Dutch 1 to 10 cijfer scale (used at every Dutch university, both WO research universities and HBO universities of applied sciences). Enter each course with its ECTS credit value and grade. The minimum passing grade is 6 (rounded from the unrounded floor of 5.5). An 8.0 or above triggers Cum Laude (Met Lof) eligibility if no failing grades appear.
| Course | ECTS | Cijfer | Remove |
|---|
Dutch grading scale reference (1 to 10 cijfer, US 4.0, UK class)
| Dutch Cijfer | Descriptor | US 4.0 GPA | US Letter | UK Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.0 to 10.0 | Uitmuntend (Outstanding) | 4.0 | A | First |
| 8.5 to 8.9 | Zeer Goed (Very Good) | 4.0 | A | First |
| 8.0 to 8.4 | Goed (Good, Cum Laude eligible) | 3.7 | A minus | First |
| 7.5 to 7.9 | Goed (Good) | 3.3 | B plus | 2:1 |
| 7.0 to 7.4 | Ruim Voldoende (Highly Satisfactory) | 3.0 | B | 2:1 |
| 6.5 to 6.9 | Voldoende upper (Satisfactory) | 2.3 | C plus | 2:2 |
| 6.0 to 6.4 | Voldoende (Satisfactory, pass) | 2.0 | C | 2:2 |
| 5.5 to 5.9 | Bijna Voldoende (unrounded floor) | 1.0 | D | Third |
| below 5.5 | Onvoldoende (Fail) | 0.0 | F | Below pass |
Canonical Dutch grading scale per Nuffic (Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education), Scholaro, and World Education Services (WES). Cum Laude (Met Lof) requires a cumulative 8.0 with no failing grades at most Dutch universities. Last verified: May 2026.
Enter a single Dutch cijfer (1.0 to 10.0) to see the US 4.0 GPA equivalent, the US letter grade, the Dutch descriptor, and whether the grade passes the minimum Dutch threshold. Useful for quick lookups before submitting a transcript.
US GPA to Dutch Cijfer Reverse Lookup
| US 4.0 GPA | US Letter | Dutch Cijfer Equivalent | Dutch Descriptor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | A | 8.5 to 10.0 | Zeer Goed / Uitmuntend |
| 3.7 | A minus | 8.0 to 8.4 | Goed (upper, Cum Laude range) |
| 3.3 | B plus | 7.5 to 7.9 | Goed |
| 3.0 | B | 7.0 to 7.4 | Ruim Voldoende |
| 2.7 | B minus | 6.5 to 6.9 | Voldoende (upper) |
| 2.0 to 2.3 | C | 6.0 to 6.4 | Voldoende (minimum pass) |
| 1.0 | D | 5.5 to 5.9 | Bijna Voldoende (unrounded floor) |
| 0.0 | F | below 5.5 | Onvoldoende (Fail) |
Reverse mapping anchored to WES Netherlands country profile and Nuffic. A US 3.5 GPA corresponds to approximately a Dutch 8.0, the Cum Laude threshold. A US 3.0 (B) is roughly a Dutch 7.0 (Ruim Voldoende).
How the Netherlands GPA Calculator Works (Gewogen Gemiddelde, ECTS, US 4.0)
The Netherlands GPA calculator runs on the Dutch 1 to 10 cijfer scale used at every Dutch university: both WO research universities (Universiteit van Amsterdam, TU Delft, Universiteit Utrecht, Leiden Universiteit, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, Wageningen University, Universiteit Twente, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Tilburg, Maastricht, Radboud Nijmegen) and HBO universities of applied sciences (hogescholen such as Hogeschool van Amsterdam, Avans, Fontys, Hanze, Saxion). Every course on a Dutch transcript carries a cijfer and an ECTS credit weight; dividing the sum of grade-times-credit products by total ECTS gives the gewogen gemiddelde that appears on your diploma supplement.
Dutch universities use two parallel pass thresholds. The rounded minimum passing grade is 6 (Voldoende). The unrounded floor is 5.5 (Bijna Voldoende), which some institutions such as the University of Twente explicitly award as a passing half-grade on borderline exams. Grades from 1 to 5.4 are Onvoldoende (Fail) and require a herkansing (resit). The calculator above flags any grade below 5.5 as a fail and excludes it from the Cum Laude eligibility check. Whether you searched for gpa calculator netherlands, dutch gpa calculator, gpa berekenen, cijfer naar gpa, gpa nederland, ects gpa calculator, or gpa calculator dutch, Mode 1 handles the ECTS-weighted calculation and Mode 2 handles a single-grade lookup.
ECTS Credits, Course Weighting, and the Gewogen Gemiddelde Formula
ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) is the credit unit used at every Dutch university and across the European Higher Education Area. One ECTS equals 28 study hours at Dutch institutions. A full bachelor year is 60 ECTS; a Dutch bachelor degree is 180 ECTS over three years; a Dutch master is typically 60 to 120 ECTS (Engineering masters at TU Delft and TU/e are 120 ECTS over two years; most arts and social science masters are 60 ECTS over one year). Individual courses run at 3, 5, 6, 7.5, 10, 12, 15, 20, or 30 ECTS.
