UNIVERSITY academics claim they are under pressure to upgrade degrees to at least a 2:1 to boost their institutions’ position in league tables.

Liverpool was named as one of the alleged culprits by one leading academic, while another senior don claims league tables were “a key factor” in increasing the numbers of firsts and 2:1s awarded at one of Britain’s top 10 universities.

Other lecturers said they were also coming under strong pressure to upgrade degrees from students paying tuition fees who were worried that their career prospects would be blighted if they failed to achieve a 2:1.

Jonathan Bate, professor of English at Warwick University, said that before he left his previous job at Liverpool in 2003 he was told that improving the university’s league table position depended on increasing the number of firsts and upper second class degrees awarded.

In The Sunday Times University Guide league table about 10% of a university’s score depends on its proportion of top degrees. Rankings can have a strong effect on, for example, the calibre of applicants to universities.

Bate, speaking in today’s News Review, says: “There are universities where instructions go round to staff reminding them that awarding more top-class degrees will push their institution up both the national and international league tables. When I was a professor at Liverpool University heads of departments were given exactly this message.”

Universities have complained repeatedly about “grade inflation” at A-level making it increasingly difficult to choose between candidates with three As, but new figures show that the same phenomenon has occurred with degrees.

At Liverpool the proportion of firsts and 2:1s has risen from 50% to 73% during the past decade. Since 2000, the university’s ranking has risen from 35th to 27th.

In the past decade only one of the top 30 universities – Cambridge – has reduced the proportion of firsts and 2:1s.

Liverpool University denied pressure had been exerted to lower marking standards. Bill Rammell, the higher education minister, has warned universities against introducing “tests for tests’ sake” in case they harm the prospects of pupils from poor schools.

Additional reporting: Alastair McCall, Tara Austin

Marking up % increase in number of students awarded firsts or 2:1s, 1999-2006*

Liverpool 23%

Sussex 22%

Southampton 17%

Durham 14%

Leicester 13%

Loughborough 11% Sheffield 11%

*Among top 30 in Sunday Times University Guide

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