<P> Because Latin honors are often conferred to the approximate class rank whereby students also receive the Dean's List (as the top 10 - 15%), magna and summa cum laude are usually held in higher regard . A Dean's List may therefore be seen as equal to (or more prestigious than) cum laude, depending on the specific requirements involved . </P> <P> In Europe, colleges and universities often utilize variations of the British degree classifications to distinguish students of high scholarship . The classification system as currently used in the United Kingdom, for example, was developed in 1918 . The system was implemented based on one from the 16th century, when the Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Cambridge implemented norm referencing to distinguish the top 25% of candidates, the next 50%, and the bottom 25% . </P> <P> Today, first - class honours (commonly referred to as "first - hons") is awarded, by most institutions, to any student that receives a grade of 70% or higher (as opposed to classification by class rank). The number of first - class honours degrees has reportedly tripled since the 1990s, and there has been concern over possible grade inflation due to increasing numbers of higher - class honours degrees awarded per annum . Hence, a first - class honors does not typically hold the same intention, or prestige, as the Dean's List or any Latin honors from North America . </P> <P> The Dean's List GPA requirements vary from school to school, although there are general standards: </P>

What happens when you make the dean's list