A new approach to assessing university students will be trialled in several universities across the country.

The new HEAR (Higher Education Achievement Record) will be piloted on students starting next year. Those studying English, Biology, Accounting and the Creative Arts at 18 different universities including Manchester, Aberystwyth, University College London and Newcastle will be the first to test the new idea.

The scheme is intended to give future employers a more detailed look at students’ achievements while they are at university, including work experience and study abroad. Students will receive a transcript of their individual marks for essays and assessments at the end of their degree instead of the current overall grade for the course. The level of degree will also be included on the HEAR.

The number of firsts and 2:1 degrees has risen significantly in the past decade and there are fears that lecturers are being told to mark softly so that universities rank higher in the league tables.

Vice-president of the National Union of Students, Aaron Porter, said: “The current degree classification system is no longer fit for purpose. Students deserve a more detailed acknowledgement of their achievement from their time in higher education. ”

The new approach has also been approved by David Lammy, the new Higher Education minister, for providing prospective employers with “clear and transparent information” about students.