- Cijfer = course grade on the 1 to 10 scale (decimals to one place; 5.5 is the unrounded minimum passing mark)
- ECTS = European Credit Transfer System credit value the course carries (typically 5, 6, 7.5, 10, 15, or 20 at Dutch universities)
- Sum = total across every graded course on your transcript
Two implementation details specific to Dutch universities matter for accuracy. First, exchange semester grades count toward your Dutch weighted average only if your home university has converted the foreign grades into Dutch cijfer equivalents per Nuffic guidelines. RSM Erasmus University Rotterdam states this policy explicitly: "RSM does not convert grades obtained outside of the Dutch education system." Pass / Fail (Voldaan / Niet Voldaan) courses are excluded from the gewogen gemiddelde at most Dutch universities; only graded courses contribute. For a formal US graduate school application, this means requesting a WES course-by-course evaluation that applies the same exclusion rules.
Dutch University Grading Scale: the 1 to 10 Cijfer System
Dutch universities and hogescholen use a 1 to 10 cijfer scale for all individual course assessments. The system is intentionally conservative: unlike the American system where A grades are common, Dutch instructors rarely award 9s or 10s. The Dutch saying "Een 10 is voor God, een 9 is voor de professor" (A 10 is for God, a 9 is for the professor) reflects this culture. Most students graduate with averages between 6.5 and 8.0. The full Dutch descriptors that appear on official transcripts and exam reports are:
- 10 (Uitmuntend, Outstanding): exceptional work, almost never awarded. Many Dutch graduates never receive a 10. US equivalent: A / 4.0.
- 9 (Zeer Goed, Very Good): excellent. Uncommon; the ceiling of realistic performance. US equivalent: A / 4.0.
- 8 (Goed, Good): strong above-average work. A cumulative average of 8.0 meets the Cum Laude eligibility threshold at most Dutch universities. US equivalent: 3.7 (A minus).
- 7 (Ruim Voldoende, Highly Satisfactory): solid pass. What most Dutch Masters admissions offices and employers look for at the bachelor level. US equivalent: 3.0 (B).
- 6 (Voldoende, Satisfactory): the rounded minimum passing grade. Represents meeting the learning objectives at the basic level. US equivalent: 2.0 (C).
- 5.5 (Bijna Voldoende, Nearly Satisfactory): the unrounded minimum passing mark. Awarded explicitly by some Dutch institutions as a borderline pass. US equivalent: 1.0 (D).
- 1 to 5.4 (Onvoldoende, Insufficient): failing. No credit is awarded; the student takes a herkansing (resit). US equivalent: F / 0.0.
Cum Laude (Met Lof) Thresholds at Major Dutch Universities
Cum Laude, called Met Lof in Dutch, is the top honour Dutch universities award to graduating students. The base threshold across the system is a cumulative weighted average of 8.0 with no failing grades. Individual institutions add conditions on top:
| University | Cum Laude Conditions |
|---|---|
| TU Delft (Delft University of Technology) | 8.0 avg, thesis 8.0+, no resits |
| University of Amsterdam (UvA) | 8.0 avg, thesis 8.0+ |
| Utrecht University | 8.0 avg (9.0 for Summa) |
| Leiden University | 8.0 avg, no resits, thesis 8.0+ |
| Erasmus University Rotterdam | 8.0 avg, nominal study duration |
| University of Groningen (RUG) | 8.0 avg + institution conditions |
| Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) | 8.0 avg + institution conditions |
| Wageningen University and Research (WUR) | 8.0 avg + institution conditions |
| University of Twente | 8.0 avg + institution conditions |
A small number of Dutch universities also award Summa Cum Laude at 9.0 and Magna Cum Laude at 8.5; these are rare because 9.0 averages are unusual on the conservative Dutch scale. The calculator flags Cum Laude eligibility when your weighted average crosses 8.0 and no row on the list has a failing grade. Always verify the institution-specific conditions (thesis cutoff, resit policy, nominal study duration) with your study advisor or registrar before relying on the flag for graduation planning.
Convert Dutch Grades to US 4.0 GPA for Graduate School
Dutch graduates applying to US graduate programmes need their gewogen gemiddelde expressed on the US 4.0 scale. The conversion table below is what most US graduate programmes, credential evaluators, and admissions offices apply when reading Dutch transcripts. For a quick single- grade lookup, use Mode 2 of the calculator above.
