Peru GPA Converter

Peru uses a 0 to 20 numerical grading scale at all universities, where 20 is the maximum achievable grade and 11 is the standard minimum passing grade at most institutions — grades below 11 are a fail (Desaprobado). This system is used consistently across Peru's more than 140 SUNEDU-licenced universities, from public institutions like the Peruvian Grading System Guide to private universities. Students applying abroad should use the GPA Calculator or CGPA Calculator for cumulative calculations alongside this converter.

The 11-point passing threshold is distinctive and important for international credential evaluation. Unlike most countries that use 50% or 60% as the passing mark, Peru's passing grade of 11 out of 20 equates to 55%, meaning the effective passing range is 11 to 20 — nine grade points. This compressed passing range affects how Peruvian grades should be interpreted: a grade of 14 does not mean mediocre performance; it falls in the middle of the passing range and represents adequate to good academic achievement. For students transferring academic credits internationally, the Credit Hours to ECTS Converter can help with European applications.

The Peruvian grade descriptor system divides the 0–20 scale into five principal bands: Sobresaliente (18 to 20 — Outstanding), Muy Bueno (16 to 17.99 — Very Good), Bueno (14 to 15.99 — Good), Regular (11 to 13.99 — Average/Pass), and Desaprobado (below 11 — Fail). Descriptor names and precise boundaries vary slightly between institutions, and some universities insert an intermediate Distinguido (Distinguished) band between Sobresaliente and Muy Bueno. Peruvian grading standards are moderately conservative — grades of 17 and above represent genuinely strong academic performance, and the distribution at most Peruvian universities means the majority of passing students score between 12 and 16, making Sobresaliente grades a meaningful distinction.

The Peruvian higher education structure has important characteristics for credential evaluation. Bachelor's degrees (Bachillerato) at most Peruvian public universities traditionally require five years of study — unlike the four-year standard in most countries — though private universities and post-2014 reform institutions have increasingly moved to four-year programmes. Professional degrees such as Medicine require six to seven years. Master's programmes are typically two years and PhD programmes three to four years. SUNEDU licencing is the primary quality assurance mechanism for Peruvian higher education following the landmark 2014 Ley Universitaria reform. Students should confirm their institution holds a valid current SUNEDU licence before applying to international programmes or initiating WES credential evaluation.

The Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP, founded 1917) is Peru's most internationally recognised research university, consistently ranked as Peru's highest-rated institution in global rankings such as QS and THE. PUCP is particularly strong in social sciences, law, engineering, arts, and humanities, with active international research partnerships with European and US universities. PUCP graduates are among the most competitive Peruvian candidates for international postgraduate study and are well-known to international admissions committees and credential evaluators. Students in engineering or technical fields should also explore the Medicine Degree Guide for health-science pathways.

The Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM, founded 1551) is the oldest university in the Americas and a highly prestigious public institution. UNMSM is particularly strong in medicine, pharmacy, natural sciences, and law — its age and historical prestige make it well-known to international evaluators and admissions committees even if its recent global ranking position is lower than PUCP. The Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH) is Peru's leading medical and health sciences university, with strong international recognition in medicine, public health, and biomedical research and active partnerships with leading US and European medical institutions including Johns Hopkins and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. UPCH graduates in medicine and public health are competitive candidates for top US and European health-sciences postgraduate programmes.

Universidad del Pacífico is Peru's leading private economics and business university, with strong international recognition in economics, finance, and public policy and AACSB candidacy — its graduates are competitive for US and European business and economics postgraduate programmes. The Universidad de Ingeniería y Tecnología (UTEC) is a newer private engineering university with innovative programmes, a strong international faculty, and growing international connections — it operates a bilingual curriculum and is building an international reputation rapidly. Graduates from all these SUNEDU-licenced institutions are well-positioned for international credential evaluation by WES and equivalent bodies.

Peru's Ley Universitaria (University Law) of 2014 fundamentally reformed the national higher education system. The law established SUNEDU (Superintendencia Nacional de Educación Superior Universitaria) as the official licensing and quality assurance authority, required all universities to obtain a valid SUNEDU licence to continue operating, and closed dozens of institutions — predominantly low-quality private universities — that failed to meet minimum standards for infrastructure, academic qualifications, and research capacity. This reform significantly improved the overall quality of Peruvian higher education and removed a large number of sub-standard institutions from the system.

