| Course | Credits | Grade |
|---|
Turkish university grading scale reference (AA to FF, percentages, US 4.0)
| Turkish Grade | Grade Points | Typical Percentage | US Letter | YOK Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA | 4.00 | 90 to 100 | A | Distinction |
| BA | 3.50 | 85 to 89 | A minus / B plus | Distinction |
| BB | 3.00 | 75 to 84 | B | High Honour |
| CB | 2.50 | 70 to 74 | B minus / C plus | High Honour |
| CC | 2.00 | 60 to 69 | C | Pass |
| DC | 1.50 | 55 to 59 | C minus / D plus | Pass |
| DD | 1.00 | 50 to 54 | D | Pass (marginal) |
| FD | 0.50 | 45 to 49 | F (conditional) | Conditional Fail |
| FF | 0.00 | 0 to 44 | F | Fail |
Turkish grading scale per YOK (Yuksekogretim Kurulu, Council of Higher Education of Turkey). Percentage thresholds are typical across most Turkish universities; some institutions set the AA threshold at 88 or 85 percent. FD is a conditional failure at some universities, which may allow a makeup exam. Source: YOK (yok.gov.tr).
How GPA Is Calculated at Turkish Universities
Turkish university GPA follows the standard credit-weighted average formula mandated by YOK (Yuksekogretim Kurulu), the Council of Higher Education of Turkey. Every YOK-accredited institution uses the same underlying formula, though credit systems vary: some universities use the European AKTS (ECTS) credit system with typical course values of 3 to 6 ECTS, while others use the national credit system (milli kredi) with values of 2 to 4 per course. Both work the same way in the weighted-average calculation.
- Grade Points = numeric value from the YOK scale assigned to the letter grade (AA = 4.00, FF = 0.00)
- Credits = the ECTS (AKTS) or national credit value the course carries (typically 2 to 6 per course)
- Sum = totalled across every course in the calculation period (one semester for semester GPA; all semesters for cumulative GPA)
Turkish universities report both a semester GPA (donem not ortalamasi) and a cumulative GPA (genel not ortalamasi, often abbreviated GNO) on official transcripts. Most graduation requirements, Erasmus eligibility checks, and graduate school applications use the cumulative GNO. The YOK minimum graduation requirement is a cumulative GPA of 2.00 at most institutions, though some faculties within a university may set higher requirements for specific degree programs.
Turkish University Grading Scale: AA to FF
The Turkish two-letter grading system (AA, BA, BB, CB, CC, DC, DD, FD, FF) is the official notation on Turkish university transcripts under the YOK framework. Each letter combination corresponds to a fixed grade point value and a typical percentage range. The exact percentage cutoffs are set by individual universities within YOK guidelines; the values below represent the most common thresholds across Bogazici, METU, ITU, Hacettepe, Bilkent, Koc, Sabanci, and Ankara University.
The two-letter notation distinguishes the Turkish system from the single-letter US system. Grades like CB (2.50) and DC (1.50) have no direct equivalents on the American A/B/C/D/F scale; they occupy the half-step positions between the major grade bands. FD (0.50) is particularly notable: at some Turkish universities it is treated as a conditional failure that allows a makeup exam (butunleme sinavi), while at others it is a final failing grade. Always check your faculty's regulations for the FD policy.
Honor Classifications and Distinction Thresholds
YOK sets the framework for honor classifications; individual universities apply it with minor variations in labeling. The four tiers below represent the standard across most Turkish public and private universities:
- Distinction (Onur / Serefe): GPA 3.50 to 4.00. The highest standing. Noted on the Turkish transcript as Onur Ogrencisi (Honor Student) at most institutions. Required for most competitive graduate program applications within Turkey and recommended for graduate applications abroad. Also typically required for the highest YOK scholarship tiers and for Erasmus Study mobility nominations with full funding.
- High Honour: GPA 3.00 to 3.49. Strong academic standing. Meets most Turkish graduate school minimum requirements (most public university master's programs require a minimum GPA of 2.50 to 3.00; competitive programs target 3.00 and above). Meets most Erasmus eligibility thresholds, typically set at 2.50 or 3.00 by host institutions.
- Pass: GPA 2.00 to 2.99. Satisfies the YOK standard graduation requirement. Graduates at this level hold a valid degree recognised by YOK. For employment in the Turkish public sector (kamu), a diploma and transcript are sufficient; GPA thresholds vary by competitive exam (KPSS) and position.
- Conditional / Fail: GPA below 2.00. Below the standard graduation threshold. Students in this band are typically placed on academic probation (akademik uyari) and may be subject to course repeat requirements or dismissal if the GPA is not raised above 2.00 within a specified number of semesters.
Major Turkish Universities and Their GPA Practices
All eight universities below use the YOK AA-FF scale with a 4.0 maximum GPA. The calculator at the top of this page applies to all of them. Percentage thresholds for individual letter grades may differ slightly by faculty or program; verify with your student handbook or registrar for the exact cutoffs that appear on your official transcript.
Bogazici University and METU are consistently ranked among Turkey's top research universities and are the most commonly referenced by Turkish graduate students applying abroad. Both use the standard YOK AA-FF scale with a 4.0 maximum. Bilkent, Koc, and Sabanci are private research universities that also follow the YOK scale while offering English-medium instruction across most faculties. ITU (Istanbul Technical University) is Turkey's leading engineering university. All five regularly appear on QS World University Rankings in the top 500.
