Portuguese Grade Calculator

Portuguese universities and polytechnics use a standardized 0 to 20 numeric grading scale for all higher education institutions. The system follows the Bologna Process and is fully integrated with ECTS.

• Pass mark: 10/20. Anything below is Reprovado (fail).
• Top grades are rare: Marks of 18–20 are reserved for truly exceptional work. A 16+ is considered excellent.
• Decimal precision: Grades are typically given to one decimal place (e.g., 12.5, 14.3).
• Credits: ECTS (1 ECTS = 28 hours by Portuguese standard). Full academic year = 60 ECTS.
• Licenciatura (Bachelor's): 180 ECTS (3 years) or 240 ECTS (4 years, for integrated programs).
• Mestrado (Master's): 90–120 ECTS (1.5–2 years).

1. Individual module grades: Each course (unidade curricular) is graded on the 0–20 scale.
2. ECTS weighting: Multiply each grade by its ECTS credits.
3. Sum and divide: Sum of (Grade × ECTS) ÷ Total ECTS = Média Final (final degree grade).
4. Transcript display: Your Média Final appears on your diploma and transcript.

Formula:

Muito Bom com Distinção e Louvor ("Very Good with Distinction and Praise") is a special mention awarded to students with exceptional academic performance.

Requirements:

• High average: Typically requires a final grade of 18/20 or higher.
• Perfect or near-perfect: In some cases, achieving 20/20 or an exceptionally high Média Final.
• Thesis/project: Often requires outstanding performance on the final thesis or dissertation.
• Committee approval: Must be approved by the examination committee.

Significance: This distinction appears on your diploma and is highly prestigious, especially for competitive Master's programs or academic careers.

On your Diploma Supplement, you will also see an ECTS Grade. This is not a direct conversion of your numerical mark, but a percentile rank comparing you to other successful students in the same program over the last three years.

Note: ECTS grades are relative to your cohort, not absolute thresholds. A 14/20 might be an "A" in a competitive program or a "C" in a program with higher averages.

In Portugal, students have the right to attempt Melhoria de Nota (grade improvement) to raise their marks.

How it works:

• Eligibility: You must have already passed the course (grade ≥ 10).
• Timing: Usually allowed in the Época de Recurso (resit period) or the following academic year.
• Attempts: Typically limited to one improvement attempt per course.
• Risk: If you score lower on the improvement exam, some universities replace your original grade with the new (lower) one. Check your institution's policy.

Strategic use: Many students use Melhoria de Nota to boost grades from 11–13 to 14–16 to meet competitive Master's program requirements.

If you fail an exam (grade < 10), you enter the Época de Recurso (resit session).

Process:

• First attempt: Normal exam session (Época Normal).
• Resit: If you fail, you can take the Época de Recurso exam (usually 2–4 weeks later).
• Re-enrollment: If you fail both attempts, you must re-enroll in the course (repetir a cadeira) the following year.

Important: Some programs have limits on the number of times you can repeat a course. Check your faculty's regulations.

The Trabalho de Fim de Curso (final project or thesis) is a major component of most Portuguese Master's degrees and some Bachelor's programs.

Key characteristics:

• High ECTS weight: Usually 30–42 ECTS (up to 50% of a Master's degree).
• Significant GPA impact: Because of its weight, the thesis grade heavily influences your Média Final.
• Graded separately: Evaluated by a committee after a public defense (defesa).
• Required for Louvor: To receive Louvor distinction, your thesis typically needs to be graded 18+ or 20.

Example: If you have a 14/20 average but receive 18/20 on a 42-ECTS thesis, your final average may rise to 16+.