Despite it being their first time at the wizarding school, Hogwarts Legacy's protagonist begins the term as a fifth-year student, and it can be difficult to discern why this is actually the case. After all, being grouped with peers of the same age seems to cause many problems for the player character, such as the pressure of completing extra lessons, awkward conversations with schoolmates, and a reliance on the helpful, yet simultaneously overbearing Field Guide. With so much to catch up on, it seems like an illogical decision at best, but taking a look at the bigger picture can answer why Hogwarts Legacy's character is a fifth-year student.
