Saudi Arabia GPA Converter

Saudi Arabia operates a dual grading system across its university sector. The majority of Saudi public universities — including King Saud University, King Abdulaziz University, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, and Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University — use a 5.0 GPA scale standardised by the Ministry of Education through the Unified Regulations for Undergraduate Studies. A direct numerical comparison with the American 4.0 GPA scale is incorrect: a student with a 4.00/5.00 GPA does not hold a 4.0 US GPA.

A smaller number of institutions — most notably KAUST, KFUPM, and Alfaisal University — use a 4.0 GPA scale modelled on the American system. KAUST, as a graduate-only research university conducting all instruction in English, has its GPA recognised at face value by most US admissions offices. However, even within the 4.0 group, grading culture and standards differ from US norms, so a light upward normalisation is typically applied during conversion.

Saudi transcripts use letter grades (A+, A, B+, B, C+, C, D+, D, F) alongside Arabic performance descriptors: Mumtaz (ممتاز — Excellent), Jayyid Jiddan (جيد جداً — Very Good), Jayyid (جيد — Good), Maqbul (مقبول — Pass/Acceptable), and Rasib (راسب — Fail). One feature unique to Saudi Arabia's 5.0 system is that an F grade is often assigned a value of 1.00 GPA point rather than 0.00, which affects CGPA calculation.

Another distinctive element is the DN (Denial/Hiram) grade, given when a student misses more than 25% of scheduled classes and is barred from the final examination. The DN counts as 1.00 or 0.00 GPA points depending on the institution and is treated as a failing grade by US admissions committees. Graduate programmes in Saudi Arabia additionally require a minimum grade of C (70%) rather than the D (60%) threshold used at undergraduate level.

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Thuwal is a unique institution — a graduate-only research university funded by an endowment exceeding USD 20 billion, conducting all instruction in English, and modelling its academic structure on leading US research universities. KAUST has risen rapidly in global rankings, and its graduates are admitted to top US doctoral programmes with their GPAs typically evaluated at face value. US admissions committees familiar with KAUST treat its 4.0 scale as directly comparable.

King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) in Dhahran is the Kingdom's leading engineering and technology university, consistently ranked among the top 200 globally for engineering disciplines. KFUPM uses a 4.0 GPA scale and has strong established relationships with US universities. Its graduates regularly gain admission to MIT, Stanford, and other top engineering schools. KFUPM transcripts are well-recognised by WES and US graduate committees.

King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh, founded in 1957, is Saudi Arabia's oldest and largest university, using the 5.0 GPA scale. As the flagship public institution, KSU credentials are evaluated by WES and are widely accepted by US universities, though the 5.0-to-4.0 conversion must be handled explicitly. KAU, PNU, and other public universities follow the same NCAAA-accredited framework and receive comparable treatment.

Saudi Arabia is one of the largest sources of international students in the United States. Over 30,000 Saudi students study in the US annually, many supported by the King Abdullah Scholarship Program (KASP), one of the world's largest government-funded scholarship programmes. When applying, Saudi students typically need to present both their original transcript and a GPA conversion alongside a TOEFL or IELTS score.

Most US master's programmes require a minimum 3.0 US GPA equivalent (roughly 3.75–4.00/5.00 on the Saudi 5.0 scale). Competitive doctoral and research programmes typically expect 3.5+ US GPA equivalent. Students applying to research-intensive programmes at universities such as MIT, Stanford, UT Austin, or Georgia Tech are generally expected to demonstrate 3.7+ US GPA equivalent (4.50+/5.00 on the Saudi scale).

Saudi applicants should include a GRE score (where required), three letters of recommendation from faculty familiar with US or international academic norms, and a statement of purpose that contextualises the Saudi grading system. A WES Academic Course-by-Course evaluation is the most widely accepted credential evaluation for US institutions and professional licensing bodies.

World Education Services (WES) is the primary credential evaluation service used for Saudi Arabian academic credentials in the United States and Canada. WES evaluates transcripts from NCAAA-accredited Saudi universities and converts Saudi GPAs into the US grading framework. The process typically takes 7–9 weeks for a standard evaluation or 3–5 days for a rush evaluation.

Saudi applicants should request an Academic Course-by-Course evaluation — the most detailed WES report, required by most US graduate schools, medical licensing boards, and engineering accreditation bodies. Transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing Saudi university to WES. Translated transcripts are required for documents issued in Arabic only; WES provides translation services as part of the evaluation.

Key points for Saudi applicants: WES handles the 5.0-to-4.0 GPA conversion using established NCAAA equivalency guidelines. The DN (Denial) grade is recorded as a failing grade in the WES report. Saudi graduate school GPAs (graduate-level programmes) are evaluated separately from undergraduate GPAs. Students who studied under the older Saudi grading system (before the 2007 Ministry of Education reform) may need to provide additional documentation.

Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 initiative has significantly expanded international scholarship opportunities for Saudi students. The King Abdullah Scholarship Program (KASP) is the flagship government scholarship, covering tuition, living expenses, and return flights for Saudi students studying abroad. KASP requires a minimum academic standing equivalent to approximately 3.0 US GPA, with competitive applicants typically holding 3.5+ US GPA equivalent.

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program in Saudi Arabia selects Saudi students for postgraduate study in the United States. Fulbright requires a Saudi GPA of at least 3.50/5.00 (approximately 3.0 US GPA equivalent) and strong English proficiency. KAUST and KFUPM graduates applying to Fulbright benefit from the direct international recognition of their institutions.

Saudi Aramco and Saudi ARAMCO scholarship programmes for employees and children of employees require academic records translated to US equivalency. Other Vision 2030 aligned opportunities including the Saudi British Society grants, Chevening Saudi Arabia awards, and DAAD Saudi Arabia fellowships all require GPA conversion to the host country standard.

UK universities typically request a certified transcript alongside a UK equivalency statement when reviewing Saudi applicants. UK ENIC (formerly UK NARIC) is the national agency for recognition of international qualifications in the UK and evaluates Saudi credentials for university admissions and professional purposes. Saudi Arabia is a major source of students for UK universities, particularly for postgraduate engineering, business, and medicine programmes.

Most UK master's programmes require an equivalent of a UK 2:1 (Second Class Honours, Upper Division), corresponding to approximately 3.3–3.5 US GPA or 4.25–4.50/5.00 Saudi GPA. A UK First Class Honours equivalent (3.7+ US GPA, or 4.75+/5.00 Saudi GPA) is expected for highly competitive programmes. KAUST and KFUPM graduates are generally assessed favourably by UK admissions due to the international standing of these institutions.