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UK entry requirements for Indian students: why there is no single percentage
A UK 2:1 is worth 55% at one university and a first class at another. Both are published. Here is what three universities actually say, and how to find the number that applies to you.
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- Britvia Editorial Team
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- Last reviewed
Quick answer
What percentage do Indian students need for a UK Master's?
There is no single percentage, and any page that gives you one is guessing. Each UK university publishes its own equivalence and they differ: the University of Glasgow states that a UK 2:1 equates to a bachelor's degree with 55 to 63 per cent depending on the university attended, the University of Leeds lists 60 per cent for a 2:1, and the University of Manchester publishes a range of 60 to 80 per cent depending on the institution you studied at. The only requirement that matters is the one published by the university you are applying to, for your course.
Last reviewed: 18 September 2026. Fees, visa rules and deadlines change. Check the official sources listed below before making decisions.
Three universities, three different answers
These are the figures each university publishes on its own India page. They are not estimates and they are not ours.
| University | For a UK 2:1 | For a UK 2:2 |
|---|---|---|
| Glasgow | 55 to 63%, depending on the university attended | 50 to 58%, depending on the university attended |
| Leeds | First class, 60% | Upper second class, 55% |
| Manchester | Stated as a range of 60 to 80% overall, depending on the quality of the university of prior study | Not stated separately |
Read the first two rows together. A degree at 57 per cent could meet Glasgow's stated 2:1 band and fall below the 60 per cent Leeds lists for the same classification. Neither university is wrong. They simply convert Indian grades differently.
Why the same grade clears one bar and misses another
- Indian universities mark differently. A 60 per cent from one university is not the same achievement as 60 per cent from another, and UK admissions teams know it.
- Two of the three universities above say so explicitly: Glasgow gives a band depending on the university attended, and Manchester refers to the quality of the university of prior study.
- Some courses set a higher bar than the university's general requirement, particularly in computing, data and business subjects where demand is high.
- Requirements are reviewed each cycle, so a figure a friend relied on two years ago may no longer be current.
Why the conversion tables you find online disagree
Search for a UK 2:1 in Indian terms and you will find confident tables giving figures such as 60 to 69 per cent, or a CGPA of 6.5 to 7.0, or a CGPA above 8.3. Those numbers are not consistent with each other, and none of them matches what the three universities above actually publish.
None of the three universities on this page publishes a CGPA equivalence at all. If your results are reported as a CGPA, give them exactly as your university issues them and let the admissions team convert.
How to find the requirement that applies to you
Start from the course page
Entry requirements are set per course. Find the course you want, not the university's general page.
Then open the country page for India
Most large universities publish an India page that translates the requirement into Indian qualifications and percentages.
Check whether your awarding university is named
Where a band is given depending on the institution attended, ask admissions where your university sits in that band. They will answer.
Check the subject conditions
Many courses add requirements in specific subjects, such as mathematics or programming, on top of the overall percentage.
Write down the date you checked
Requirements change between cycles. Note what you read and when, so you can re-check before you apply.
What the decision rests on besides the number
Meeting the percentage makes you eligible. It does not by itself make you competitive. Admissions teams also weigh how closely your degree subject matches the course, what you covered in the modules that matter, and whether your English evidence is in order. Our guide to applying to UK universities from India covers the sequence, and UK Master's guidance for Indian students covers course fit.
Frequently asked questions
Is 60 per cent enough for a UK Master's?
Sometimes. Leeds lists 60 per cent as its 2:1 equivalent, Glasgow states a 2:1 band of 55 to 63 per cent depending on the university attended, and Manchester publishes a 60 to 80 per cent range depending on the institution. Check the course you want rather than relying on a single figure.
Do UK universities convert Indian CGPA to a percentage?
The three universities cited here publish percentage requirements rather than CGPA equivalences. Report your results exactly as your university issues them, whether that is a CGPA, a percentage or a division, and let the admissions team do the conversion.
Does the university I studied at in India affect the requirement?
Yes, at some universities. Glasgow states its bands depend on the university attended, and Manchester refers to the quality of the university of prior study. If a band is published, ask the admissions team where your institution sits within it.
Why do online conversion tables give different numbers?
Because they are not the universities' own figures. Widely shared tables give ranges that conflict with one another and with the published requirements of the universities cited on this page. Use the university's page for the course you are applying to.
Sources
- India: entry requirements — University of Glasgow, checked 18 September 2026
- India: country entry requirements — University of Leeds, checked 18 September 2026
- Country specific information: India — The University of Manchester, checked 18 September 2026
How this guidance was written
Written by Britvia Editorial Team. The team researches each guide from official sources and updates it when rules change. Facts are checked against the official sources listed above and reviewed before publication. This page is general guidance, not immigration or legal advice, and does not guarantee any admission or visa outcome. Read our editorial standards.
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