| Dutch Cijfer | Dutch Descriptor | US 4.0 GPA | US Letter | Graduate Admission Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.0 to 10.0 | Uitmuntend | 4.0 | A | Competitive for top-ranked US research programmes |
| 8.5 to 8.9 | Zeer Goed | 4.0 | A | Competitive for selective US master programmes |
| 8.0 to 8.4 | Goed (Cum Laude range) | 3.7 | A minus | Meets most US graduate programme minimums |
| 7.5 to 7.9 | Goed | 3.3 | B plus | Eligible for most US master programmes |
| 7.0 to 7.4 | Ruim Voldoende | 3.0 | B | Minimum for many US graduate programmes |
| 6.5 to 6.9 | Voldoende (upper) | 2.3 | C plus | Below most US graduate thresholds; conditional |
| 6.0 to 6.4 | Voldoende | 2.0 | C | Dutch minimum pass; below most US grad cutoffs |
| 5.5 to 5.9 | Bijna Voldoende | 1.0 | D | Unrounded Dutch pass; failing for US purposes |
| below 5.5 | Onvoldoende | 0.0 | F | Dutch fail; not counted toward degree |
For formal US graduate school applications, World Education Services (WES) generates an authoritative course-by-course credential evaluation from Dutch transcripts (cost approximately USD 200 to 250 in 2026). The Dutch Nuffic (Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education) issues a Statement of Comparability for Dutch graduates going abroad. Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) and Scholaro are common alternatives. The calculator above is for planning; for binding applications a WES report or Nuffic Statement is the authoritative source.
Binding Study Advice (BSA): the First-Year ECTS Gate
The Bindend Studieadvies (BSA), known in English as the Binding Study Advice, is a first-year policy at most Dutch WO research universities and many HBO universities of applied sciences. It operates separately from your weighted average GPA. The BSA requires every first-year bachelor student to accumulate a minimum number of ECTS credits by the end of the first academic year, typically 45 of the year's 60 ECTS, though the exact threshold varies by institution and programme. Students who fall below the BSA ECTS threshold receive a negative binding advice (negatief bindend studieadvies), which effectively bars them from re-enrolling in the same programme at the same institution for a defined period, usually five years.
The BSA is a pure ECTS gate: what matters is how many credits you have accumulated, not what your weighted average is. A student with a 7.5 average who fails two large courses may still trigger a negative BSA if those failures push earned ECTS below the threshold. Conversely, a student with a 6.0 average who passed all required courses will clear the BSA. This means the BSA and the gewogen gemiddelde are two distinct performance signals that Dutch universities and international admissions offices both evaluate separately. The calculator above does not compute BSA status (because it requires per-course pass/fail data, not averages), but Mode 1 will flag any failing grade rows so you can identify courses that both lower your GPA and risk your BSA.
HBO vs WO: Universities of Applied Sciences vs Research Universities
Dutch higher education splits into two tracks that both use the same 1 to 10 cijfer scale and ECTS system, so the calculator works for both. WO (Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs, scientific education) is the research-university track: TU Delft, UvA, Utrecht, Leiden, Erasmus Rotterdam, Groningen, Eindhoven, Wageningen, Twente, VU Amsterdam, Tilburg, Maastricht, Radboud Nijmegen. HBO (Hoger Beroepsonderwijs, higher professional education) is the applied-sciences track: Hogeschool van Amsterdam, Avans, Hogeschool Utrecht, Saxion, Fontys, Hanze, NHL Stenden, Breda University of Applied Sciences.
Practical differences that affect how US admissions offices interpret the GPA: HBO bachelors are four years (240 ECTS) and emphasise applied work and internships, while WO bachelors are three years (180 ECTS) and emphasise research methodology. Cum Laude thresholds are identical at 8.0 on both tracks. US graduate admissions offices generally treat a WO bachelor with an 8.0 average and an HBO bachelor with an 8.5 average as roughly comparable for master entry, because HBO grading is documented as somewhat more generous in some institutional comparisons. Both HBO and WO transcripts convert to the US 4.0 scale using the same band table above.
How GPA Is Calculated Globally: Where the Netherlands Fits
The Dutch 1 to 10 cijfer scale is one of Europe's most widely used numerical grading systems, alongside Spain's 0 to 10 system. However, the two are not interchangeable: Dutch grading is noticeably more conservative, so a Dutch 7.5 represents stronger relative performance than a Spanish 7.5 by most institutional comparisons. Other major systems include Germany's inverse 1 (best) to 5 (fail) scale, France's 0 to 20, Italy's 18 to 30 exam scale, and the US letter and 4.0 GPA system. Norway uses the ECTS A to F letter scale adopted in 2003, covered in the Norway GPA calculator.
GPA computation globally uses the same weighted-average formula the Dutch gewogen gemiddelde uses: credit-weighted grade sum divided by total credits, expressed on a fixed reference scale. The definition of GPA is: the credit-weighted average of all course grades expressed on a standardised scale. The GPA converter handles nine source scales including the Dutch 1 to 10 system. The GPA to ECTS calculator maps US 4.0 GPA outputs back into ECTS grade letters (A through F) for European programme applications. For a full US GPA reference, the GPA scale page covers the 4.0 standard.
This Netherlands GPA calculator estimates your gewogen gemiddelde on the Dutch 1 to 10 cijfer scale and the US 4.0 equivalent using the credit-weighted formula documented above. Dutch universities apply institution-specific rules for Cum Laude (Met Lof) eligibility, resit policy, thesis grade thresholds, BSA requirements, and exchange grade conversion; always verify against your programme regulations and your study advisor or registrar. For US graduate school applications, consult World Education Services (WES) or Nuffic for the canonical credential evaluation report. Additional sources: Scholaro Netherlands grading database and the Dutch Ministry of Education (Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap, OCW).