Belgian Grade Calculator
Calculate your GPA (weighted average) using Belgium's 0–20 grading system. Pass mark 10/20. ECTS credit-weighted as used by KU Leuven, ULB, UGent, VUB and other Belgian universities. Includes Flemish and French community honors distinctions.
In Belgium, the higher education system follows the Bologna Process, using a 0 to 20 scale for both individual exams and final degree classifications. While the scale is consistent across the country, the qualitative labels (honors) differ slightly between the Flemish (Dutch-speaking) and French-speaking communities.
The minimum passing grade is 10/20. Grades above 17 are rare, and a 20 is almost never awarded unless the work is of publishable or professional quality.
Weighted Average Formula
Each course grade is multiplied by its ECTS credits, then all products are summed and divided by the total ECTS credits.
Important Considerations:
- Tolerance (Tolerantie): In Flanders, if you score 8/20 or 9/20 in a subject, you might not have to retake it if your overall average is ≥12/20 and you have enough "tolerance credits."
- Deliberation: In the French community, a "Jury" may grant you credits for a slightly failed course (9/20) if your overall performance is strong.
- NA (Niet Afgelegd / Non Acquis): Missing an exam without a valid medical excuse counts as 0/20 for your average.
| Grade (out of 20) | Description | Performance Level |
|---|---|---|
| 18.0 – 20.0 | Excellent | Outstanding; top of the class |
| 16.0 – 17.9 | Very Good | High proficiency and insight |
| 14.0 – 15.9 | Good | Solid understanding, well above average |
| 12.0 – 13.9 | Satisfactory | Decent performance, meets all criteria |
| 10.0 – 11.9 | Sufficient | Minimum pass |
| 0.0 – 9.9 | Insufficient | Fail |
Flemish Community (Vlaanderen)
| Percentage | Dutch Term | English Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 85% – 100% | Grootste onderscheiding | Summa Cum Laude |
| 77% – 84% | Grote onderscheiding | Magna Cum Laude |
| 68% – 76% | Met onderscheiding | Cum Laude |
| 50% – 67% | Voldoening | Satisfactory / Pass |
French Community (Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles)
| Grade (Avg) | French Term | English Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 18 – 20 | Plus grande distinction | Highest Distinction |
| 16 – 17.9 | Grande distinction | High Distinction |
| 14 – 15.9 | Distinction | Distinction |
| 10 – 13.9 | Satisfaction | Satisfaction |
| Course | Grade (0–20) | ECTS | Weighted Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 15 | 6 | 90 |
| Physics | 13 | 5 | 65 |
| Computer Science | 16 | 8 | 128 |
| French/Dutch | 12 | 4 | 48 |
| Total | — | 23 | 331 |
Exam Sessions (Examenzittijden / Sessions d'examens)
Belgian universities have three exam periods per academic year:
- January/February: Main exam period for first-semester courses
- June: Main exam period for second-semester and full-year courses
- August/September: Resit period (tweede zittijd / deuxième session) for failed exams
Grade Rejection Policy
Unlike Italy, in Belgium you generally cannot reject a passing grade (10+) to retake an exam for a higher mark. Once you pass, that grade is final.
ECTS Workload
Belgian universities define 1 ECTS as 30 hours of total student workload, which includes lectures, practicals, self-study, and exam preparation. This is higher than the 25–28 hours used in some other European countries.
Top Belgian Universities
- KU Leuven – Belgium's highest-ranked university, consistently in top 50 globally
- Ghent University (UGent) – Leading research university in Flanders
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) – Top French-speaking university
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) – Brussels-based research university
- Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) – Historic French-speaking university
- Study in Belgium – Official portal for international students in the French-speaking community
- Study in Flanders – Official guide for higher education in the Flemish community
- KU Leuven Grading System – Detailed example from one of Belgium's top universities
- Egracons (European Grade Conversion System) – Tool used by Belgian universities to convert grades across European borders
- Eurydice: Belgium Education Overview – Comprehensive official data on the Belgian education system structure