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Mundus Masterplan

Document guide

Grading scale explanation

An official explanation of your university's grading system, so that a committee abroad can read your grades correctly.

What it is

A document explaining your university's grading scale: the maximum grade, the pass mark, and ideally the distribution of grades or the meaning of each band. It may be printed on the back of your transcript, included in the diploma supplement, or issued separately.

Why programmes ask for it

A 7 can be excellent on one scale and a bare pass on another. Committees compare applicants from dozens of systems and need to know where your grades sit. LASCALA, QuanTEEM and SERP+ list a grading-scale explanation as mandatory; emPLANT+ and Theatre SPACEs ask for transcripts or degrees with the grading scale.

Who issues it

Your university's registry, international office or faculty. National grading information published by a ministry can support it but rarely replaces the university's own statement.

What it usually contains

  • Maximum and minimum grades, and the pass mark.
  • Descriptors for each band (for example, "excellent", "good").
  • Grade distribution or rank, if your university provides it.
  • How the overall average is calculated.

How to prepare it

  1. Check whether your transcript or diploma supplement already includes the scale.
  2. If not, ask the registry or international office for an official statement.
  3. If the programme asks for a conversion, use its method. EMLDS asks for a 0 to 100 conversion; EACH converts grades to a percentage itself; CoMEM+ expresses its minimum as an ECTS grade.
  4. Include rank or percentile information if your university issues it officially. It helps committees calibrate.

Common mistakes

  • Converting grades with an online calculator the programme did not ask for.
  • Omitting the scale when your system is unusual (for example, where lower numbers are better).

Quality-control checklist

  • Official source, stamped or digitally verifiable.
  • Shows maximum, pass mark and how averages are calculated.
  • Conversion done only as the programme specifies.

Lead time (planning estimate)

Immediate if printed on the transcript; one to three weeks for a separate letter.

Commonly useful or programme-dependent?

Required by some programmes. Useful for any application from a system that committees may not know well.