Greece GPA Converter

Greece uses a numerical grading scale of 0 to 10 at all universities where 10 is the highest achievable grade, 5.00 is the minimum passing grade, and any grade below 5 is a fail (Atychon — Ατυχής). This scale is broadly intuitive for international audiences because higher numbers represent better performance — unlike some European systems such as Germany or Austria where lower numbers indicate better grades. Greek grades are awarded with up to two decimal places at most institutions and appear on official Greek transcripts alongside the degree certificate.

The three Greek grade descriptor bands that appear on official transcripts are: Arista (Άριστα — Excellent, 8.50 to 10.00), Lian Kalos (Λίαν Καλώς — Very Good, 6.50 to 8.49), and Kalos (Καλώς — Good or Satisfactory, the passing band from 5.00 to 6.49). These descriptors carry significant weight in the Greek academic context — being awarded an Arista average is a meaningful distinction that Greek faculty and employers recognise as placing a student in the upper academic tier. The distribution of grades at most Greek universities means the majority of passing students score between 6 and 8 making an average of 8.5 and above a genuine academic distinction.

Greek universities maintain rigorous grading standards particularly in engineering, medicine, and the natural sciences. A grade average of 8.0 and above represents strong academic performance and a consistent average above 8.5 (Arista) places a student in the top academic tier. The National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), the University of Athens Medical School, and Greek engineering and science faculties are particularly known for rigorous assessment standards — an Arista average from these institutions carries significant weight with international graduate admissions committees familiar with Greek higher education. Use the GPA Calculator for general GPA calculations and the ECTS Credit Calculator to convert credit hours to ECTS.

The Greek higher education system has implemented the Bologna Process structure — a Ptychio (Bachelor's degree) requires 240 ECTS credits (four years), a Metaptychiako Diploma Eidikefsis (Master's degree) requires 60 to 120 ECTS, and a Didaktoriko (PhD) requires original research. Crucially the Greek Ptychio requires 240 ECTS rather than the 180 ECTS standard common in many European countries — this four-year structure means WES and some US universities evaluate it as equivalent to a Bachelor's degree plus one year of graduate study, which can be advantageous for graduate school applications. Before 2019 Greece had separate Technological Educational Institutions (TEIs) offering applied degrees but the Athena Programme merged most TEIs into universities — graduates of former TEIs should confirm how their degree is evaluated by WES and US institutions.

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (EKPA — en.uoa.gr, founded 1837) is the oldest university in the Balkans and southeastern Europe and is Greece's largest and most comprehensive research university. It is well-recognised internationally particularly in medicine, law, humanities, and social sciences. The University of Athens Medical School is one of the most prestigious and selective in Greece — Greek medical graduates who pursue international medical training should consult the Medicine Degree Guide for ECFMG certification requirements. The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) is the largest university in Greece by student enrolment and has strong international recognition in engineering, agriculture, veterinary medicine, and sciences.

The National Technical University of Athens (NTUA — Εθνικό Μετσόβιο Πολυτεχνείο, founded 1836) is Greece's premier engineering university and the oldest technical university in the eastern Mediterranean. Its graduates in civil, electrical, mechanical, and chemical engineering are well-regarded by US and European engineering graduate programmes. The Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) is Greece's leading economics and business university with growing international recognition. AUEB graduates in economics and finance are increasingly competitive for US and UK graduate programmes.

Greek medical schools — particularly the University of Athens Medical School and the Aristotle University Medical School — produce graduates who pursue postgraduate medical training internationally. The pathway for Greek medical graduates to practice in the USA requires ECFMG certification and USMLE examinations — this is a rigorous additional step but Greek medical graduates who pass these examinations are generally competitive for US residency programmes. Greek engineering graduates from NTUA and AUTH have an established track record in US and UK doctoral programmes particularly in civil and electrical engineering.

Greece experienced severe economic crisis from 2010 to 2018 which had a profound impact on higher education funding and led to significant emigration of Greek graduates — particularly in medicine, engineering, and sciences — to Germany, the UK, and the USA. This brain drain context is relevant for international credential evaluation in two important ways. First it means Greek graduates applying to international programmes are often among the most highly motivated and academically strong in their cohort — those who invest in international applications despite difficult circumstances tend to be resilient, resourceful, and determined. Second it means that international admissions committees and employers who regularly see Greek applicants are generally aware of the challenging conditions in which Greek graduates obtained their qualifications and may view their credentials with additional appreciation for the perseverance and initiative involved.

Greek students applying internationally are advised to frame their narrative authentically and to highlight any experiences of independent research, entrepreneurship, or professional development that demonstrate initiative beyond the formal academic record. Many Greek graduates gained professional experience during their studies or took on teaching and research assistant roles that are worth highlighting in application materials. The Greek academic tradition of long-form thesis work, rigorous oral examinations (viva voce), and independent research projects at undergraduate level is also worth communicating to international admissions committees as it represents a level of academic depth not always present in shorter European Bachelor's programmes. See the Studying in Europe Guide for broader context on European academic systems.

WES (World Education Services) evaluates Greek credentials from accredited Greek universities and uses conversion tables consistent with this calculator. WES is one of the most widely accepted credential evaluation services for Greek students applying to US universities and employers. The WES GPA Calculator on SmartCGPA provides an additional tool for estimating your WES-converted GPA.

