Belgium GPA Converter
Convert your Belgian university grade out of 20 to a US 4.0 GPA. Covers both Flemish and French-speaking Belgian universities, the Belgian distinction classification system, WES evaluation, and scholarship opportunities.
Understanding the Belgian University Grading System
Belgium uses a percentage-based grading scale of 0 to 20 across all universities in both the Flemish and French-speaking communities, where 10 out of 20 is the universally recognised minimum passing grade. This scale is used at every level — Bachelor's, Master's, and doctoral programmes — and applies uniformly across institutions including KU Leuven, Ghent University, ULB, and UCLouvain. For degree-level GPA calculations, visit our GPA Calculator and CGPA Calculator. Belgium fully implements the Bologna Process and uses ECTS credits throughout — a Bachelor's degree requires 180 ECTS and a Master's degree 60 to 120 ECTS. See our ECTS Credit Calculator for credit conversions.
The Belgian distinction classification system is the primary way degree performance is communicated on official Belgian degree certificates. The five bands are: Voldoening or Satisfaction (10 to 11.9 — satisfactory pass), Onderscheiding or Distinction (12 to 13.9 — distinction), Grote Onderscheiding or Grande Distinction (14 to 15.9 — great distinction), Grootste Onderscheiding or Très Grande Distinction (16 to 17.9 — greatest distinction), and Hoogste Onderscheiding or Grande Distinction avec Félicitations (18 to 20 — highest distinction with congratulations from the jury). This classification is printed on the official degree certificate and diploma supplement and is the standard credential indicator for international graduate school applications. Use the Belgian Grade Calculator for local grade calculations.
An important and frequently misunderstood aspect of Belgian grading is the difference between Belgian and French grading culture despite both using the same 0 to 20 scale. Belgian universities award grades more generously than French universities and a grade of 14 out of 20 in Belgium represents very strong academic performance that is regularly achieved by dedicated students. In France, the same grade of 14 would be considered exceptional and is rarely awarded. This distinction is critical for accurate international GPA conversion — applying French conversion tables to Belgian grades will significantly underestimate the US GPA equivalent for Belgian students. International applications should always specify that Belgian grading norms apply.
Belgian higher education is divided along linguistic community lines. The Flemish Community has five major research universities — KU Leuven, Ghent University (UGent), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), University of Antwerp, and Hasselt University — plus universities of applied sciences (hogescholen) offering professionally oriented programmes. The French Community has UCLouvain, ULB (Université Libre de Bruxelles), ULiège (University of Liège), UMons, and UNamur plus hautes écoles. Both communities use the same 0–20 grading scale and the same distinction classification system, making Belgian degree credentials comparatively consistent across linguistic communities for international evaluation purposes.
Belgian Grade Scale and Distinction System — Full Reference Table
Full bilingual reference table covering the Belgian 0–20 scale, Dutch and French classifications, English translations, performance context, and US GPA equivalents based on Belgian grading norms. For weighted GPA calculations, see our CGPA Calculator.
| Grade (/20) | Dutch (NL) | French (FR) | English | Performance Context | US GPA | US Letter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18.00–20.00 | Hoogste Onderscheiding | Grande Distinction avec Félicitations | Highest Distinction with Congratulations | Exceptional — jury congratulations; awarded to very few graduates | 4.0 | A+ |
| 16.00–17.99 | Grootste Onderscheiding | Très Grande Distinction | Greatest Distinction | Excellent — consistently outstanding academic performance | 3.7–3.9 | A− |
| 14.00–15.99 | Grote Onderscheiding | Grande Distinction | Great Distinction | Very strong — competitive for US/UK graduate programmes | 3.3–3.6 | B+ |
| 12.00–13.99 | Onderscheiding | Distinction | Distinction | Above average — solid academic performance | 2.7–3.2 | B |
| 10.00–11.99 | Voldoening | Satisfaction | Satisfaction — Pass | Satisfactory pass — minimum passing grade is 10/20 | 2.0–2.6 | C |
| 0.00–9.99 | Onvoldoende | Insuffisant | Fail | Below minimum pass — course must be retaken | 0.0 | F |
Belgian Distinction Classification System — Quick Reference
| Grade Range | Dutch | French | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18.00–20.00/20 | Hoogste Onderscheiding | Grande Distinction avec Félicitations | Highest Distinction with Congratulations |
| 16.00–17.99/20 | Grootste Onderscheiding | Très Grande Distinction | Greatest Distinction |
| 14.00–15.99/20 | Grote Onderscheiding | Grande Distinction | Great Distinction |
| 12.00–13.99/20 | Onderscheiding | Distinction | Distinction |
| 10.00–11.99/20 | Voldoening | Satisfaction | Satisfaction — Pass |
| 0.00–9.99/20 | Onvoldoende | Insuffisant | Fail |
The distinction printed on the degree certificate is calculated from the overall weighted average across all years of the degree — individual course grades may be higher or lower than the final degree distinction average. International evaluators including WES give significant weight to the degree distinction classification as a summary indicator of academic performance.
