International Grade Conversion to GPA

Choose the country where you earned your grades, then use the guide that matches your qualification and grading scale.

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Find Your Country’s Grade Conversion

Select your country to convert your local grades to the U.S. GPA

How to Convert International Grades to US GPA

1. Check what the application asks for

Before calculating anything, find out whether the university wants your original grades, an estimated U.S. GPA, or an official evaluation. Do not replace the grades on your transcript with an estimate unless the application asks you to.

For example, Stanford’s graduate application asks students to report their GPA on its original scale rather than converting it to 4.0.

2. Match the grading system on your transcript

Check the country, institution, qualification, and grading scale. A score out of 10 or 20 is not enough to identify the right conversion. Use the grading key supplied with your academic record and the relevant country guide.

3. Convert the grades using the required method

When a course-by-course calculation is required, convert each included course grade before calculating the average. Follow the specified rules for credits, failed courses, repeated courses, and any excluded subjects.

Do not remove low grades or select a more favorable scale to improve the result.

4. Calculate the average

Once the course grades have been converted to U.S. grade points, multiply each value by its course credits. Add those results and divide by the total included credits.

Estimated GPA = Total converted quality points ÷ Total included credits

Quality points are a course’s converted grade points multiplied by its credits.

This formula calculates the average. It does not tell you which U.S. grade is equivalent to a mark from another education system.

Do not apply a general U.S. percentage chart directly to an international transcript. The original grading scale must be interpreted first; converting each course can also produce a different result from converting an overall average.

Bachelor’s, Master’s, and School-Level Grade Conversion

Use the grading rules for the qualification that produced your grades—not the program you hope to enter next.

For example, if you are applying for a master’s degree with your bachelor’s transcript, you need the scale for that bachelor’s qualification. A postgraduate scale applies when you are converting grades earned during a postgraduate program.

Grades you are convertingWhich guidance to use
School or school-leaving resultsThe relevant school system, qualification, or examination board.
Bachelor’s degree gradesYour university’s undergraduate grading scale and the required conversion method.
Master’s degree gradesThe grading scale used for that postgraduate qualification.
Grades from more than one degreeThe application’s instructions for reporting each academic record.

Do not add bonus points just because a course is postgraduate. Keep bachelor’s and master’s records separate unless the application specifically requests a combined calculation.

International GPA Calculation Example

Suppose three courses have converted values of 4.0, 3.0, and 2.0, with 3, 3, and 2 credits respectively.

CourseConverted U.S. grade pointsCreditsQuality points
Course 14.0312.0
Course 23.039.0
Course 32.024.0
Total825.0

25.0 ÷ 8 = 3.125. Rounded to two decimal places, the estimated GPA is 3.13.

The first two courses each carry more weight than the third because they have more credits. Use the credits and rounding rules required by your chosen method. To find the appropriate conversion for your original grades, start with the country guides above.

GPA Conversion vs. Official Credential Evaluation

A GPA estimate helps you compare grades. An official credential evaluation can also assess the qualification itself and explain how it compares with a U.S. credential.

These are different tasks. A GPA estimate alone does not establish that your degree meets a university’s entry requirements.

What you needWhat it tells you
Grade conversionHow a grade compares under another grading system.
GPA calculationThe average of the included course grade points and credits.
Credential evaluationHow the qualification compares with credentials in the receiving country; the report’s scope depends on the service requested.

Check the requirements for your university and program before submitting a converted GPA. You may be asked for your original results, a calculation using a named method, or an evaluation from an accepted provider.

For example, Stanford asks graduate applicants to keep the GPA scale shown on their transcript, while Michigan Rackham specifies a conversion process. Follow the instructions for your application rather than assuming one approach works everywhere.

International Grade Conversion FAQs

Do I need to convert my international grades to a US GPA?

Only when the application asks you to. Some institutions want your grades on their original scale, while others specify a conversion method or evaluation. Read the instructions for your program before changing how you report your results.

Can I convert a 10-point or 20-point average directly to a 4.0 GPA?

Not reliably from the maximum score alone. Dividing by the original maximum and multiplying by four rescales the number, but does not account for passing marks or grade boundaries. Use a method that matches your grading system.

Should I use a bachelor’s or master’s grading scale?

Use the scale for the grades you earned. If you are applying for a master’s using a bachelor’s transcript, use the bachelor’s grading rules. The degree you are applying for does not change the source of your grades.

Can I combine my bachelor’s and master’s GPAs?

Do not combine them by default. Keep the academic records separate and follow the application’s instructions if it requests a combined calculation.

What if my transcript does not show a GPA?

Check the application’s instructions for transcripts without a GPA. It may ask for your original marks or a calculation using a specified method. Ask admissions before entering an estimate or a placeholder simply to complete a required field.

What if my country or grading scale is not listed?

Do not substitute another country or choose the closest-looking scale. Check with the receiving institution or the required evaluation provider. Even when your country is listed, the available scale may not match your institution’s system.

Is an online GPA estimate the same as an official credential evaluation?

No. An online estimate does not replace an official evaluation report. When an application requires a report from a particular provider, submit the report it requests rather than a self-calculated substitute.

Can I convert a US GPA back to grades in another country?

Not to one exact set of original marks. Different combinations of course grades can produce the same GPA. Use the destination institution’s guidance for comparisons, and check whether it applies to course grades or a final qualification.

Last updated: Sept 2026

Note: Grade conversions are estimates and may vary by institution, qualification, and grading system. Always check the requirements of the school, university, or credential evaluator you’re applying to.