The SUNEDU reform is critically important for international credential evaluation. Graduates from institutions that lost their SUNEDU licence or were closed as a result of the reform may face significant challenges in having their credentials recognised internationally, including by WES. Students whose institutions were affected by the reform should contact WES directly to discuss their specific situation and understand what documentation may be available. Students currently enrolled at or recently graduated from a Peruvian university should verify their institution's current SUNEDU licence status at the SUNEDU official website before beginning the WES evaluation process and should include their institution's SUNEDU accreditation documentation with their application materials.

WES (World Education Services) evaluates Peruvian credentials from SUNEDU-licenced universities and applies conversion tables specifically calibrated for the Peruvian 0 to 20 scale with its 11-point passing threshold. WES uses the WES GPA Calculator methodology to produce a US GPA equivalent that reflects the compressed effective passing range of the Peruvian system — meaning a Peruvian grade of 14 will be evaluated as equivalent to a solid B rather than as a below-average grade. WES verifies SUNEDU licencing as part of the evaluation process for Peruvian credentials; students from unlicenced or formerly licenced institutions may face evaluation challenges and should contact WES directly .

WES requires official transcripts sent directly from the Peruvian institution — the official Peruvian academic transcript (Certificado de Estudios or Record Académico) must be sent from the university's secretaría académica or registrar directly to WES. Peruvian transcripts are issued in Spanish and a certified English translation is required for WES processing — WES maintains a list of approved translation providers. Students should note that Peruvian universities often charge a fee for issuing official transcripts and may require advance notice for document preparation; processing times at the university can range from one to four weeks.

WES Document-by-Document evaluations typically take seven business days (standard) or three business days (rush), while WES ICAP evaluations (including a course-by-course breakdown and US GPA) take ten business days (standard) or five business days (rush). Fees range from approximately USD 100–200 depending on the evaluation type. Most US and Canadian graduate schools and immigration authorities accept WES evaluations. Processing begins after WES receives all required documents including the official transcript sent directly from the Peruvian institution.

Most US graduate programmes require a minimum GPA equivalent of 3.0 on the 4.0 scale. For Peruvian students on the 0 to 20 scale, a 3.0 US GPA equivalent corresponds approximately to a grade average of 14 to 15 — the Bueno range. A consistent average of 15 and above (Bueno to Muy Bueno boundary) is generally competitive for US graduate programme consideration from a SUNEDU-licenced institution. Students with averages of 17 and above (Sobresaliente) are competitive for strong and selective US graduate programmes. Use the University Match Calculator and College Admission Chance Calculator to assess your profile.

Institution name recognition matters significantly for Peruvian applicants to US graduate programmes. PUCP graduates in social sciences, engineering, and law carry strong name recognition at US graduate programmes in their respective fields. UPCH graduates in medicine and public health are well-known to US medical and public health graduate programmes — many UPCH faculty and alumni have active connections with US institutions including those associated with the NIH Fogarty International Center. Universidad del Pacífico graduates in economics and business are competitive for US and European economics and business postgraduate programmes.

English language requirements are a critical consideration for Peruvian applicants. Peruvian university programmes are primarily taught in Spanish and most Peruvian students will need to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores for US and UK graduate applications — use the TOEFL Score Calculator and IELTS Band Calculator to understand score requirements. Most US graduate programmes require a TOEFL iBT score of at least 80 or an IELTS score of at least 6.5; selective programmes typically require 100+ TOEFL iBT or 7.0+ IELTS.

UK universities typically convert Peruvian grades accounting for the 11-point passing threshold: 17 to 20 = First Class Honours equivalent; 14 to 16.9 = Upper Second Class (2:1) equivalent; 11 to 13.9 = Lower Second Class (2:2) equivalent. Most UK Master's programmes require a minimum Upper Second Class (2:1) equivalent, meaning Peruvian students generally need a grade average of 14 and above for competitive UK postgraduate entry. See the UK University Grade Calculator and the UK Grades vs US Grades guide for further detail on cross-system equivalences.

Spain is the single most popular destination for Peruvian graduate students studying abroad, given the shared language, strong cultural and academic ties, and bilateral agreements facilitating qualification recognition. Spanish university recognition of Peruvian qualifications has been strengthened through bilateral agreements between Peru and Spain within the Ibero-American academic cooperation framework. Germany (particularly for engineering, natural sciences, and economics) and France (for social sciences and humanities) are increasingly attractive destinations for Peruvian graduate students, supported by DAAD and French Government scholarships respectively. Chile is geographically accessible and hosts a significant number of Peruvian graduate students at institutions such as Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and Universidad de Chile.