Converting Turkish GPA to the US 4.0 Scale
Turkish universities use a 4.0 maximum GPA, the same as the standard US scale, so a Turkish GPA of 3.50 reports as 3.50 on the US 4.0 scale with no numeric conversion required. The calculator above outputs the US 4.0 equivalent directly in the results panel as a read-through from the Turkish GPA.
The key contextual difference is in percentage thresholds. A Turkish AA requires 90 to 100 percent at most institutions; a US A also commonly starts at 90 to 93 percent, making the top band broadly comparable. At the BB level (3.00, 75 to 84 percent), a Turkish student would earn a B or B minus (2.7 to 3.0) at a typical US university for the same percentage performance, since the US B commonly starts at 80 to 83 percent. This means a Turkish BB-level average can represent slightly higher raw performance than a US 3.0 GPA in percentage terms.
| Turkish Grade | Turkish GPA | Typical Turkish Percentage | US Letter Equivalent | US GPA Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA | 4.00 | 90 to 100 | A | 4.0 |
| BA | 3.50 | 85 to 89 | A minus / B plus | 3.5 to 3.7 |
| BB | 3.00 | 75 to 84 | B / B minus | 3.0 to 3.3 |
| CB | 2.50 | 70 to 74 | C plus / B minus | 2.3 to 2.7 |
| CC | 2.00 | 60 to 69 | C | 2.0 |
| DC | 1.50 | 55 to 59 | C minus / D plus | 1.3 to 1.7 |
| DD | 1.00 | 50 to 54 | D | 1.0 |
| FD | 0.50 | 45 to 49 | F (conditional) | 0.0 to 0.5 |
| FF | 0.00 | 0 to 44 | F | 0.0 |
For formal US graduate school applications, World Education Services (WES) and Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) produce authoritative course-by-course US GPA evaluations from Turkish transcripts. Most US graduate programs accept Turkish GPAs on the 4.0 scale directly for preliminary review; a WES evaluation is typically required for visa processing and official admissions paperwork. Turkish students applying to UK universities should note that a Turkish GPA of 3.50 or above (Distinction/Onur) is generally treated as equivalent to a UK First Class degree for postgraduate entry.
This Turkey GPA calculator estimates your cumulative GPA on the YOK 4.0 scale using the credit-weighted average formula documented above. Turkish universities apply institution-specific percentage-to-grade thresholds, makeup exam policies (butunleme), and graduation requirements that may differ from the YOK defaults shown here. Always verify against your faculty regulations, student handbook, and registrar for the official GPA that appears on your transcript. For formal US graduate applications, consult World Education Services (WES) or YOK (yok.gov.tr) for authoritative credential evaluations.
Turkish GPA Honor Thresholds: Comparison with Similar Systems
Students applying abroad or evaluating their standing against peers from other countries often need to compare the Turkish honor classification system with equivalent frameworks. The table below shows how the YOK four-tier structure maps against similar systems used in the UK, Germany, and the ECTS European framework. These mappings are approximate guides for planning purposes; official credential evaluations from bodies such as WES or UK NARIC (now ECCTIS) may differ.
| Turkish GPA Range | Turkish Classification | UK Equivalent | German Grade | ECTS Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.50 to 4.00 | Distinction (Onur / Serefe) | First Class Honours (1st) | 1.0 to 1.5 (Sehr Gut) | A (Excellent) |
| 3.00 to 3.49 | High Honour | Upper Second (2:1) | 1.6 to 2.5 (Gut) | B (Very Good) |
| 2.50 to 2.99 | Pass (upper range) | Lower Second (2:2) | 2.6 to 3.5 (Befriedigend) | C (Good) |
| 2.00 to 2.49 | Pass (minimum range) | Third Class | 3.6 to 4.0 (Ausreichend) | D (Satisfactory) |
| Below 2.00 | Conditional / Academic Probation | Fail (below degree threshold) | 5.0 (Nicht Bestanden) | F (Fail) |
For students applying to graduate programs in Germany, note that the German grading scale runs inversely to the Turkish scale: 1.0 is the top grade (Sehr Gut, Excellent) and 4.0 is the minimum pass. A Turkish GPA of 3.50 (Distinction) is generally treated as equivalent to a German 1.0 to 1.5 for admission purposes, though German universities apply their own conversion formulas. For students considering UK postgraduate programs, a Turkish Distinction (GPA 3.50 or above) satisfies the First Class equivalent requirement at most Russell Group universities. For the ECTS credit comparison relevant to Erasmus mobility, see the GPA to ECTS Calculator.
What GPA scale do Turkish universities use?
What do the AA and BB grades mean in Turkish universities?
What GPA is needed for distinction in Turkey?
How do I convert a Turkish GPA to the US 4.0 scale?
Is the Turkish 4.0 GPA equivalent to the US 4.0 GPA?
How does YOK set GPA standards across Turkish universities?
Last verified: May 2026. Grade point values, honor classification thresholds, and percentage-to-grade mappings cross-referenced with YOK (Yuksekogretim Kurulu, yok.gov.tr) and World Education Services (WES) Turkey country profile. Percentage cutoffs shown are the most common thresholds across Turkish public universities; individual faculties and institutions may apply different cutoffs.