropriate way.

“Essex’s approach to supporting students was recognised by the Quality Assurance Agency which commended Essex for the way we enhance student learning opportunities, and the Government’s Teaching Excellence Framework Panel praised us for ensuring students from all backgrounds achieve outstanding outcomes.”

An Essex University spokesman added special measures were put in place to ensure the Covid-19 pandemic did not affect students’ grades.

He said: “The University operated a ‘No Detriment’ approach to ensure students were not disadvantaged by the pandemic.”