KU Leuven, Ghent, ULB and Belgian Elite Universities — International Recognition
KU Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, founded 1425) is one of the oldest universities in Europe and consistently ranks as one of the top research universities in Europe and globally. It is particularly renowned for its research output in biomedical sciences, engineering, economics, and law and is well-recognised internationally by US and UK graduate programmes. KU Leuven graduates in biomedical sciences and engineering are particularly competitive applicants for US PhD programmes, and the university's EU-funded Horizon research collaborations give graduates strong research credentials.
Ghent University (UGent) is Belgium's second largest university and has strong international recognition in natural sciences, bioscience engineering, and veterinary medicine. ULB (Université Libre de Bruxelles) is the leading French-speaking university in Belgium and is renowned in mathematics, physics, and social sciences — ULB has produced four Nobel Prize winners and has a strong international research profile that gives its graduates excellent standing in US and international graduate applications. UCLouvain is a major French-speaking Catholic research university with particular strengths in medicine, engineering, and economics. The Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management at ULB is one of Europe's leading business schools with strong international recognition.
Belgian universities are particularly well-regarded in Europe and their research collaboration networks — particularly through EU-funded Horizon programmes and the European Research Area — give Belgian graduates strong research credentials for US PhD programme applications. Belgian STEM graduates from KU Leuven, UGent, and VUB in particular are competitive for US research programmes, and a Grote Onderscheiding (14 and above) from one of these institutions is generally well-regarded by US graduate admissions committees. The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) has strong programmes in engineering, computer science, and social sciences and is part of Brussels' vibrant academic ecosystem.
Belgium vs France — Why the Same Scale Means Different Things
One of the most important pitfalls for Belgian students applying to US and UK graduate programmes is that international audiences — and even some conversion tools — apply French grading norms to Belgian grades. While both Belgium and France use a 0 to 20 grading scale, the cultural and distributional context is very different. In Belgium, grades in the range of 13 to 15 are regularly achieved by strong students and represent the Distinction and Great Distinction bands. In France, these same grades would be considered exceptional. A Belgian student with a 14 out of 20 average should be converted to approximately a US GPA of 3.3 to 3.5, not the 3.7 to 3.9 that a French 14 would merit given French grading culture. See our France GPA Converter for a direct comparison of French conversion tables.
Belgian students applying to programmes that use French conversion tables — or to programmes whose admissions readers may be more familiar with French academic culture — should explicitly note in their application personal statement or additional information section that Belgian grading norms differ from French norms and that their transcript reflects the more generous Belgian grading distribution. Including the degree distinction classification (Grote Onderscheiding, Grootste Onderscheiding, etc.) as a standardised summary metric alongside the percentage grade provides admissions committees with a clear, institution-independent indicator of academic performance. Most Belgian diploma supplements explain the distinction system in English, and including a copy of the diploma supplement with any WES or direct application submission is strongly recommended.
How WES Converts Belgian Grades to US GPA
WES (World Education Services) evaluates Belgian credentials from both Flemish and French-speaking universities and is aware of the distinction between Belgian and French grading cultures — WES uses conversion tables that reflect Belgian grading norms rather than French ones. A Belgian student with a 14/20 (Grote Onderscheiding) will receive a meaningfully different WES-converted GPA than a French student with the same numerical grade. Use our WES GPA Calculator to estimate your WES-converted GPA before submitting your formal evaluation request.
WES requires official transcripts sent directly from the Belgian institution — the official Belgian academic record (diplomasupplement in Flanders, supplément au diplôme in French-speaking Belgium) must be sent from the university's registrar or academic secretary. Belgian transcripts include the diploma supplement — the European standardised document describing the degree and its classification — which provides valuable context for international evaluators. Belgian students should ensure their WES submission includes the full diploma supplement alongside the grade transcript, not just the grade list alone. The diploma supplement is particularly important for WES evaluation as it confirms the degree level, duration, ECTS load, and official distinction classification.
Belgian transcripts are issued in Dutch or French depending on the university community and a certified English translation is required alongside the original Dutch or French document for WES processing. Belgium is a signatory to the Hague Convention, so Apostille certification is available for document authentication through the Belgian Federal Public Service. WES standard evaluation typically processes within 7 business days and the course-by-course evaluation within 10–12 business days. The WES course-by-course evaluation is generally recommended for US graduate school applications as it provides the most complete GPA conversion.
