University Grading in the UK Compared to Canada
Written by Canada Law From Abroad - 22/04/2026
One of the most common concerns Canadian students have about studying in the UK is the grading scheme, which varies considerably from the Canadian system. Navigating university grading in the UK can be challenging, but don't despair! Once you understand the basics, entry requirements and the grades you receive while a student make much more sense.
Canadian universities do not have consistent grading schemes, which makes a comparison to the university grading systems in the UK even more difficult. It can sometimes be confusing to transfer and translate academic results. In Canada, universities use percentages (for instance, 65% or 78%), as well as letter grades (such as C or B+), and GPAs. The GPA scales used could be a 4.0 or a 13.0!
If you are applying for a three-year LLB program in the UK right out of high school, you will need to understand how UK students are assessed in high school; if you are applying for an LLM (postgraduate level) program, you need to understand how undergraduate degrees are classified in the UK.
Students applying to a two-year LLB program in the UK will need to provide both high school (even if they already hold a Canadian undergraduate degree) and university transcripts.
LLB Entry Requirements
When applying to a UK university, you might see entry requirements described as "ABB" or "Upper Second". These terms – or similar ones – describe the level of results a student receives for A-Levels, which are a series of qualifying tests in specific subject areas at the secondary (high school) level. In the UK, students typically take A Levels in three major areas, hence the three-letter sequence.
For Canadian students, the grades that will be reviewed are those from the last year of secondary school (typically Grade 12 academic courses, often U or M courses in Ontario or 30 level courses in Alberta) and any post-secondary education.
- An "AAA" ranking means that a student scored within the A-range for all three exams. In the Canadian system, this equates to results between 80-100% area. In GPA terms, this would be around a 3.3 – 4.0/4.0 GPA
- An "AAB" ranking would equate to mixed results, so approximately 73-79% or around a 3.0/4.0 GPA.
- An "ABB" is slightly below that, with a spread of approximately 63% or 64% to 72% (mid or high C to a low B).
Grading Language in the UK
When you graduate from a UK undergraduate program, your degree will be given a "class" based on your results. Typically, these classes are:
- "First," which represents results in the 80%+ area;
- "Upper Second," which represents results from the mid- to high 70s;
- "Lower Second," referring to the mid-60s to the low 70s;
- "Ordinary Pass," which encompasses everything else considered a passing grade; and
- "Fail," which falls under the 50% pass threshold.
How your grades convert into the UK system will depend on the grading scheme from which they arise. If, for instance, you are in a Canadian school with a 4.0 grade scale, an Upper Second degree would encompass GPAs between 3.00 and 3.33. If you were on a 12.0 grade scale, then you would fall into the 8.0-9.0 range for this degree class.
Receiving Grades: Expect to be shocked!
Many of the graduate programs in Britain use a sliding scale based on 85 points rather than 100 for percentages, with 70 being the cut-off point for distinction (with the distinction being akin to an honours or "A" in Canada). So, remember: if you get a 68, don't panic! That's actually a solid grade. If you get a 72, even better! It might feel odd at first to see numbers we associate with lower grades, but you'll get used to it.
Grades
In the UK they use a different grading scale. Although there is no exact conversion, here is a table to give you an idea of what your grades are equal to, but keep in mind that all the schools are different both in the UK and in Canada.
|
UK Degrees |
UK Percentage Grades |
Canadian Percentage Grades |
Letter Grades CAN/UK |
|
First (1:1) |
90-100 80-89 70-79 |
90-100 85-89 80-84 |
A+ A A- |
|
Upper Second (2:1) |
60-69 |
77-79 73-76 |
B+ B |
|
Lower Second (2:2) |
50-59 |
70-72 67-69 63-66 |
B- C+ C |
|
Ordinary Pass |
40-49 |
60-62 57-59 53-56 |
C- D+ D D- |
|
Fail |
30-39 20-29 10-19 0-9 |
50-52 0-39 0-34.9 |
D- / E F F- / G H |
The best thing you can do to be sure of how your grades convert and how they fit within the requirements for your application is to consult with a Canada Law From Abroad Student Advisor; our team is fully trained in working with these conversions and do so on a daily basis!
