Check your undergraduate grade against postgrad entry bars
Different countries express undergraduate results differently — the UK uses honours classifications, the US and Australia use a 4.0 GPA, and many systems use a percentage. Postgraduate admissions set their bars in their own scale, which makes it hard to know at a glance whether you qualify. This tool normalises your result to a common band and checks it against the typical minimum for taught master’s, competitive master’s, and research or PhD entry across eight countries.
How it works
Your input is first converted to a percentage-equivalent. UK classes map to band
midpoints (First → 80, 2:1 → 68, 2:2 → 58, Third → 48). A GPA on the 4.0 scale
maps linearly: percent ≈ 40 + (gpa / 4.0) × 55, which places a 4.0 near 95 and
a 2.0 near 67.5. A direct percentage is used as-is. The tool then compares this
percent-equivalent against each program type’s typical threshold per country. A pass shows when your equivalent meets or exceeds the threshold.
Understanding the different program types
Not all postgraduate programs apply the same bar, even within one university:
Standard taught master’s (e.g., MSc, MA, MBA): the most common entry point, typically requiring a lower-second honours or equivalent. In the UK, a 2:2 is the widely advertised minimum for many programs, though competitive ones require a 2:1.
Competitive taught master’s (e.g., top-ranked business schools, law conversion, clinical programs): typically demand a 2:1 or above, strong references, and often relevant work experience. The grade alone is a floor, not a guarantee of admission.
Research master’s and PhD: typically require a 2:1 minimum (UK) or a cumulative GPA above 3.5 (US), plus a compelling research proposal, academic references, and sometimes a publication or project portfolio. Some programs in the UK require a First or Distinction.
Country comparison at a glance
| Country | Standard taught | Competitive taught | Research/PhD |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | 2:2 minimum | 2:1 | 2:1 or First |
| USA | 3.0 GPA | 3.3 GPA | 3.5 GPA |
| Australia | Second class | Upper second | First class or H2A |
| Canada | B average | B+ | A- |
| Germany | Gut (2.5–3.0 on inverse scale) | Gut (2.0) | Sehr gut |
| Netherlands | 6/10 | 7/10 | 7.5/10 |
| France | Bien (12–14/20) | Très bien (14+) | Major de promotion |
These are typical published minimums, not guarantees. Top programs routinely admit above the minimum.
Example
A US GPA of 3.4 converts to about 40 + (3.4/4.0)×55 ≈ 86.8% equivalent, which
clears taught-master’s bars everywhere and most research bars too. A UK 2:2 (≈58%) passes most standard taught master’s minimums but falls below the typical research/PhD bar in most countries.
What this tool does not cover
- English language requirements (IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo) — checked separately by each institution
- Subject prerequisites — some programs require specific undergraduate modules or a related degree
- Work experience requirements — MBA and professional programs often require 2–5 years
- Reference quality — for competitive programs, references are often as important as the grade
- Final-year weighting — some institutions weight only the final two years of study; a poor third year can drag down a strong overall
Treat the checker as a first-pass filter. Always confirm requirements directly with the specific program before applying.