Belgian Grades and US Graduate School Admissions
Most US graduate programmes require a minimum GPA equivalent of 3.0 — for Belgian students on the 20-point scale this corresponds approximately to a grade of 12 to 13, which falls in the Onderscheiding (Distinction) band. Belgian students who have achieved the Grote Onderscheiding or Grande Distinction classification (14 and above, approximately 3.3–3.6 US GPA) are competitive for strong US graduate programmes. Use our University Match Calculator and College Admission Chance Calculator to estimate your competitiveness for specific US programmes.
KU Leuven graduates in particular are well-regarded by US graduate programmes in biomedical sciences and engineering — KU Leuven's consistent European top-10 research ranking and strong publication record in Nature and Science group journals gives its graduates excellent standing with US research programme admissions committees. ULB graduates in mathematics and physics are similarly well-regarded, particularly for US PhD programmes at research-intensive institutions. Belgian Master's graduates applying to US PhD programmes can often articulate strong research experience from KU Leuven or ULB laboratory rotations or thesis work, which supplements GPA as an application indicator.
Flemish Belgian students from Dutch-taught programmes and French Belgian students from French-taught programmes will generally need to demonstrate English proficiency for US graduate applications. Students whose Master's programme was taught in English — which is increasingly common at Belgian universities for Master's level — may be eligible for TOEFL or IELTS waivers at some US institutions. Use our IELTS Band Calculator and TOEFL Score Calculator to check your English proficiency requirement standing. Most competitive US PhD programmes in STEM require a TOEFL score of 100+ or IELTS 7.0+.
Belgian Grades for UK University Applications
UK universities convert Belgian grades using general equivalences consistent with UK ENIC guidance: 16 and above = First Class Honours equivalent, 14 to 15.9 = Upper Second Class (2:1) equivalent, 12 to 13.9 = Lower Second Class (2:2) equivalent, 10 to 11.9 = Third Class equivalent. Most UK Master's programmes require a minimum 2:1 equivalent, meaning Belgian students typically need a grade average of 14 and above or a Grote Onderscheiding classification for competitive entry to UK postgraduate programmes. Use our UK University Grade Calculator to check your UK classification equivalent and our UK Grades vs US Grades guide for a full comparison.
Belgian students have the advantage of being EU citizens with strong European academic credentials, which gives them a competitive positioning for UK universities that actively recruit from Belgian institutions — particularly KU Leuven, ULB, and UGent whose graduates frequently pursue postgraduate studies in the UK. The diploma supplement provides UK admissions offices with a standardised English-language summary of the Belgian degree and its distinction classification, which simplifies the conversion process. Belgian students with a Grootste Onderscheiding (16 and above) from a major Belgian research university are highly competitive for UK Master's programmes at leading institutions.
Scholarships for Belgian Students Studying Abroad
The Fulbright Belgium programme offers graduate student grants for Belgian students to study in the USA, administered through the Belgian American Educational Foundation (BAEF) and the Commission for Educational Exchange between the USA and Belgium. There are separate tracks for Flemish and French-speaking Belgian communities, each with independent selection processes. The programme is highly competitive and typically requires a Grote Onderscheiding (14 and above) minimum with strong research experience. Grants typically cover tuition, living expenses, and return travel. Use our Scholarship Eligibility Calculator to check your eligibility for competitive scholarship programmes.
The Belgian American Educational Foundation (BAEF) fellowships are among the most prestigious Belgian-American exchange programmes, providing generous fellowships for Belgian PhD students and postdoctoral researchers to conduct research at US universities for one year of advanced study. BAEF fellowships are awarded to approximately 10–15 Belgian researchers per year and are highly selective, requiring a Grootste Onderscheiding (16 and above) or equivalent distinction for the most competitive tracks. The Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) offers international mobility grants specifically for Flemish doctoral and postdoctoral researchers pursuing research at international institutions, with no minimum grade requirement beyond doctoral programme admission — though competitive applicants typically hold a Grote Onderscheiding minimum.
For French-speaking Belgian researchers, the F.R.S.-FNRS (Fund for Scientific Research) provides grants for international research collaborations and mobility, including extended research visits at US universities. The Vlaamse Overheid (Flemish Government) offers scholarships for Flemish students pursuing Master's degrees internationally, with destination coverage including the USA, UK, and Canada. University-specific fellowships at US and UK institutions are also available — KU Leuven and ULB alumni networks actively support their graduates in identifying and applying for US postgraduate funding. The DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) also accepts Belgian applicants for certain programmes. Most competitive scholarship programmes require a minimum Grote Onderscheiding (14 and above) or its equivalent at the degree classification level.