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO SUBMIT LAW APPLICATIONS?
Written by Canada Law from Abroad - 01/12/2025
Wondering how to give yourself the best chances when applying to UK law schools? There’s one easy way to set yourself up for success and that's to apply early! While it’s true that a majority of law school in the UK will accept applications all the way until June, exceptions exist! Beyond that, focusing on a later deadline, can also prompt students to feel like they have lots of time to put together their application and even to procrastinate right up until the deadline. This could end up costing them their potential spot in a top law school! Below we’ve outlined addition reasons why submitting an early application (before the winter holidays is ideal) is a good idea.
ROLLING ADMISSIONS
A majority of law schools in the UK will operate their admissions on a rolling basis. This means that they will review and make decisions on applications as they come in throughout the year (as opposed to gathering all applications submitted before a deadline and holding them to review all at once).
The peak period of for applications to our partner law schools is in the fall through early winter. In fact, the application portal used for law applications, UCAS, actually operates an equal consideration deadline in January. While most law schools may continue to accept applications from international students after this, it’s not a guarantee. The deadline does apply to all UK applications therefore universities will receive almost all of their UK applications before the end of January.
For popular law schools this may mean that they hit capacity and close to new applications because they’ve already awarded offers to cover all the spaces they have on their degree. Applying early, can help to ensure your application is not only reviewed but in plenty of time before the UCAS equal consideration deadline.
ADMISSIONS PROGRESSIVELY COMPETITIVE THROUGH YEAR
Beyond that ,we observe that law schools accept a greater range of applicants when they still have a significant number of places remaining on each course. Therefore, if you apply early, and meet the minimum academic requirements, your chances of receiving an offer are significantly higher as long as the rest of your application is of good quality.
After the equal consideration deadline, there will be fewer available study places at the law schools. When this happens, the competition for each remaining place becomes higher. An applicant who would have been accepted earlier in the year may unfortunately experience being rejected because it wasn’t considered as competitive as another late application received.
In addition to the academic requirements, you must also attach a personal statement. This statement is an essential part of your law application and is frequently used when admissions are needing to decide between two applicants with similar academic backgrounds. Therefore, you also want to ensure you put forth a well-written personal statement tailored towards a UK admissions audience. There are some notable differences between a UK personal statement and what you may be more familiar with in Canada. Our student advisors can help to ensure you are on the right track with this but it usually takes students a few drafts before their statement is application-ready. Starting your applications early means you’ll have lots of time to work with your advisor to perfect you statement before you apply.
EARLY APPLICATION = EARLY OFFER
When the university has processed your application, you will either receive a refusal or a conditional offer. Students who apply in the fall may even start to receive decision from law schools before the holidays. If you are still in school when you apply, your offer may be made with “conditions”. This means it will tell you exactly what grades or final average you will need to achieve in your remaining studies in order to gain admission to university. This way, with your applications out of the way and an offer in hand, you focus your energy for the rest of the school year on your studies with certainty of exactly which grades you need to be guaranteed a study place in the autumn.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND FUNDING
Many law schools in the UK have a selection of scholarships for international students. Some scholarships may be merit-based and awarded automatically when you receive an offer of admission. Others, and often the more substantial scholarships, require an application in order to be considered for the scholarship. For these, in order to apply for a scholarship, it is a criterion that you have applied to the university. Some scholarship applications may even require an admissions’ offer to have been made before the scholarship application can be submitted.
Spring is the peak season for scholarship applications and most scholarships have an application deadline from March to May. If you submit your law school applications in the winter, you will have lots of time to look and apply for scholarships. Feel free to ask your student advisor about scholarship opportunities or read more about scholarships on our website.
FIRST CHOICE ACCOMMODATION
For many, living on campus is a big part of the experience of studying in the UK. Most law schools will offer international students guaranteed housing on campus as long as you apply within the university’s accommodation deadline.