WES requires official transcripts sent directly from the Greek institution — the official Greek academic transcript (Analytiki Vathmologia — Αναλυτική Βαθμολογία) must be sent from the university's secretariat (Grammateia). Greek transcripts are issued in Greek so a certified English translation is required for WES processing — most Greek universities can provide an official English translation alongside the Greek original. Students should contact their university's secretariat well in advance as processing times for official transcripts can vary. The Hellenic Quality Assurance and Accreditation Agency (ADIP — Αρχή Διασφάλισης και Πιστοποίησης της Ποιότητας στην Ανώτατη Εκπαίδευση) is the national body overseeing Greek higher education quality assurance and accreditation.

WES standard processing typically takes 7 business days and the fee is approximately USD 100–200 depending on the evaluation type. WES is aware of the Greek four-year Bachelor's structure and evaluates the 240 ECTS Ptychio accordingly — Greek students should confirm with their WES evaluator how their specific degree will be classified. Students whose degrees were awarded by former TEI institutions before the 2019 Athena Programme mergers should explicitly discuss this with WES as pre-merger TEI degrees are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Most US graduate programmes require a minimum GPA equivalent of 3.0 — for Greek students this corresponds approximately to a weighted average of 7.5 to 8.0 on the Greek 0 to 10 scale. Greek students with a cumulative average below 7.5 should note this may fall below the minimum GPA threshold at many US Master's programmes and should look to strengthen their application with strong standardised test scores, research experience, and compelling letters of recommendation. Use the College Admission Chance Calculator and University Match Calculator to assess your options.

Greek students with an Arista average (8.50 and above) from a recognised Greek university are competitive for strong US graduate programmes. NTUA graduates in engineering, University of Athens graduates in medicine and law, and AUEB graduates in economics carry meaningful name recognition at US graduate programmes in their respective fields. A Greek student with an Arista average from NTUA in electrical or civil engineering, for example, is competitive for Master's and PhD programmes at strong US research universities and may be eligible for teaching assistantships and fellowship funding.

Language requirements are an important consideration — Greek students from Greek-taught programmes will need TOEFL or IELTS scores for US graduate applications. Students who completed English-taught programmes at Greek universities may be eligible for language waivers at some US institutions. Use the TOEFL Score Calculator and IELTS Band Calculator to evaluate your language test scores. Also see Converting International Grades to US GPA for broader guidance.

UK universities typically convert Greek grades using the following general equivalence consistent with UK ENIC guidance: 8.5 and above corresponds to a First Class Honours equivalent, 7.0 to 8.49 corresponds to an Upper Second (2:1) equivalent, 6.0 to 6.99 corresponds to a Lower Second (2:2) equivalent, and 5.0 to 5.99 corresponds to a Third Class equivalent. Most UK Master's programmes require a minimum 2:1 equivalent meaning Greek students need a grade average of 7.0 and above for competitive UK postgraduate entry. Use the UK University Grade Calculator and UK Grades vs US Grades comparison tool for detailed UK equivalences.

Greek four-year Bachelor's degrees are generally well-received by UK universities as the 240 ECTS structure provides strong preparation for postgraduate study. UK universities with established Greek student communities — including UCL, Imperial College, LSE, Edinburgh, and Manchester — are familiar with Greek academic credentials and have established conversion practices. Greek students applying to top UK universities with an Arista average from NTUA, the University of Athens, or AUTH are generally considered strong candidates for postgraduate admission in their respective fields.

The Fulbright Foundation in Greece (Ίδρυμα Fulbright) administers the Fulbright Greece programme — one of the most prestigious scholarships for Greek students to study in the USA. Fulbright offers graduate student grants for Master's and PhD study covering tuition, living expenses, and travel. The minimum academic requirement is typically a strong academic record with an Arista average (8.5 and above) being highly competitive. Fulbright scholarship holders receive significant advantages in US graduate admissions beyond the funding itself — being a Fulbright scholar is a prestigious distinction recognised across US academia. Check your eligibility with the Scholarship Eligibility Calculator.

The Onassis Foundation Scholars Programme is one of the most prestigious and well-funded Greek private scholarship programmes offering grants for Greek graduates to pursue postgraduate study at leading international universities. The programme covers full tuition, living expenses, and research costs at top global universities and is highly competitive — typically requiring an Arista average and demonstrated research potential. The State Scholarships Foundation (IKY — Ίδρυμα Κρατικών Υποτροφιών) is Greece's national scholarships body administering various scholarship programmes for Greek students pursuing postgraduate study abroad, including bilateral agreements with universities in Germany, France, and other European countries and EU-funded grant programmes.

The Bodossaki Foundation offers scholarships for exceptional Greek graduates pursuing postgraduate study abroad — another prestigious Greek private foundation that funds outstanding students particularly in sciences, engineering, and social sciences. The Eurobank Scholarships fund Greek students pursuing Master's study in economics, finance, and business internationally. DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) offers scholarships for Greek students pursuing study or research in Germany — Germany is one of the most popular destinations for Greek graduate students and DAAD has established bilateral agreements with Greek universities. University-specific merit fellowships at US and UK institutions are also available — NTUA and University of Athens alumni networks internationally are active particularly in the USA and can be valuable for networking and fellowship information.