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Convert US GPA (4.0 scale) to a UK honours classification with a free instant calculator, a full conversion table, worked examples, and what each grade means.
Canonical: https://www.prezumi.com/tools/convert/gpa-to-uk-degree
Applying with US GPA (4.0 scale) to a place that uses a UK honours classification means reading your grade on a scale it was not earned on. This free converter maps US GPA (used in the United States) to UK honours class instantly, and the table, examples, and notes below explain how the two scales line up so you can put the right number on an application.
| US GPA (4.0 scale) | a UK honours classification |
|---|---|
| 4.0 / 4.0 | First-Class |
| 3.7 / 4.0 | First-Class |
| 3.5 / 4.0 | 2:1 (Upper Second) |
| 3.3 / 4.0 | 2:1 (Upper Second) |
| 3.0 / 4.0 | 2:2 (Lower Second) |
| 2.7 / 4.0 | 2:2 (Lower Second) |
| 2.3 / 4.0 | Third |
| 2.0 / 4.0 | Third |
The converter works by anchoring both scales on the US 4.0 GPA, which is the most widely recognised reference point for comparing grades internationally. Your US GPA is placed on the 0 to 4.0 scale first, then expressed as UK honours class. UK degrees are classified on the whole degree, so this is indicative.
UK degrees are classified on the whole degree, so this is indicative.
The US GPA is the grade point average used across schools and universities in the United States, and it has become the default reference scale for international applications. It runs from 0.0 to 4.0, where 4.0 is a straight-A record and 2.0 is the usual floor for good standing. Most graduate programs look for 3.0 or higher, competitive ones expect 3.5 and up, and anything from 3.7 is treated as excellent.
UK honours degrees are classified into four bands: a First (70% and above), an Upper Second or 2:1 (60 to 69%), a Lower Second or 2:2 (50 to 59%), and a Third (40 to 49%). A 2:1 is the level most employers and postgraduate courses ask for, and a First is the top classification. The class is worked out from the whole degree rather than a single average, so any GPA equivalent is indicative.
Enter your US GPA in the calculator above and it maps to UK honours class instantly through the US 4.0 GPA scale, which acts as the common reference between the two systems. The table below shows the full range. It is a close estimate, so for admissions or immigration use your institution's official scale or a credential evaluator such as WES.
No conversion between grading systems is exact, because scales differ by country and institution. UK degrees are classified on the whole degree, so this is indicative. Treat the result as a reliable estimate rather than an official equivalence, and use a recognised credential evaluator when an application formally requires one.
As a rough guide, the very top of the US GPA scale corresponds to about First-Class, and a strong upper result maps to around 2:1 (Upper Second). The full mapping across every band is in the conversion table above, and the examples show a few common grades in context.
On an international CV it helps to show both: your original US GPA and the UK honours class equivalent in brackets, so a reader in the UK and Commonwealth can understand it at a glance without doing the maths. Prezumi's free résumé builder lets you list your GPA, grade, and honours in a clean, ATS-friendly format.
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