Furthermore, the housing on campus is distributed on an ongoing basis. The most popular styles of room (based on price and available facilities) are naturally selected first. Ensuring you apply early will you the best shot at securing your preferred housing. Your student accommodation will be one of the biggest expenses you have during the year, and if you get affordable and good accommodation, you will have provided yourself with safe and friendly space for a fantastic study year.
Law School Myths Debunked: I Should Attend the Most Prestigious University Possible
Written by Canada Law From Abroad - 23/04/2026
In this blog we work to debunk the myth that students need to attend the most prestigious university possible in order to succeed in their future legal career.
It’s important to remember that, like most things in life, one size does not fit all – and that’s okay! There are many ways that students can decide which universities they wish to apply to and ultimately attend. At Canada Law From Abroad, we partner with some of the top UK universities to help you get the most out of your legal education. Whether you want to study in the bustling city of London, or you prefer a more serene setting, we have you covered.
CHOOSING THE BEST FIT FOR YOU
We generally advise you should go to the university that best fits you regardless of how prestigious a school is. Evaluate all aspects of the university such as campus type, location, student involvement opportunities, cost and of course, prestigious reputation/ranking, if that is indeed important to you. If the university and you aren't a good match, you will be unhappy regardless of the prestige so find one that fits best with your personality, academic needs, and strengths. If you want to pick your universities based on student satisfaction, work opportunities, or research prestige, our advisors are here to help guide you to the ones best for you. There is not a one-size-fits-all university, it's very much a personal decision, and your search and selection of the universities you apply to should be personal as well.
LAW SOCIETIES BRING NETWORKING AND COLLABORATION
All of our partner universities have law societies that students can join during their studies. These societies are student-run groups with a focus on giving academic support, providing networking opportunities, and organizing group events specifically tailored to law students. These groups are a great way to get to know your fellow law students and can bring you amazing personal connections to carry with you throughout your legal career
While some universities have more specific Canadian law societies that offer support when looking ahead to the NCA accreditation process, for others these societies are open to all students and enable you to connect with students from different backgrounds as you work through your legal studies.
BENEFITS OF RUSSELL GROUP UNIVERSITIES
Throughout your university research you may come across the term “Russell Group” university – what is that? Just how important is that designation when considering your Law School options?
The truth is these universities have a clear aim to produce the best research and academic resources for its students that they can, and with over 30 years of history dedicated to this focus, these universities do have some great networking opportunities and professional connections available to students. The resources available to this group means that they also have policies in place to continue top-notch development and growth of their research and learning goals.
University staff and alumni have strong, often unrivalled links with business and the public sector. When considering law studies, these industry connections can be directly to top-tier law firms both in the UK and abroad. The result? These connections can help students build their own professional network. As networking is a key part of the legal profession, these useful connections may help students establish their legal career early-on.
We are partnered with several members of the Russell Group including:
- University of Birmingham
- University of Exeter
- University of Leeds
- Queen’s University Belfast
- University of York
YOUR CAREER IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT
Overall, we find that students who choose not to attend highly ranked/prestigious universities can be just as successful as those who do as long as they make the most of their education and take advantage of every opportunity offered to them. Professional/real-world experience can be just as important as grades when considering recent graduates and the focus UK universities place on growing students’ professional skillset can be a huge advantage no matter where you study. Most importantly, these experiences can often set you apart from your Canadian peers so it’s important to seek out these skill-building opportunities throughout your studies. Consider taking on Pro Bono work, participating in Mooting competitions or attending guest lectures to build a well-rounded legal professional.
Other Law School Myths Debunked
Law School Myths Debunked: I Need a Perfect GPA to Receive an Offer
Written by Canada Law From Abroad - 23/04/2026
In this blog we work to debunk the myth that students need to have a perfect GPA in order to obtain an offer to UK Law School.
When students apply to UK Law Schools, they often expect to experience the same limited places and level of competition as applying to Canadian Law School. As such, they think that anything below a perfect 4.0 GPA isn’t going to be good enough to secure an offer to UK Law School – this isn’t necessarily the case!
