Swiss Grade Calculator
Calculate your GPA (weighted average) using Switzerland's 1–6 grading system. Higher is better—6.0 is excellent (rare), 4.0 is the minimum pass. ECTS credit-weighted as used by ETH Zurich, EPFL, University of Zurich and other Swiss universities.
Switzerland uses a 1 to 6 numeric grading scale, where 6.0 is the highest possible grade and 1.0 is the lowest. The system is standardized across all Swiss universities and follows the Bologna Process with ECTS integration.
- Pass mark: 4.0 (the "magic number"). Anything below is a fail.
- Opposite of Germany: If you're coming from Germany, remember that a 6.0 is excellent in Switzerland, not a fail!
- 6.0 is rare: Especially at ETH Zurich and EPFL, a 6.0 is mathematically possible but culturally reserved for work that goes beyond the curriculum. An average of 5.0 is considered very good.
- Increments: Most universities use quarter-grade (e.g., 4.25, 4.75) or half-grade (e.g., 4.5, 5.5) increments.
- Credits: ECTS (1 ECTS = 30 hours of work, including lectures and self-study).
- Bachelor's: 180 ECTS (3 years). Master's: 90 or 120 ECTS (1.5–2 years).
- Individual module grades: Each course is graded on the 1–6 scale.
- ECTS weighting: Multiply each grade by its ECTS credits.
- Sum and divide: Sum of (Grade × ECTS) ÷ Total ECTS = Final GPA.
- Rounding: Transcripts typically round to the nearest 0.1 or 0.05.
Formula:
| Grade | Swiss Definition | English Equivalent | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0 | Ausgezeichnet | Excellent | Perfect or near-perfect |
| 5.5 | Sehr Gut | Very Good | Outstanding |
| 5.0 | Gut | Good | Solid, above-average work |
| 4.5 | Befriedigend | Satisfactory | Decent, meets all standards |
| 4.0 | Genügend | Sufficient | Minimum Pass |
| 3.5 | Ungenügend | Insufficient | Fail (minor deficiencies) |
| 3.0 | Schlecht | Poor | Fail (significant deficiencies) |
| 1.0 – 2.5 | Sehr Schlecht | Very Poor | Complete failure / no performance |
The Swiss and German grading systems use similar numeric ranges but are inverse of each other:
🇨🇭 Switzerland (1–6)
- 6.0 = Excellent (highest)
- 5.0 = Good
- 4.0 = Pass (minimum)
- 1.0 = Complete failure (lowest)
Direction: Higher is better ⬆️
🇩🇪 Germany (1.0–5.0)
- 1.0 = Excellent (highest)
- 2.0 = Good
- 4.0 = Pass (minimum)
- 5.0 = Fail (lowest)
Direction: Lower is better ⬇️
Important: Don't panic if you see a 1.0 on your first Swiss exam—it just means serious studying is needed, not that you're at the top of the class!
| Module | Grade (/6) | ECTS | Weighted (Grade × ECTS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | 5.5 | 6 | 33.0 |
| Mathematics | 4.5 | 12 | 54.0 |
| Total (Σ) | 18 ECTS | 87.0 | |
Final GPA = 87.0 ÷ 18 = 4.83
Classification: Befriedigend (Satisfactory — solid passing grade)
While undergraduate degrees usually provide the final numerical average, many Master's and PhD programs use Latin honors for the final diploma:
| Latin Honor | Grade Range | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Summa Cum Laude | 5.75 – 6.00 | Excellent |
| Insigni Cum Laude | 5.50 – 5.74 | Very Good |
| Magna Cum Laude | 5.25 – 5.49 | Good |
| Cum Laude | 5.00 – 5.24 | Satisfactory |
| Rite | 4.00 – 4.99 | Pass |
Note: Latin honors are not universally used for undergraduate degrees but are common for Master's and doctoral programs.
Swiss universities often use Performance Assessments or exam blocks to determine student progression:
- Block system: Related courses are grouped into blocks (e.g., first-year foundational courses).
- First attempt: You take all exams in the block during the regular exam session.
- Second attempt: If you fail an entire block, you usually get one more attempt to retake the failed exams.
- Exclusion: If you fail the second attempt, you are often excluded from that field of study at all Swiss universities.
- Compensation: Some universities allow you to compensate for one bad grade (e.g., a 3.5) if your overall average remains high enough. This depends strictly on the specific faculty's regulations.
Important: The block system and exclusion rules are serious. Failing twice means you cannot study that subject anywhere in Switzerland.
Many Swiss universities offer certain modules that are graded on a Pass/Fail basis rather than numerically:
- Bestanden (Pass): You successfully completed the requirements.
- Nicht Bestanden (Fail): You did not meet the requirements.
GPA impact: Pass/Fail modules give you ECTS credits toward your degree but do not affect your GPA calculation. Only numerically graded courses (1–6) count toward your final average.
Common examples: Seminars, practical work, internships, and some elective courses may be graded Pass/Fail.
The following conversions are typically used by international admission offices. Always verify with your target institution.
| Swiss Grade (/6) | Swiss Term | US Equivalent | UK Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5 – 6.0 | Ausgezeichnet / Sehr Gut | A (3.7–4.0) | First Class (1st) |
| 5.0 – 5.4 | Gut | B+ (3.3–3.6) | Upper Second (2:1) |
| 4.5 – 4.9 | Befriedigend | B (3.0–3.3) | Lower Second (2:2) |
| 4.0 – 4.4 | Genügend | C (2.0–2.9) | Third Class (3rd) |
| Below 4.0 | Ungenügend | F (0.0–1.9) | Fail |
Note: These are approximate guidelines. Credential evaluation services may use different conversion formulas.
ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)
System: 1–6, ECTS-weighted
Top-ranked technical university. 6.0 is culturally rare. Average of 5.0 is considered very good.
University WebsiteEPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)
System: Numeric 1–6
Leading technical university in French-speaking Switzerland. Rigorous grading standards.
University WebsiteUniversity of Zurich (UZH)
System: 1–6 scale
Largest Swiss university. Standard ECTS-weighted GPA with performance assessments.
University WebsiteUniversity of Geneva (UNIGE)
System: Numeric grading
Major French-speaking university. Pass mark 4.0. Latin honors for graduate degrees.
University WebsiteUniversity of Bern
System: 1–6 (Swiss)
Traditional Swiss grading with quarter-grade or half-grade increments.
University WebsiteEducational estimates only • Verify with your institution