While these programmes can still be competitive for entry (especially at popular or highly ranked universities), there are a number of reasons that UK Law Schools can also be more accessible to Canadian students than Canadian law schools.
Of course, having a strong GPA can bring some advantages when seeking Law School admission, a perfect GPA is not a direct requirement.
UK ADMISSIONS REVIEW STUDENTS WHOLISTICALLY
When considering applicants, UK admissions teams will review the entirety of your application. What this means is that in addition to your GPA, they’re also looking at the other aspects of your application including professional experience (outside of the classroom), your letter of reference, any mitigating or extenuating circumstances, and your personal statement. As a whole, your GPA becomes a much smaller aspect of your application.
UNIVERSITIES SET THEIR OWN ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Every programme at each university has their own admissions criteria with a recommended GPA. At Canada Law From Abroad, we partner with some of the top UK universities who have a range of expected grades for admission. Because we’re working directly between university admissions and students, we can match students up with the best universities for their academic history.
If you are concerned about having a lower GPA, our advisors can work with you to determine what your options are and help draw attention to other (potentially stronger) aspects of your application. We have strong relationships with our partner universities and can also help create an avenue of communication between you and the university.
A GOOD PERSONAL STATEMENT CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERECE
University representatives individually read personal statements, evaluate work history and experience and take a more holistic look of students beyond GPA. As such, a good personal statement can sometimes be the difference between a student receiving an offer and a student receiving a rejection.
When students are concerned about their grades, the personal statement can be a great opportunity to draw attention to other areas of success such as extracurriculars, related work experience or even academic progression.
Other Law School Myths Debunked
Law School Myths Debunked: It's so expensive, I'll never afford it!
Written by Canada Law From Abroad - 24/04/2026
In this blog we work to debunk the myth that the cost of attending UK Law School is unattainable.
When students apply to UK Law Schools, there are several factors to consider and one of the most important items is cost. It is true that the cost of tuition as an international fee-paying student is high (especially if comparing to home fees at a Canadian university), however there are several important ‘big picture’ items to consider when deciding what route is best for you.
Save Money on Admissions/Application Requirements
Compared to Canadian universities, the cost of applying to UK Law Schools is lower because of the streamlined application process. The centralized application system UCAS enables students to use 1 application to apply to up to 5 universities.
In addition, because UK universities do not require the LSAT as an admission requirement, there’s no need to undertake that exam unless needed for applications elsewhere.
While our partner universities do not currently require UK entrance exams (such as the LNAT) for consideration, students looking to apply to universities outside of our portfolio are encouraged to research the entry requirements for their choices.
The Value of Time
Unlike Canadian Law Schools, students can apply to UK Law Schools direct from high school and obtain a qualifying law degree in 3-years.
For students who will have a completed university degree prior to entry, they can obtain their qualifying law degree in as little as 2-years!
Either way, Canadians can save time and get started on their career earlier than their Canadian counterparts. Learn more about the different UK Law degrees here.
Internationally Recognized Degrees
The UK is home to some of the best universities in the world, with degrees that are internationally recognized.
Students will be focusing on their major from the very beginning which means more time is dedicated to your future career! You’ll gain everything needed for a successful career as a lawyer by learning from top professionals in their field. You’ll also have opportunities to grow your own professional network, gain critical work experience, explore different areas of law and ultimately determine the type of lawyer you want to be.
Students looking to grow their knowledge further can look at pursuing an LLM after their qualifying law degree to further specialize in a dedicated area of law.
Gaining International Experience
All of our partner universities offer career services to help students work on their CVs or even find part-time employment during their studies. On a student visa, students can work up to 20 hours during term time and up to 40 hours outside of term time (typically during the summer). As long as you’re putting your studies first, this can be a great way to help subsidize the cost of studying/living. It’s also a great way to boost your resume and set you apart when applying to and interviewing for jobs later in your career.
Education is an investment
By spending less money to apply, less time earning your qualifying degree, earning money while studying, and gaining a competitive advantage with international education/experience, students have plenty of reasons to make the leap and earn their qualifying law degree in the UK.
